Bulldog11
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Pretty sure you are looking at the last test post. That is for the oly mtn compost that is in the build a soil mix.
p.s. I recall reading that furrywall on eye cee mag posted up some test results of the south fork cootz mix from rare earth that did not test out as good as your batch. Maybe got a bad batch??
Sounds like you are familiar with physical labor of large amounts of soil. :) Respect.One extra thing I do with the soil, that may help, is I mix it up several times extra. I asked Jami if I could pay extra for better mixing, and she said they already do a slow and thorough mix incorporated in the charge. So in theory, it should be mixed well already.
However I can't get soil trucks on my property, so I have to dump my soil delivery up the street. (half mile) Then into my truck a yard and half at a time. Then into a wheel barrow one at a time. Then one wheel barrow into each pot, then move to the next pot. Not topping off until the next truck load of soil. Plus as I do all this if I see a clump or cluster, I break it up and mix it in.
Then when I take my soil tests, I take a scoop from every pot I fill, and put it in a 5 gal bucket. Then mix the 5 gal as I fill it.
Also, @leadsled did the lava rock get taken out of the soil tests done over at Eye See Mag? Jami told me that is how Michael Astrea and her are doing it. Not sure how that might effect things, other than higher levels of silica and sulfur. They crush those rocks before the test is done at Logan, so I can see why you wouldn't want that in your soil tests. As an un-crushed aeration amendment I don't think it would effect your soil ratios.
I got to keep an eye out for one of those. lol.The best way ive ever seen someone mix soil in large commercial volume was when G.O.D. was selling soil,he mixed it in a 10 yard concrete mixer truck.
Not sure why all the soil yards dont use something along these lines.The archimedes screw can mix thoroughly in minutes what a couple guys on skiploaders would take days doing and it still wouldnt be mixed as well.
Grizzly screening plant,not made to mix at all just screen to size.
In my experience where they tend to skimp is in the quality of the humic material. With that said, I have been using larger beds with lots of composting worms, and over time the worms turn the mediocre thermo compost material into really nice vermicompost. So depending, maybe you do or don't need more expensive humus. However, whenever possible shell out the extra cash for the good stuff.I agree @Patanjali . I am about to order up some more soil from Grass Valley. I was talking to a person involved in making the coots mix for Rare Earth, and he was telling me a cheaper version of the Coots mix is in the making. A mix that has it's base components put together, weighed, then tested, then amended. I haven't talked to Jami yet, but I plan to call in tomorrow. Maybe 20 yards of the cheaper, 20 yards of the coots.
I thought you were using 1/3 compost, 1/3 peat and 1/3 aeration? Thats what I am doing. I found I have to water more in the root maker pots, not sure if its because there are actually more roots or if the holes dry the dirt out faster. The one gallons dry out a lot faster than the plants in a regular pot. ONce I go to 5 gallons they all need to be watered daily, regardless of the type of container. I was using 1/2 sheep and 1/2 worm, but I'm out of the sheep compost. Last batch was 1/3 EWC.I find any mix with more than 15% EWC can become very heavy and wont drain properly.
I have been using the worm power vermicompost from buildasoil, I guess thats different than castings.I do 15% EWC, and 18% compost.
I think so, I had thought that it was all the same thing. I asked about worm castings in the colorado section and somebody gave me this link.True, that has compost and peat bedding not sifted out right? I really like that type of product.
I've bought a lot of castings from Jay. He might be a little higher priced than some, but his castings are top notch.I think so, I had thought that it was all the same thing. I asked about worm castings in the colorado section and somebody gave me this link.
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