New compost prices, display

If you caught us at the Lansing Home & Garden Show last weekend, you've already seen our impressive new Reused and Recycled expo booth! Part of that included an expanded display for compost, and we've updated our prices as well:

Uncured compost is produced from livestock manure and bedding from MSU Farms. It is hot composted for 4-6 weeks and, although it is stable, it is not cured or screened.

Farmers typically purchase uncured compost in bulk quantities and apply it to their fields as a soil amendment and fertilizer supplement.

20 Yard lot: Dutch auction starts at $8/cu.yd.

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Cured compost is the same material as our uncured compost, but it has been screened and cured for an additional 6-12 months. It has high calcium, potash, potassium and nitrogen contents.

Home lawns and gardens are ideal places to use cured compost. It can be used as a lawn topdressing, garden soil amendment, or mulch additive for potting mix.

1/2 Yard: $20
1 Yard: $30
2 Yard bag: $75

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Compost pellets are made from cured compost that is screened, dried and compressed into pellets.

Easier to store and more convenient to apply in small amounts, compost pellets can be used as an occasional lawn topdressing, garden soil amendment, or mulch additive for potting mix.

7 lbs. jug: $12.50
20 lbs. bag: $20

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Vermicompost is made at the MSU Student Organic Farm by feeding fruit and vegetable scraps, paper and leaves to a special variety of worms. The result contains many nutrients, minerals, microrutrients, and beneficial bacteria for healthy plants,

To help plants resist disease and increase growth, vermicompost can be used as a potting soil amendment, applied to surface soil, or extracted with water as a compost tea.

2 lbs. bag: $4

Staying Warm, Paying Less

As temperatures are dropping, you may notice your heating and electric bills rising. For those of you looking to keep your living space warm while avoiding increased heating costs this season, try making things “snug” instead. 

Windows, doors, and exterior walls are common places to lose heat. Try adding an extra level of insulation in these areas to block out cold and keep in warmth. Adding weather stripping under doors and windows is an inexpensive way to block drafts, or a rolled-up towel can be used for the same purpose. Covering your windows with a plastic seal is one way to stop drafts. If you don’t want to lose your view, try using duct tape or clear packaging tape to cover just the cracks around the frame instead. 

Some other options for making things “snug” include hanging a vinyl shower curtain between your drapes and the window, hanging quilts or decorative blankets over exterior windows or walls, and keeping doors to exterior rooms and closets shut.

Increasing the humidity in your living space will make it feel warmer, and you can do this without the cost of running a humidifier by placing shallow dishes of water throughout your apartment or home.  As the water evaporates, you only need to refill the dishes every few days.

For other great winter tips, read these suggestions from Consumers Energy and The Daily Green.

Planting and Gardening Trays

The MSU Surplus Store currently has around 300 Portable Modular Raised Trays for use in gardens, landscaping, flower beds, green roofs, and many others areas. These items are availible for only $10.00 each and we can offer bulk discounts (please contact us for more information).

These items are approximately 45" X 45"; Depth of 5" to 8 1/4". Beds are made of high-density polyethylene that is very resilient and ridged and easily moved when full or in use.

These items are perfect for all of your indoor or outdoor creative projects! Some possible uses of these trays:

Portable Raised Flower Beds
Athletic Fields (Football, Baseball, Soccer, ect.) either modular or permanent
Garden or Green Roofs
Golf Courses (Tee boxes, Greens)
High Traffic Green Areas
Erosion Control
Modular Planting Areas or Portable Nursery

These items were used in the conversion of MSU's Spartan Stadum field from artificial to natural surface.