Hey Craig,

That's interesting. I'd have to see the compost... but it sounds like it
could fit the bill as well. Having only seen compost at lowes/home depot I'd
not considered it for my mixes.

I make light mixes using primarily bark + inorganic (perlite pre-bonsai,
turface/grit finished bonsai)... portions based on tree in hand (or tree in
pot :P). To this I add a moisture retention component... usually chopped up
long fiber sphagnum.

So I, more or less, subscribe to components by Brent... and portions by Naka


Best,
/jhd


"Craig Cowing" wrote in message
...

What I've started to do this year was inspired by Anita. I have a compost
pile
where my grass clippings, kitchen scraps, dead leaves, misc. pieces of
rotten
wood, etc. go. The sides of the pile (3 bins) I made out of discarded
pallets.
She uses her compost as the organic component in her soil. I was
skeptical at
first, thinking that it would turn to mud, but found that compost actually
has good
drainage--it's fluffy. She doesn't sift hers, but I generally sift mine
and find
it's a good, cheap way to get organic material.

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37


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