What's in it?
Sky River Fish Compost is a uniquely clean product comprised of horse manure and hem-fir stall bedding combined with whole fish from Washington and Alaska fisheries (150 pounds per cubic yard).
Nothing else! It contains no contaminants associated with municipal yard waste compost; there is no plastic, glass or metal and there are no herbicides, pesticides or pharmaceutical residuals.
How is it Made?
Sky River Fish Compost is produced using the Aerated Static Pile (ASP) Method of Composting. By inducing airflow into the compost pile, we are able to maintain aerobic conditions throughout the 30-day "Active Phase" of composting. Oxygen stimulates the microorganisms that are working on our behalf, resulting in heat. We take advantage of the heat to destroy pathogens, parasites, weed seeds and insect larvae.
Following the Active Phase, the compost is "Cured" for 90 to 120 days to produce a very stable product that is safe and ready to use in any application. After Curing, the compost is screened to produce a uniform texture and then placed in 1-cubic foot bags and distributed to garden centers located throughout Western Washington.
How do I use it?
Sky River Fish Compost can be used as a soil amendment, as a top dressing, or as a component in making compost tea.
As a soil amendment, our growth trials show that adding 20% - 25% to your current garden soil or potting mix will optimize plant growth. Please note that Sky River Fish Compost is not a potting mix by itself and should not be used in concentrations exceeding 50%.
As a top dressing, we recommend spreading 1/4 - 1/2 inch of our compost on top of the soil for both indoor and outdoor potted plants. Watering through this compost layer will extract nutrients and beneficial microorganisms into the underlying soil and within 1-2 weeks, the plant will quickly show renewed health and vigor.
It may also be used to reestablish lawns and sports turf by following these six steps: 1) thoroughly aerate the entire lawn, and thatch if this has not been done within the last three years; 2) spread Sky River Fish Compost to a depth of 1/4-inch over the area being treated; 3) spread a liberal amount of new grass seed that is best suited to your climate and sun exposure; 4) apply a thin layer of peat moss to cover the seed; 5) sprinkle the area with a light application of Epsom Salt (an excellent source of magnesium); and 6) water daily to keep the lawn wet, especially during extended periods of dry weather. Within two weeks, you will be absolutely amazed at the result.
As a component in making compost tea, it can be placed in a fine-mesh nylon bag and a 5-gallon bucket of warm water. Over a period of 24 hours, the nutrients and beneficial microorganisms will be extracted into the water which can then be used for watering indoor and outdoor plants.
For a "brewed" compost tea, a tablespoon of non-sulfur molasses can be added to the water along with an aeration "bubbler" to stimulate a dramatic increase in microbes, resulting in a "super food" for all types of plants.