Bulk manure - chicken and cow

[Lyn H]

Does anyone have contacts for bulk manure purchases,as well as mulching hay?

[Scarlett Patrick]

yay! :)

[Lyn H]

I'm sure Sapar, Redbank Plains, sells mushroom compost bulk.

[Elaine de Saxe]

Sounds good Lyn ... for the future, you might consider Spent Mushroom Compost - it's the waste product from intensive mushroom growing. These days, the growers use round heavy plastic bags, about 2ft in diameter and about 1ft high. It is very heavy, though, being quite damp. However, it is good stuff. There are folks about who deliver minimum quantities, around 25 bags, forget the price now, it's been a few years since I used it. Look in the local papers for anyone selling Mushroom Compost.

Searle's sell it too, around $7 for 20 litres, it's a bit more exxy but you don't have to buy as much.

If you are wanting to use a pellet-type manure, Organic Extra (made just up the road in Narangba) is excellent stuff.

[Addy]

I saw an ad in the Sunshine Coast news this AM (had a couple of nights R&R in Mooloolaba) for mushroom compost for 50c a bag - in Palm Woods... I get mine from the mushroom man at Pine Rivers markets for $2.50 a bag.

[Lyn H]

Thanks - I'll keep a copy of this :)

[Lyn H]

Thanks - will keep the mushroom compost in mind. I think I'll start a separate folder in my computer for all the info offered to me so far - it's so great to share our passion. Finishing touch to garden is in the morning with an organic vege/herb soil mix for the top layer. Then I must wait impatiently for the bed to start de-composing b4 I plant!!!

[Scarlett Patrick]

yes i've tried that too, very good, but i do wish there was a decent garden supplies within coo-ee. stupid bunnings - bring back the local nursery!

[Scarlett Patrick]

you can get BIG bales of hay for $52 plus delivery from apollo landscapes in rocklea (equivalent to about 9 bales, so cheaper than singles)
I think be careful of soggy bales that have been sitting around for a while - that's how I got the bird mite bale, but it's the first and only time and i've been doing for it ages like Chris suggests
i can't find a good source of chook poo - there was a chook farm out towards marsden but the pH was 14 (lime)
I just get bags from bunnings - expensive :(
bulk mushroom compost and other composts from centenary landscaping supplies in darra
i rang lots of spent mushroom compost suppliers before i went there in the end - there were a couple that would have been good, but i wanted other stuff in the same delivery - I found them online, might have been yellow pages actually- i think they have a mushroom compost heading!

too late now i know, i hope it grows beautifully for you. don't forget dolomite for your no-dig

[Lyn H]

Have organised to swap straw for lucerne.........problem with on-line shopping, can't get to see the real thing. I shld imagine a BIG bale of hay would cover my entire house and yard!! But thanks anyways :) Yes, sadly I shop at Bunnings as well, although I'm about to phone my local hardware shop to strike a deal. Great advice there and always helpful. Forgot about the dolomite - thanks!

I'm involved in a Transition Initiative (Transition Towns) in Kenmore - all about shopping local, working local, reducing food kilometres and of course growing your own. Would like to see Forest Lake start up a Transition Town Hub eventually.

Am trying to copy your info onto a word doc - can't. Any ideas why not??

[christopher zane hart]

it would be very unlikely that your chicken mites came on soggy bales , according to lawton poultry club members (i was a member for a short time ) who i spoke to on the subject , although chicken mites do live off the birds for short periods ( the whole life cycle is 10 days ) the most common cause by far is wild bird contact - chicken to chicken . Rather than avoiding soogy bales of lucerne i would be advising people to buy them as they are cheaper and already partly biodegraded. The only down side with them , and it is a very real consideration , is the presence of mould spores , YOU SHOULD AVIOD BREATHING THEASE IN , they are no a problem in the soil/garden environment.