My town has beautiful looking (and free) compost available just 2 min from my house. I have called and they do not test it. This load is being used for a non veggie garden but I keep hearing things about not using town compost for veggies.
I have an established veggie garden and would like to use this but unsure because it’s unknown what’s in it. Should I use, should I avoid? Is there something I can do to check it?
Thanks.
by aquapeat
9 Comments
Take some and send in a soil sample
I’ve heard of people using a small cup of the compost in question and planted pea seeds. They use peas as they are very sensitive to herbicides and unwanted stuff. If they germinate and grow well, you’re good.
What’s it made of? Just whatever people drop off?
Then it’s whatever people sprayed
I used town compost to fill my raised veggie beds. Worked great. It was just compost from shredded yard waste that they also accepted for drop off. I would pick out some trash and nails occasionally.
Our “town compost” is from a regional green bin program. I haven’t seen what our plant produces, but I have read comments from others that note this kind of product usually has a high amount of contaminants in the form of bits of plastic.
I regret getting compost from my local place called rock n wood, it had so much plastic and brought in tons of unwanted weeds.
Probably fine, just wash your produce thoroughly before eating it
i have used town compost for years looks just like OP’s pick but never really thought about what might be in it
I have no idea if it’s good or not, just came to say its incredible that your town offers free compost