So there's a couple of places around here that sells bulk compost and I calculated the cost it will save us a bunch. So right now we are thinking about starting with two raised beds for veggies and we need about 2.5 cubic yards for compost in total. However, we don't have a truck, nor does anyone we know have it. We can do delivery but since we don't live super close to one of these sites, delivery will tack on more cost that makes it not worth buying the bulk, and also they usually have a minimum requirement that we don't need that much right now. So we are thinking about bagging ourselves and putting in our SUV and maybe making a few trips over a weekend to get it all. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to use to transport the compost? Should we get some large rubbermaid bins? Or use heavy duty trash bags? Or any other way? Thanks!
I have seen people at the garden center near us use sturdy trash containers. You may still get a discount if you negotiate a set amount of full trash containers to be acknowledged by the place you get the compost as you load the containers. But you will never know unless you ask. Don't ask a sales person, ask for a manager or supervisor. The regular staff usually can not negotiate prices. You can then use these spare containers to hold peat moss and/or compost. , even water during a drought. Jerry P.S. Oh, make sure you can lift a full container of compost. It helps to have an assistant.
I would suggest that you invest in contractor's trash bags--huge and very sturdy. You can take them home full, dump them, and take them back to be re-filled. Or, find a friend or neighbor who wants compost and go halves on renting a truck. Fill the truck bed, get it to where you want it, shove the compost out the back, and make another trip if you need to.
For easy handling, you might try this: use 12 gallon heavy duty garbage bags; set them in an appropriate-sized waste basket; fill; tie off and load into SUV. Won't be as heavy as LARGE filled bags; empty out (as needed) and reuse bags for lawn/garden refuse or other garbage. Where I live, I have a pellet stove; keep a number of those STURDY bags just for this purpose (held 40 pounds of pellets each); recycle them after with garden refuse, etc.. Have found oversize bags are like trying to handle a bowl of Jello after filling, need a lot of patience unless you can back right up to sight! Hope I've helped...
I have picked up bagged compost from a neighbor. He uses the feedsacks from horse oats. They are sturdy but don't hold so much that you can slug them in your car. (Jerry's point is a good one about weight.)
Those feed sacks if you can get them are perfect. Hold 50 lbs so easy to handle, are lined so you can reuse several times and free if you know anyone with horses. I have six horses so I use them for all kinds of stuff.
Layer pellets for poultry also come in the sturdy feed sacks. Ask a local farmer/rancher if there are any extra sacks laying about. Right now I have three in the barn, waiting to become trash bags. Wish I could send them to you!
