How to Make Square Foot Gardening Soil Mix - in Real Time

🌎 Randy and Amanda's city has a compost program where yard waste is collected and processed into compost, which residents can buy back for a very low price.

🌱 The compost can be purchased in large quantities, providing a more cost-effective option compared to buying smaller bags of compost from stores.

👩‍🌾 Mel Bartholomew's soil mix for square foot gardening, which they are demonstrating, is composed of one-third compost, one-third vermiculite, and one-third peat moss.

💡 Vermiculite is used in the soil mix to improve aeration and drainage, but it is more expensive than other components.

🏷️ It's important to shop around for good vermiculite deals, as prices can vary greatly depending on location and quantity purchased.

⚠️ There used to be concerns that vermiculite contained asbestos due to contamination in one mine, but current supplies should be asbestos-free, and consumers are advised to research their source.

🔄 The mixture requires thorough blending to ensure even distribution of the components and is physically demanding to mix.

💧 The benefits of Mel's mix include improved plant feeding and nourishment from the compost, water retention from the peat moss, and soil aeration from the vermiculite.

🌱 This soil mix is very light, which encourages deep root growth and makes weeding easier due to the lack of resistance.

🌼 Whenever planting something new, it is beneficial to add some compost to the soil to replenish nutrients.