New World Survival · Community Garden Field Manual
Compost, Mulch & Soil Building Workbook
Use this workbook to make amendment decisions that another gardener can reconstruct later. Record the job, evidence, material, source, application and result.
Rule: Do not check a box because compost or mulch sounds beneficial. Check it only when you have the evidence or completed the task.
1. Bed and decision record
Garden:
Plot/bed ID:
Date:
Gardener/reviewer:
Current crop or next crop:
What job are we trying to accomplish?
☐ Add organic matter ☐ Correct soil structure/tilth concern ☐ Supply nutrients ☐ Reduce evaporation ☐ Suppress weeds ☐ Protect bare soil ☐ Improve paths ☐ Other: ____________
2. Soil evidence
| Record | Finding | Date/source |
|---|
| pH | | |
| Organic matter, if reported | | |
| Phosphorus | | |
| Potassium | | |
| Soluble salts, if relevant | | |
| Lab recommendation | | |
Anything the soil test does not establish that matters here:
3. Amendment history
| Date/season | Material | Source | Amount/area | Reason |
|---|
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
4. Proposed material
☐ Purchased compost ☐ Garden-made compost ☐ Composted manure ☐ Raw/aged manure ☐ Straw ☐ Leaves ☐ Grass clippings ☐ Wood chips ☐ Other: ____________
Supplier/source:
Known feedstocks:
What do we not know?
5. Purchased compost quality record
☐ Feedstocks disclosed ☐ Current technical/test data obtained ☐ Application guidance obtained ☐ Batch/product identified ☐ STA participation checked if relevant
| Characteristic | Reported value/information | Why it matters here |
|---|
| pH | | |
| Soluble salts | | |
| Nutrients | | |
| Maturity/stability | | |
| Feedstocks | | |
| Other | | |
6. Persistent-herbicide pathway screen
Stop condition: Hay, pasture grass, lawn clippings or manure with uncertain herbicide history requires investigation before use on sensitive edible crops.
| Question | Yes/No/Unknown | Evidence or next action |
|---|
| Does the material contain hay or pasture-derived material? | | |
| Does it contain grass clippings? | | |
| Does it contain manure from animals fed hay/pasture? | | |
| Can the supplier identify herbicides used on source fields/lawns? | | |
| Has this material been used successfully with sensitive broadleaf crops? | | |
7. Animal-origin amendment record
Material is: ☐ None ☐ Treated/finished compost ☐ Raw manure ☐ Aged manure ☐ Unknown
Animal species/source:
Treatment/process documentation:
Current Extension/FDA/local guidance consulted:
Do not improvise: Raw, aged or incompletely processed manure on edible plots requires current qualified guidance for the exact material and setting.
8. Shared compost station map
Sketch active pile/bin, curing area, finished-material area, water source, drainage direction, food-growing area, access and signs.
9. Accepted and rejected feedstocks
Post the actual rules at the station. Do not rely on volunteers remembering them.
10. Compost batch log
| Batch ID | Start date | Major feedstocks | Moisture/turning notes | Curing start | Finished decision/date |
|---|
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
11. Compost troubleshooting log
| Date | Symptom | What we checked | Correction | Result |
|---|
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
12. Finished-compost decision
☐ No recognizable fresh feedstock dominating material ☐ Pile no longer actively heating after mixing ☐ Curing period completed per system guidance ☐ No trash/pet waste/known prohibited input incident ☐ Source/feedstock record complete
Additional tests or professional guidance required before use?
Decision: ☐ Proceed ☐ Investigate ☐ Modify use ☐ Stop
Reason:
13. Compost application record
| Date | Bed/area | Product/batch | Quantity | Area | Purpose | Follow-up |
|---|
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
14. Mulch selection
| Area | Job | Material | Source/herbicide check | Planned depth | Stem/crown clearance |
|---|
| Vegetable bed | | | | | |
| Path | | | | | |
| Perennial area | | | | | |
15. Mulch installation and water reset
☐ Weeds removed/reduced first ☐ Soil moisture checked before application ☐ Material kept away from stems/crowns ☐ Wet spots/drainage concerns considered ☐ Watering routine recalibrated after mulching
Root-zone moisture result after first normal watering:
Adjustment:
16. Soil-building plan beyond compost
| Practice | This season | Owner | Evidence/result |
|---|
| Keep soil covered | | | |
| Living roots / succession / cover crop | | | |
| Reduce unnecessary disturbance | | | |
| Crop diversity/rotation | | | |
| Nutrient replacement from soil/crop guidance | | | |
17. Incident record
| Date | Incident | Material/batch | Area affected | Immediate action | Who was contacted |
|---|
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
18. Annual nutrient and amendment review
☐ Soil test reviewed ☐ Amendment totals reviewed ☐ High phosphorus/potassium/salts considered ☐ Compost still justified ☐ Next soil test/review date set
What will we add next year, if anything, and why?
19. Capability check
☐ I can distinguish compost, mulch and long-term soil building.
☐ I can identify what a soil test says before choosing an amendment.
☐ I can trace purchased compost to its feedstocks and quality information.
☐ I can identify a persistent-herbicide pathway.
☐ I can maintain a shared compost batch record.
☐ I can identify when an animal-origin amendment requires qualified guidance.
☐ I can choose a mulch for a specific job and then recheck watering.
☐ I can leave an amendment record another gardener can understand.
20. Handoff note
What the next gardener/coordinator must know:
Records stored at:
Next review/test date:
Companion to New World Survival, “Compost, Mulch and Soil Building.” General U.S. educational material. Verify local composting rules, feedstock restrictions, manure guidance, invasive-species controls and crop-specific soil recommendations.