Grass Roots Fertilizer by Merry Bradley Grassroots Garden Coordinator
(NPK = 5-5-1) (For a 40-50 foot bed that's 4 feet wide)
LARG: L=Lime
A= Alfalfa meal
R= Rock Phosphate (powdered spreads better)
G= Greensand
*2 gallons lime (agricultural or dolomite; see below)
2 gallons alfalfa meal
1 and 1/2 gallons rock phosphate
1 gallon green sand
If you use an 8 cup scoop, just remember 4,4,3,2: i.e. 4 scoops lime, 4 of alfalfa, 3 of rock phosphate,
and 2 of greensand for each garden bed with the above dimensions.
You may use kelp powder instead of green sand but kelp is 4 times the expense.
*Dolomite Lime contains about equal amounts of calcium and magnesium, so it is preferred. Or, you can
alternate from year to year between dolomite and agricultural lime.
Note: If you have a small garden and wish to make a big batch and share with other gardeners, you can
buy bulk and save money. Supplies in large quantities (25 and 50 pound bags) are available at some feed
and seed stores such as Diess Feed and Down to Earth locally. You may need to order if you wait too
long into the spring or summer. If you have a favorite farm store, inquire if they carry these supplies
and/or will order them for you.
FORMULA FOR COMPLETE ORGANIC FERTILIZER
By Steve Solomon (Founder of Territorial Seed Co.)

4 parts any kind of seedmeal (except coprameal)
OR

3 parts any seedmeal (except coprameal) and 1 part "tankage" (sometimes called "blood-andbone" or "meatmeal"). This higher-nitrogen option is slightly better for leafy crops in spring.
OR

4 ½ parts less-potent coprameal, supplemented with 1 ½ parts tankage to boost the nitrogen
content.
BLEND WITH

¼ part ordinary agricultural lime, best finely ground.
AND

¼ part gypsum (if you don't use gypsum, double the quantity of agricultural lime)
AND

½ part dolomite lime
PLUS (for best results)

1 part of any one of these phosphorus sources:
o finely ground rock phosphate
o either "hard" or "soft" *bonemeal
o high-phosphate guano
o ½ to 1 part kelpmeal
o 1 part basalt dust
GRASSROOTS GARDEN POTTING SOIL RECIPE
(Small batch)
3 ¾ gallons sifted composted cow manure
*3 ¾ gallons sifted coir (coconut fiber)
1 five gallon bucket sifted compost
¾ of a 1.5 cubic ft. bag of potting soil
**2 ½ quarts worm castings
1 gallon + 2 quarts + 1 cup vermiculite
1 pound 14 oz. silica sand
Mix all ingredients well then add:
1 ½ cups lime
1 ½ cups alfalfa meal
1 cup rock phosphate
1 cup green sand or kelp meal
¼ cup azomite powder
* It takes 3 coir bricks to make enough for 3 and ¾ gallons. You need to soak it overnight in plain water
to loosen it up for screening.
2 bricks finely sifted (¼ inch grid) = 3 gallons
3 bricks finely sifted = 4 and ¾ gallons
Bricks usually come in a box of 4.
** Be aware that when you use raw, unsterilized live compost and worm castings, you may get seedlings
from the seeds that did not heat up and die in the composting process which can be confused with the
seedlings you planted, so observe your seedlings carefully!
SOIL MIX (Food for Lane County Youth Farm)
2 large bales of coco coir, soaked overnight, then sieved
1 ½ - 2 full wheelbarrows of sifted compost or Rexius Steer Plus (use only 1 ½ for deluxe compost)
I bag of vermiculite
5 bags of Down To Earth OG potting mix
1 ½ gallons of Dolomite or Agricultural Lime
1 gallon of Fish Bone Meal
1 ½ gallons of fish meal
1 gallon of kelp meal
1 quart of azomite
2 gallons of (builder's) sharp sand
It is important to mix all the amendments (lime, bonemeal etc.) together, before incorporating into the
mix.
The whole process requires a great deal of physical work. The sieving/sifting takes a while and, of
course, requires the right grade of sieve, and the mixing itself is strenuous - it is essential to keep on
mixing until the amendments have been completely incorporated into the mix - so that they are not
visible to the eye. Be prepared, in other words, for a process that will require a work party. Otherwise, it
becomes a real chore.
Makes enough for: 75-100 6 pack flats OR maybe 1000 3" pots