Complete the cycle with compost

We have come a long way and can now happily announce the official launch of Lufa Farms ‘Premium Compost, now for sale to our subscribers in a 100% compostable bag!

Turning organic waste into compost is hardly a new concept, it’s been practiced as early as the Roman Empire to keep the streets clean of human waste and to replenish agricultural soils. The benefits of compost are endless, when added to soil it can improve soil structure, be a source of slow release nutrients, act as a disease suppressant, improve moisture holding capacity and by choosing to use compost in our gardens we relieve the pressure on soil mixes containing peat. Peat is mined from important wetland environments, therefore disturbing the natural habitat of many species and releasing CO2 that was stored underground. Because of it’s slow regrowth, about 1 mm a year, peat is actually considered a fossil fuel and not a renewable resource (IPCC). In addition, composting keeps organic waste out of the landfill where it produces methane, a greenhouse gas with 21 times the impact of CO2 on climate change.

When I started at Lufa Farms in May 2012, my colleague Catherine Church, was solely responsible for starting a program to help us manage our greenhouse organic waste with a large in-vessel composter Lufa Farms acquired through a government grant. Still, getting a compost program started from ground zero is literally a ton of work. When I came along, with my little background in soil science and my shared belief that organic waste is in fact a valuable resource, I volunteered to be her partner in crime. In a year, Cat and I have experimented with different ingredients to find the right C:N (carbon & nitrogen)balance to get the best quality compost, expanded our organic waste collection to our office kitchens and distribution center, are on our way to developing an app to help us round out our program management, and now, we are happy to offer packaged compost for our customers to enjoy, just in time for gardening season! With your support composting at Lufa Farms is only going to get better so let us know what you think of our product and how you use it in your home and garden!

Have you used compost before? Convert! It’s easy and your plants will be happier than ever! Add it to your basket next time you customize it.

Directions for use
The best use for Lufa Farms’ compost is as an amendment to existing substrates. It would improve the structure of soils with high levels of clay because it has a lower bulk density with a maximum particle size of ? inch. Mix in up to a ratio of one part compost to two-three parts soil. This compost should not be used as the only growing medium. Lufa Farms compost is also best suited for use as a light top dressing to improve texture, organic matter content and nutrient content. Lufa Farm’s compost is rich in the macronutrients magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium and has a CEC of 30meq/100g, making it a good source of nutrient retention sites. Top dress up to 2 inches and water in. For larger scale uses, our compost is suitable for agricultural broadcast field applications and landscaping purposes.

Cat & Amanda co-run Lufa Farms' Compost Program