Quality control from start to finish
Our biggest customers are operators of organic greenhouses. They depend on every batch of Vermont Compost; they don’t get a second chance to bring in a crop. That’s why we do everything we can, from raw material to finished product, to make the best possible compost and potting soil.
Since we don’t take any shortcuts, our prices are higher than some. But soil is the smallest cost item for a greenhouse operator, and poor-quality soil can make the whole thing an exercise in futility. You can save a little on soil and compost — but you can lose a lot if your crop doesn’t come in.
Why does Vermont Compost cost a bit more? Let’s walk through the process. We’ll show you where the money goes, and why we believe it’s worthwhile.
It’s a lunch box, not a garbage can
In general, the modern compost industry began as a waste management enterprise, a way to get rid of unwanted stuff.
Some compost producers don’t give much thought to their raw materials. In effect, they take somebody else’s garbage and turn it into compost and potting soil. Whether their product is the best possible medium for plant growth… well, that’s not foremost in their minds.
At Vermont Compost, we are horticulture driven: our goal is to help plants grow and promote healthy soil. That means a completely different approach to acquiring material. We don’t use the word "waste." We prefer "residuals." We’re not emptying a garbage can; we’re packing a lunch box for plants.
Locally we pioneered the practice of paying farmers for manure. That may seem like a strange thing to do, but we think it’s essential. It helps farmers think of manure as something of value, something worth treating with care. Also, as a paying customer, we get a say in the process.
We have strict guidelines about how material is handled, and what may or may not be included. We visit every farm, to see how they work and build relationships face to face.
We’re equally picky when it comes to non-farm suppliers. Food residuals come from community and commercial operations that meet our standards. Every container we get from a food processor is numbered. If a container isn’t up to snuff, we send it back.
Another component of Vermont Compost is wood bark, which is treated with the same care. In winter, wood haulers usually lubricate their trailer walls with diesel oil. We’ve worked with the same trucker for years; he uses corn oil, so the bark is free of oil residue. (We’ve switched to non-petroleum fuels and lubricants in our own equipment for the same reason.)
Some of our manure is produced on-site, by our own chickens. If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by and pick up some fresh eggs.
A nose for good compost
The quest for quality doesn’t end when the raw material arrives at our door. We test and evaluate at every step in the process. You could call it an obsession, but it’s one of the good ones.
We are constantly test-growing in our own greenhouses. We grow a variety of plants in every batch of Vermont Compost, just to make sure they are all germinating and producing good roots. One greenhouse is devoted to the torture of plants. If our soils can produce under deliberately abusive conditions, we know they will work in your greenhouse or garden.
Lab work is a key part of our program. We perform weekly lab tests in-house, and hire commercial labs to cross-check the results. But one of our most important pieces of testing equipment is the nose: an educated sniffer can tell a good batch of compost from a bad one.
Testing and research continue even after our products are sold. Over the years, we’ve built a network of the country’s most experienced organic growers — our customers. We’re constantly answering questions and sharing information. If your petunias start turning somersaults, we can call other growers who bought the same batch of Vermont Compost and ask if their petunias are coming in upside down. We solve a lot of problems that way. And whether you’re buying soil in bulk for a greenhouse or picking up a bag of Vermont Compost for a home garden, you benefit from this network of knowledge, this communal compostopedia.
All this time, expense, and care is expended to ensure that nobody gets stuck with soil that doesn’t work. The result is a product that’s used by some of the most demanding organic growers in the country. If we can satisfy them, we believe we can satisfy you.
