Comments on: How to Fill Raised Garden Beds with Organic Soil https://homesteadandchill.com/how-to-fill-raised-garden-bed-perfect-organic-soil/ Organic Gardening | Real Food | Natural Health | Good Vibes Wed, 09 Aug 2023 23:37:03 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 By: Kim H https://homesteadandchill.com/how-to-fill-raised-garden-bed-perfect-organic-soil/comment-page-6/#comment-2125523 Mon, 05 Jun 2023 15:03:25 +0000 https://homesteadandchill.com/?p=4277#comment-2125523 I know that you guys are super conscientious about the environment and that this article is a few years old now but just to say that the use of peat by gardeners in the United Kingdom has now been subjected to a government ban and hopefully other countries will follow.

Peatlands are huge carbon sinks and its extraction creates enormous amounts of carbon dioxide which is contributing drastically to climate change. A peatbog takes about a thousand years to grow so it’s not really renewable.

We weren’t aware of this until recently but now we’re trying to find alternatives (like your great homemade compost and worm farm suggestions) and avoiding any bagged soil that contains peat.

It’s one little change we can all make that would make a huge environmental difference 🙂

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By: Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat) https://homesteadandchill.com/how-to-fill-raised-garden-bed-perfect-organic-soil/comment-page-6/#comment-2117268 Mon, 08 May 2023 14:36:52 +0000 https://homesteadandchill.com/?p=4277#comment-2117268 In reply to Jenny Wu.

Hi Jenny, plants don’t do well growing in only compost but I think your plan of mixing in 50% sandy loam topsoil is a great idea. I wouldn’t be too worried about disturbing the structure of the soil more so than I would be determined to fully mix in the new topsoil into the compost. However, we have used a broadfork on occasion and they really do a good job of working the top portion of soil down into the lower portions. I would just see what is working best for you in fully mixing the new material in with the old, you may need to use a shovel or other means if the broadfork isn’t doing as thorough of a job. Hope that helps and good luck!

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By: DeannaCat https://homesteadandchill.com/how-to-fill-raised-garden-bed-perfect-organic-soil/comment-page-6/#comment-2117166 Sun, 07 May 2023 15:39:35 +0000 https://homesteadandchill.com/?p=4277#comment-2117166 In reply to danny.

Hey Danny, thanks for reading! Lately we’ve been using Central Coast Landscaping for bulk soil (their “performance blend”) and also got some bulk compost from them recently, though we used Malibu’s compost in our raised beds (direct from them as a special promo, not sure if you can get it in bulk as a consumer on a normal basis). Cal Poly also has great compost but doesn’t deliver. We also got our 3/8″ gravel from Central Coast most recently, though we’ve used Air Vol in the past too – just depends on the colors/types you want and also compare delivery costs. We typically get the 3/8″ lava rock from Air Vol, as well as our paver stepping stones – including the 24″ trowel-finished concrete ones in the center of our garden. We use Mier Bros for bulk mulch (walk on bark, small or medium redwood bark, etc). For rolls of landscape fabric and irrigation supplies, pipe, etc we use Site One in the AG village. Happy material shopping, and enjoy your new garden space neighbor!

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By: danny https://homesteadandchill.com/how-to-fill-raised-garden-bed-perfect-organic-soil/comment-page-6/#comment-2117113 Sun, 07 May 2023 02:36:41 +0000 https://homesteadandchill.com/?p=4277#comment-2117113 Greetings! I appreciate all your informative posts, they have been very helpful as we plan our newest backyard garden. We are located here in Arroyo Grande, and are basically working on a very similiar type of garden area (metal garden beds over 3/8″ gravel, over landscape fabric barrier, over existing sand, with a orchard area using mulch ground cover)
A question about sources for bulk materials. We are familiar with Air Vol, Central Coast Landscaping, and Mier Bros., and have used each on different occasions. Based on reading a number of your posts, these are companies you have used as well. As we look to order bulk materials, such as landscape fabric, gravel, bulk soils/compost/lava cinders to fill our rasied beds, orchard mulch, compost mulch for top of raised beds, and the 24″ sq. conc. pavers… I’m wondering if you could provide where you bought each of these items for your most recent garden at your new location. If you have already posted this somewhere, I apologize I have not read everything, so please kindly point me in the right direction. Thanks!

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By: Jenny Wu https://homesteadandchill.com/how-to-fill-raised-garden-bed-perfect-organic-soil/comment-page-6/#comment-2117101 Sun, 07 May 2023 00:36:17 +0000 https://homesteadandchill.com/?p=4277#comment-2117101 After reading a few posts like this I now know what I’m doing wrong. I’ve been doing a Hugelkulture style raised bed, but filling it with more or less 100% compost (and maybe 5% sand). The plants started out doing great in the first year but have been showing symptoms of poor health.

I’m thinking of mixing 50% of a sandy loam topsoil mix to the existing stuff in the beds. I don’t want to disrupt the current soil structure too much, so I was thinking of getting a broadfork in and incorporating it that way. What do you think?

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By: Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat) https://homesteadandchill.com/how-to-fill-raised-garden-bed-perfect-organic-soil/comment-page-6/#comment-2111297 Thu, 16 Mar 2023 14:24:23 +0000 https://homesteadandchill.com/?p=4277#comment-2111297 In reply to Beth Zalusky.

Hi Beth, it’s great to hear you are going to be installing some raised beds and are just a little north of us! Using compost from Cal Poly is a great recommendation and we would fully endorse using their compost, it is certified organic through California Department of Food and Agriculture. The only downside is I believe they do not deliver so you need to be prepared to pick it up in a truck or trailer. Hope that helps and good luck getting your garden up and running, have fun growing!

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By: Beth Zalusky https://homesteadandchill.com/how-to-fill-raised-garden-bed-perfect-organic-soil/comment-page-6/#comment-2111222 Wed, 15 Mar 2023 22:12:47 +0000 https://homesteadandchill.com/?p=4277#comment-2111222 Thanks so much for this detailed info. We are in North County and installing 5 large raised beds this year so I really appreciate the specifics for locals! I am looking for a compost source, there are so many. A friend of ours reccomended the one they make at Cal Poly but I haven’t been able to reach them regarding if it’s organic. Which certified organic green waste source do you use? We do need bulk….
Thanks in advance!

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By: Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat) https://homesteadandchill.com/how-to-fill-raised-garden-bed-perfect-organic-soil/comment-page-6/#comment-2111113 Wed, 15 Mar 2023 15:08:57 +0000 https://homesteadandchill.com/?p=4277#comment-2111113 In reply to John.

Hi John, glad you enjoyed the post! It’s hard to say for sure without seeing the actual soil mix and the topsoil may have some sand in it, if what is listed is all that is in the bulk soil, you may benefit from adding some aeration to the mix if the bulk landscape company offers any bulk pumice or 3/8 inch volcanic rock as well, although it isn’t mandatory. If available, I would mix in around 10% or so into your final soil mix. Hope that helps and reach out with any other questions, good luck!

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