Should I, or should I not, go get some free compost from the city?

[crispini]

I have a sneaking suspicion that it's got all kinds of landscaping wastes in it, including clippings from lawns, etc, that have been treated with pesticides. Does that stuff compost out? I could really use some more compost right now for some beds I'm working on, but I'm afeared to go get this stuff. ;)

[crispini]

1. Ha! My answer is NO.

http://www.rcgardens.ca/factsheets/factsheets/municipalcompost.html

Bummer! :(

[bhikkhu]

2. I get all my neighbors leaves each fall

Spread them a foot deep all over the garden when everything is in, and let the worms do most of the composting through the winter. I have to say, a few years of that has given me rich and wonderful soil, built up almost two feet over the heavy clay that is native here. And of course I compost all my kitchen waste and yard trimmings myself.

But if I had a truck I would probably get city compost too. Pesticides usually have a short lifespan and any biohazards (from fecal matter, if it must be said) do not survive the composting process if it is done properly.

[crispini]

3. That's the real question, though, is it done properly?

Who knows? I guess I am nervous about putting it on veggie beds. Ornamentals and the lawn, yes, I might do that, but I am turning most of my attention to veg these days.

Thanks for the idea about putting the leaves actually IN the beds.... that's a great idea! I only have two bins, and every fall, even with an overflow pile, I don't have enough space for compost. :)

[bhikkhu]

6. I might worry about it in lettuce and tomato beds

but less in anything that gets cooked before eating.

[stuntcat]

4. I get a carload every year

We get free compost in Arlington VA too. My aunt the Super-Gardener lives 3 hours away but she drives a few bags home from here every year because our free compost is so good. I hadn't read about free compost before though, like in that article up there^ I just took my aunt's word for it, she said it's good compost and I believed her. We are always careful not to get it on the plants or their stems.

I'm a gardening nube so I don't know really.. I do know our free compost smells good. Maybe you can at least go and take a look at what they're giving away.

[ThomWV]

5. Oh hell yes! If you don't want to eat from it get tons anyway and plant flowers in it.

If you can't get any good eating out of it then get some beauty out of it, but certainly don't let it go to waste. Was that an anti-pun?

[Quantess]

7. Here's another idea:

Get a compost bin of your own. Find out whether your city/community/county offers home-compost bins for a reduced cost.

I see you're in Dallas, TX, so I really don't know what your composting & recycling community is like. There in Texas you might have to buy, or make, your compost bin. People on the west coast are privileged to get their very-own compost bins for super cheap. You should know that, so you can ask your own community.

But even before compost-bins were popular here, my family was into composting. We had a food-waste bucket, and we emptied it down into the soil whenever the bucket got full. Which basically means someone in the family had to dig the hole, and pour the rotten food in, and cover up the hole. My mom told us where to bury the rotting food, and where we shouldn't. Then in spring, my dad roto-tilled everywhere the rotten compost had been buried. This family tradition of composting began...as soon as I can remember.

But, dedicated gardeners can compost kitchen waste even with a postage stamp yard.

[crispini]

8. Oh, I already have two. I just ran out of compost.

In the spring, it's hard to make enough! :) I still have only done my veg beds, nothing else in the yard has gotten any yet.

I went and got some stable litter and added it to the pile and it heated right up, so I should have some soon. Ooo, I should probably go out and turn the pile. :D