Vermiculite

Ask any sfg'er what the bane of their existence is and they will tell you vermiculite. Vermiculite... from what I learned on a long, exhausting search... is mica rock popped like popcorn. In Mel's mix it is one of three ingredients... compost, peat moss, vermiculite, those three in equal amounts.

Compost... check... it's everywhere, especially on my farm.

Peat Moss... check... right there at the local farm store.

Vermiculite... vermiculite... where the #$(@& do I get vermiculite. Go to nursery I'm passing... "vermiculite, what's that, I've never heard of it before"... ??? ... okay maybe the old reliables have it... Walmart and Lowes ... "here it is, perilite""no I want vveerrmmmiiculite""vermiculite? what's that?" aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh... check out sfg forum "yep here are some places on line".. Okay so I figure that will work and start searching sites. Price $25 for 1 cu ft!! Are you kidding me, I need at least 12 cu ft. I finally find a place that sells it cheap. YEAH!! Oh wait... I forgot shipping.

You ever just want to throw your hands in the air and say forget? I do, often. Unfortunately, I married the man with the "look". Well there was one small nursery looking place that I hadn't tried. I drive over with my honey and wearily ask the owner if he has vermiculite. "No... but I can get you some""You know what vermiculite is???" He gave me a strange look for some reason. So off home I go to mix my Mel's mix..... after it stops raining.

It's the end of April already, my seedlings have forested the floor of our bedroom and my cat is nowhere to be found...