Nordic Gardens is creating all vegetation matter only; no animal manure is used, compost at its Carbondale nursery. Most all compost available uses animal manure in its production. The compost cooking period last as long as 1 year to cure the compost properly. Temperatures of over 150 degrees Fahrenheit will be achieved in the cooking process. All the microorganisms are growing and eating. There is a food chain of animals eating the vegetation and eating the other animals. There is a whole food chain that develops in the compost including predators and prey. You have to have perfect air circulation. It has to be moist but not overly wet. It has to be turned and aerated in a few months after peak temperatures have been achieved and the compost pile is starting to drop in temperature. At that point the compost will be turned and mixed and the cooking process will begin again. The compost will drench with water but only once every two months during the tilling and re-stacking stages. Any wood products, chunks, chips, and small branches will survive the first cooking process and require much longer time to break down. But the wood portion is valuable to aerate the pile properly. Grasses, flower waste, seed heads, and weeds break down quickly but provide a huge boost in energy because they are very high in nitrogen. Nordic Garden adds a secret ingredient, which they cultivate to provide a disinfectant to the compost. Over at least one year the compost is tilled and larger pieces that did not break down are removed. The compost sits for 6 months in the winter and the temperature will hold around 110 degrees Fahrenheit. So it will be 6 months of summer tilling and 6 months of winter cooking. The resulting mix has dark soil texture rich in humic acid, the most stable form of nutrient available to your garden. Handling the compost will turn your hands black. One application is good enough for the whole season. Nordic Gardens can only produce a limited amount of compost. All Nordic Garden projects include the special compost, so expect great results if you’re a customer in your gardens. Small amounts are available to the public. You can purchase 1 cubic yard 3 feet by 3feet by 3feet box for $100 at the Nordic Garden Nursery. Please call for an appointment with Keith Keating at (970) 379 4049. Nordic Gardens can only accept cash or check.