Steve, my initial fill was done with 3 types of bagged compost: Black kow, mushroom compost, and evergreen manure compost.

EG

I find that if a bag says "compost" or "manure" on it, it doesn't mean it is not mixed in with a ton of clay or mulch. Many products like "garden soil" will actually have more manure than something that says "compost" on it. I am one of those people who likes to poke through a bag to see whats inside before I trust their labels.

I used a combo of Black Kow, Black Chicken, mushroom compost, worm castings and organic humus/manure. The Black Kow & chicken I had to get at Lowes, but the other three, I picked up at Walmart. In the last bed I also used an organic garden soil.

Kym

We have poultry, mushroom, organic compost (not exactly sure what all is in that one) and cotton bur, of course steer manure as well. Those are some of things we started with last year. This year I am going to get a load of compost at $0.04 a pound and will probably just add the cotton bur and mushroom to the mix. Over time I will add worm castings (I just started my worm bin).

I used composted cow manure/hummus, duck, and lobster (which was at least 5 times as expensive as the cow, so I only used one bag per bed.) I would love mushroom compost but haven't found it around here. I also mulch my perennials with the blackcow compost. HAve for years, they like it.

laxmom4x,

This is the mushroom compost that I found. I believe I paid $4.50 or $4.75 per bag. I'm in NJ, so maybe it's distributed in NY as well. It's worth an e-mail or phone call to Frey Bros.

Frey Brothers, Inc.
372 Puseyville Road, Quarryville, PA 17566

t: 717.786.2146 : f: 717.786.7509

http://www.freybrothersinc.com

{{gwi:1273160}}

Thanks Steve I'll check it out!