Recipe: Potting Soil for Seed Starting and Transplants

If Richard had his choice, he would put equal parts of Aged Cow Compost, Peat Moss, and Garden Soil (if we can get to it), plus a bit of Sand.

Since we did not put back Garden Soil last fall, we are dependent upon whether or not it is accessible. Right now, it is not. Garden Soil in the Mix gives Plants an early introduction to special living characteristics of their new Home.

Peat gives tilth. We would like to substitute another resource, since Peat is a non-renewable resource. We have visited Peat Bogs in Northern Minnesota and they are wonders to behold. In no way do we want to reduce them. We are on the look out for other options.

He runs the whole works through a sifter which he made from 1/4 inch hardware cloth inside a wooden frame.

We do not "bake" the Potting Soil to reduce Weed Seeds. We have a few, which we just remove. Intuitively, "baking" just doesn't seem right. All those micro-organisms in the Soil make it Alive. They surely have their place and we do not want to interfere.

Melanie and I are planting at a fairly brisk pace these days. Activities this week will place a high demand on the Potting Mix. We watch carefully for signs that the Compost is drying out, which it was yesterday when these photos were taken. Otherwise, it is not workable. Such would be the case today.