Organic source of compost for organic lawn care?

[JDUtah]

I stopped by a local city green waste plant today and asked for a copy of their soil test for their compost. I don't think it is very common out here by how they acted. They were amused by my interest.

Anyhow, I was explaining to them the reason I was interested (organic lawn care % other applications) and they quickly replied that unfortunately their compost could not be used in 'certified' organic programs because they cannot control nor trace where the source materials came from. They said the sources must be organic certified for the compost to be organic certified... and out here there just ins't the organic infrastructure to support that.

So for those of you currently offering organic lawn care services which include compost, do you find a local 'approved organic' compost.. or get your own composting materials from certified organic farms/dairies? No response is understood.

[DeepGreenLawn]

this would fall under my "organic-based" terminology. It smudges all those lines of organic vs traditonal/non-certified organic. So far it has made life/business so much easier not having to worry about that stuff.

[JDUtah]

ahhhh, I C

[wallzwallz]

Around here most compost is from the town's leaf and grass clippings. So it gets everybody's chems. There is one place an hour or so away and I'm not sure if it is organic certified or not but it's like $50 a yd before trucking.

[DeepGreenLawn]

Ooo, I didn't even think about that. I thought what he was talking about was his local sewage treatment center. But that is a good point too though. But why would that be so bad? It is still the same stuff especially by the time it reaches what is in the clippings.

[JDUtah]

Deep,

I think the issue is that some "icides" that could be on clippings and green waste carry long residuals and therefore can cause the end compost to not be completely "organic". However some microbes can digest these. However,
testing for complete decomposition of all chemicals would not be economical. The 'organic based' is a good solution for now.

Basically what they meant was that for real and formal organics... you need enough organic interest to support a closed group. Organic farms / dairies / landscapes to create "organic" organic matter.. then compost that and redistribute to the organic sites...

[DeepGreenLawn]

true, I don't see how residual "-icides" can be that bad though. I understand the being organic means organic for certain people, but... for someone like myself, do you think those residuals really have that much of an impact? This is a serious question.

[JDUtah]

I personaly don't mind. But remember I currently and regularly use 'icides'.

[jeffinsgf]

It would seem to me that the distinction would be much more important in food crops than it would be in turf maintenance.

I have a good relationship with the head of our city composting program. I am out of town right now, but I'll try and talk to Barbara about this issue next week.

[DeepGreenLawn]

I could see how it would matter there, I forget people are using things in that aspect. I guess you would have to keep the two differentiated if you were to start messing with gardens.

[treegal1]

ok organic, certified organic and old fashioned just a name and an idea organic are 2 different things, my way, not certified at all,just a way!!! same bad stuff ends up in some compost inputs, it happens, the fools that over treat.....lets just say karma, and go from there. a little "stuff"in compost should be bio remeiated in short order, worm-er from horses does not even make it past even a mild composting, and if i know its real bad "stuff" it goes to the worms.

we did a super fund site with worms,300 lbs set free, after a while we collected a lot more than we put down, dried them and incinerated them, there was some metal drops and mercury in the pan after the burn. that's a clean that worms do, you just cant sell the ones you used for bio remediation.

so is organic compost organic, yes.does it need certs to get used in a lawn, let your bank tell you that!!!

[DeepGreenLawn]

I love it. So when you advertise and all, you don't say your organic? You just do things the way you do them and people just go along for the ride?

[treegal1]

no its organic , just not certified, most of our clients are real well versed in the way things work, and if not then they come out on wed. and find out what we do, up close and personal.

[DeepGreenLawn]

now that is a good way to build a customer base. You are no longer just another company. Now they have an actual interest in what you do and feel included. Very smart.

[treegal1]

today's class was victory gardens, 23 people showed up, 11 new clients, no drive out to "look at there yard" just got em on the hook and landed, why , because they understand our process, no hidden chems no smoke and mirrors.


this is the thing, its organics, not product-ville, not magic land , nothing made with a pressure vessel, no great math to do, no label to read, no mixing. just a change in the cultural practices, we re train our family of customers out of the old ways, the ones that don't care, there along for the ride just the same. there one guy that comes to the class, not one of our customers, and he does not take plants with him when he goes, so today i ask why, (hold on to your seat) hes a doctor, a immunologist to be exact, working on a cure for something, asks if i have ever been sick in the last 2 years, no why, seems he is looking at the possibility that dirt in our life is good. go figure, now hes interested in a study group of regular organic gardeners, to see if there a co relation to how often we get sick!!!

[ICT Bill]

It has gotten to be one big conglomerate this whole big..........is it organic. Everyone is putting their hand out saying me me me me

TG, Phil and King Phil have it go'n on. back to subject

The farmers need to make sure that the USDA certifiers know what they are using. The USDA NOP group collecting a government wage (and lots of great benefits) has very little idea what is going on in the field....meanwhile OMRI is siding with every chemical company that exists while the manufacturer is sitting on his a$$ waiting for a decision from all of the above

The most beautiful thing is.................

There is no such thing as "organic lawn and landscape" there is no governing body that decides whether it is organic or not

and this is where the rubber meets the road

It is up to us, the collective we, the ones that think we do not make a difference. We are the ones that decide if we do the right thing or not

period end of quote

TG, I wish I was there for the victory garden lesson, I'll have to plan better in the future, say hey to King Phil and of course Mr. Phil (smart guy, I understand the attraction)

[Kiril]

I agree. I see no need to require "certified" products on landscapes and IMHO is simply a waste-o-money. Food crops are a different animal and for another discussion.

Use what you have available locally. If your concerned about residues, then perhaps you can continue to compost it until satisfied.