On Sun, 06 Jun 2004 05:19:13 -0500, (Pat
Kiewicz) wrote:

Jet Dove said:

I have a small compost pile into which I pile garden cuttings, leaves
and other vegetative waste material and a little manure from my few
pigeons and hens. I end up with a nice little pile of compost each
year but not nearly enough. I would like to buy ingredients to produce
a much larger quantity of compost. I am considering buying a few
bales of alfalfa and bags of steer or chicken manure for this
purpose. I'm concerned that manure might contain a few unsavory
ingredients(hormones,insecticides, etc.) Would appreciate any ideas
regarding this or other possible easily acquired but uncontaminated
material -Jet

Every fall I pick up scores of bags of raked up leaves, which get shredded
and put into heavy-weight plastic bags for storage. These are used the
next year to make compost and mulch flowers and veggies. It is so
convenient that people rake these up and bag them for me (well, actually
for the township) to collect.

It just seem like the more I collect, the more I actually find use for and the
more I need.

I float again, the proposition that there is money to be made selling baled,
shredded autumn leaves...

I do that, but even better. I live on a through road with lots of
frontage. I put up two signs at the far end of my property: Fall is
"Leaves Wanted" and Spring/Summer is "Grass clippings wanted".

I pile them up, turn the pile three or four times a year and then sell
the result back to the landscapers who contribute leaves and grass
clippings.

I made 50 yards last year and this year's crop looks about triple
that. At $50 per yard, it is a pretty profitable business.

John