In article , Persephone wrote:

On 1 Nov 2005 07:49:27 -0800, wrote:

Hi,
Today I just took delivery of load of compost and it doesn't look at
all like I expected.

I'm fairly new to gardening and have only made my first compost pile
this past summer. I've read many bboks on composting but have actually
seen only one example of compost before, my own. The compost I made is
very dark and crumbly and smells earthy and good. It looks like dark
dirt, with all sorts different sized bits and lots of bugs and worms.

The stuff I just got smells earthy but looks like stiff black mud. It's
very smooth with no real distinct particles and no air pockets. You can
easily scoop out a handful and make a ball that will stay together even
when rolled or tossed.
Does this sound right?

Hevvins, no! You described clearly the difference between your own
REAL compost and the "whatever" they delivered. If you can get them
to take it back, please try. Maybe they delivered something else by
mistake.

Any reason why you can't continue to make your own?

Persephone.

Sounds to me like it could be fully composted manure & peat moss or fine
sawdust, which if it is feedlot steer manure or hog manure from slurries,
it is the cheapest (& often the saltiest) compost on the market, & looks
pretty muddy when well wetted. It would've looked more like what you
expected if they'd used larger woodchips or shredded phone books and food
waste or municiple garden waste instead of peat or sawdust with the
manure, but there's nothing wrong with the muddier unchunky compost. It is
almost inert as to nutrients, but mixed well into soil it'll support the
microorganisms that manufacture the plant-accessible nitrogens & sugars,
so it'd be good stuff. A well turned organic compost would be crumblier,
perhaps better, & cost a great deal more. No safe & properly composted
commercial compost would have bugs & worms in it however, because a
properly heating compost kills insects & worms while cooking out the
pathogens.

-paghat the ratgirl
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