Let's talk animal waste and rotten plants.
The subject is all the rage these days as compost (animal waste and rotten plants) has elevated into conversation fodder at society cocktail parties.
These days, compost can be an absolute status symbol when it comes from the manure of the best families. That includes Lady Diana's family, which markets Spencer horse and cow manure and weeds from their ancestral estate through Land Gardeners of London. According to The Wall Street Journal, a coffee-sized bag goes for about $25.
Such artisanal compost also comes from the best-fed animals. At California's Flamingo Estate, the free-roaming chickens and goats drop rich deposits digested from organic fruits and vegetables, wild sage, and eucalyptus. It's very happy manure that goes into a luxury compost. A nine-pound bag sells for $75.
Gardeners confirm that rich compost helps to grow fabulous plants, but experts caution against buying compost outside the local area. It can contain invasive organisms, so you'll want to stick with what you can find nearby. Recycling centers often offer free leaf compost, too. The downside: It won't be as fun to discuss at cocktail parties.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
