A pile of leaves and other vegetation deposited two years ago at the Elm Creek Community Garden has become a fertile magnet for gardeners.
Tracy Keagle hopes to capitalize on that desirous pile of dirt by selling the compost.
Gardeners can purchase the mulch for $5 for a 35-gallon plastic lawn-and-garden bag, or $25 for a truckload. A Kubota lawn tractor can be used to load the compost in trucks, said Keagle, garden coordinator.
“It’s good, organic garden material,” Keagle said.
The pile received much of its compost following a citywide leaf pick-up effort two years ago. Other gardeners would toss dead and decaying fruits and vegetables or grass clippings. The biodegrading process since then has created a nutrient-rich pile of compost.
The compost can be used for water retention in the ground or to stunt weed growth, Keagle said..
Ideally, Keagle would like to schedule several compost pick-ups at the same time so she can be on hand to assist the fledgling gardeners.
KEAGLE’S goal, ironically, is to use proceeds from the sold compost in order to develop a second, permanent compost pile for use at the community garden.
Those who use the community garden use compost from a second pile, situated between a stack of concrete barriers.
“The plan is to get a second pile there so that we can turn it over with the Kubota” and rotate between the two piles, Keagle said, a vital component of the composting process.
Those interested in buying compost should call Keagle at 228-7456.
MEANWHILE, THE community garden — between the 600 blocks of South First and Second streets — is ready and waiting for March 17, the official opening day of the 2012 ECCG season.
The lack of bitterly cold weather in January and February, coupled with unusually warm in recent days has added to the anticipation, Keagle said.
“Oh, we’re ready,” she said. “We’re just waiting for March 17 to get here. We’re hoping Mother Nature cooperates.”
Garden plots are still available for $20 apiece. A single gardener is limited to three plots. Information about renting a garden plot is available in the garden’s information window.
The rental fee grants gardeners access to ECCG’s seeds, tools and water, Keagle said.
