Got Compost? More People Are Growing Vegetables at Home

Eb Hogervorst of Ramona has his hands in the soil every day, dealing with landscapers, farmers and homeowners. So, he has a good read on gardening trends.

As a partner in Stockalper Soil Amendments—a long-time Ramona company—Hogervorst said he's seeing a change in the way people are getting their food.

"More folks are starting to garden in their back yard, putting in planter boxes and raised beds," he said. "With the cost of fruits and vegetables going up, up, up, more people are growing food in their yards. It used to be that fruit and vegetables were so cheap you could buy them in the store, but that's all changed."

Hogervorst's partner is Rudi Stockalper, whose late father, Rudi Stockalper Sr., started the business 40 years ago. Back then, the family grew hay and grain.

These days, Hogervorst and Stockalper supply soil amendments to farmers, landscapers, homeowners, community gardens and companies with edible gardens all over San Diego county. Their main yard is in Harmony Grove, near Escondido, and they also have a location at Hanson Lane and Ashley Road in Ramona. Amendment is piled in rows there and watered.

Hogervorst said the economy isn't the only reason he's seeing more people growing their own food.

"It's also because of health reasons and organic reasons that they're growing vegetables in their yard. It's good to know your food source."

The base of the Stockalper compost is wood chips from a large lumber company in San Diego county. Pearlite, loamy topsoil, sand, a variety of manures and micro-organisms are added to it. The organisms help deliver the nutrients into the soil, Hogervorst said. They are mixed with water and sprayed onto the compost rows.

What kind of manure is the best kind to use in compost?

"We use chicken and rabbit manure," Hogervorst said. "It's high in nitrogen. Some old-timers like steer manure but it has a lot of salts."

Stockalper Soil Amendments has several different compost mixes to offer, depending on what will be grown with it. The company will deliver their product to homeowners for $25 to $30 a cubic yard, depending on the contents of the compost, plus mileage.

How to Make Your Own Compost

For small areas or containers, gardeners might consider buying small bags of compost at a local store such as

On the other hand, some people like to make their own.

To do that, gardeners need "greens" (leaves or food waste), "browns" (wood chips or cardboard), air and water. Click on this link to get tips on compost production from Solana Center for Environmental Education, a non-profit organization based in Encinitas. In its final stages, compost should be dark, moist and crumbly.

You can make compost in a pile or bin. Here are some compost bin designs to consider, if you choose to make your own. San Diego Zoo Safari Park has a compost education area near the playground, featuring several bins. Photos are attached to this story.

Solana Center will provide a free composting workshop in Ramona on Dec. 3. It will be from 10 a.m. to noon at Mussey Grade Village Park, 14625 Mussey Grade Road. Click here to register. For more information, call (760) 436-7986 or email compost@solanacenter.org