My gf and my best friends gf keep insisting to not use the compost for any of our crops we plan on eating (rn it’s mostly tomato, sweet potato and two pineapples) and I understand impurities and such in the soil can affect the taste of crops but overall does my compost look healthy? Should I not use it for food crops?
by MagikarpMafiav2
15 Comments
What did you put in it? Im no expert but those who are will ask this lol
What she on? You pour bleach in there or something?
It looks great and if it was made with all plant matter, then it’ll only be great for your plants.
Looks fine to me. Why would it not be okay to use?
These friends would be horrified if they saw what crap comes out of bags of “soil” and “compost” from big box retailers.
Food grade? Well, don’t eat it with a spoon. But yes, please – grow veggies in it.
The uptake of contaminants that MAY be in your soil – is tiny. It requires the plant to break down soil down, extract the problem particles, integrate them into the plant fibers, and then into whatever part of the plant that you eat. That’s a lot of work.
Now, are there instances of excessive lead and arsenic in industrial soils that show up in root veggies- yes. Potatoes, in particular are known for up taking heavy metals in extremely contaminated lab samples.
And microplastics? I believe that there is still no garden veggies that even in lab settings have shown a dangerous amount of uptake of plastics.
– sincerely, a gardener and geologist who has a couple decades of environmental sampling experience.
That looks great! Not using it is a waste of microbes!
Does your Gf know that in the agriculture industry we use manure to fertilize crops? That’s right, actual poop grows our food and then we eat it.
i wonder what the sequel would be like
You should ask them to sift through the soil they’re using to pull out any organic material. Get rid of any leaves or old roots that may be contaminating their tomatoes. Make sure there’s not a speck of worm poop, as that may seep into their sweet potatoes. Once it’s visibly clean of detritus, put it under a microscope to ensure there are zero bacteria, protozoa, or nematodes — that shit is whack.
In case the /s didn’t get through, they’re being dumb. Properly made compost would have zero negative effect on your plants. As long as you didn’t add a bunch of chemicals, you’re good to go. Your pee gets used up in the process and won’t end up in your food (barring some medications), but I can understand it might make some people squeamish. Just keep the hose flowing and don’t tell them.
Yeah I’d eat that dirt.
I bet they will be sick to death when they find out the best garden soil has manure added.
What.. what do they think is typically in soil and compost? Do they know what urea is in fertilizer? This is that whole thing about how disconnected from our food sources and production people are, isn’t it?
They are going to lose their minds when they find out what the food in the grocery store has been through.
Remove it from direct sunlight
They are correct, it must be completely inert and free of any microbial activity, just an industrial grade powder containing NPK.
Seriously though, unless youre using human/cat/dog feces, compost is completely safe to use. You aren’t eating the compost.
Why not mention what exactly is their concern? Are you dating a yuppie? I suspect your boyfriend is as well.