Unfindable compost!

Hi,
I'm setting up my first Square Meter Garden. I live in Italy and I'm finding lots of difficulties in finding Mel's Mix components. At the end I found Vermiculite (medium size 2/5 mm) and Sphagnum peat moss, compost is impossible to find in Italy!!
My questions are:
1) vermiculite 2/5mm should work?
2) sphagnum peat moss seems to be acid, very acid, ph 2,5 - 3,5 (CaCl2) .... I'm not sure my vegs will love it! shouldn't be the soil ph 6 more or less?
3) compost is unfindable, vermicompost is available but it's very expensive, 16eur for 25kg, could I use something different?
4) a gardener told me a "pre-mixed" soil should work better... is that true?
thank you.
bye!

Hello Alanlu
Just wanted to let you know your post (question) is out here, I cannot help you, however soon some one will give you some input..
Welcome and good luck
Jimmy

OK, sorry for that. I'll post my questions somewhere else.

My comment wasn't intended to be critical, I only wanted you to realize it was here.
No need to go elsewhere, I'm certain some one will chime in.
cheers.

Welcome to the forum.

I understand how you feel and most newbies ( that's everyone at one time or the other) will too.

When I was looking for composts that fit the definition given I ended doing a search on Amazon uk for the different suggestions made on this site ( bat guano, worm compost, seaweed, lobster, etc) I found enough different kinds to do the mix but was appalled at the prices.  So I then googled the brands I had found on Amazon.  I soon found that web dealers were offering similar composts at a vastly lower price, I also knew what to ask for or look for in my local nurseries.

so my mix will have: mushroom compost, ( locally sources from a mushroom grower)
                              chicken manure ( my own)
                               horse manure ( my friends from her 2 year old pile)
                               carbon gold compost
                               veggrown ( a vegan compost)
                               a professional nursery mix


you could also find sources on ebay : there must be an equivalent if not an actual ebay.

So thinking of the different herbivore animal manures plus what you can find locally you should be able to find some cheaper sources of compost.

I  translated compost to terricio then went on Amazon it.From the pictures I recognised some of the composts I had seen on Amazon UK.


Anyway I am sure that a fellow SFG gardener living in Italy or having lived in Italy will be jumping to your rescue soon. 


Best of luck and lets know how you go on.

Christine 

Are there farms nearby where you may be able to ask for manure? That is how I got most of my compost when I set up my beds. Most farmers/ranchers will let you have all you can carry away.

GG

@jimmy cee
dear Jimmy Cee, I well understood your comment and took it as a good suggestion!
My english is far to be perfect....maybe my reply was too short and it sounded bad!
everything's ok!

@reservoir
the clue was "TERRICCIO"!!!!
I thought compost was something different .... after your suggestion I read better the "ingredients" of all types of "terriccio" I could buy from garden stores and...it works!!
moreover tomorrow there will be and important garden expo in Brescia, I'm sure there I'll find everything I need.
next week my garden will be ready!!!
thanks to you all!!

Amazing,  a simple word not translated correctly almost derailed a garden project.  So glad you and reservoir made connection.

Kay

alanlu wrote:@reservoir
the clue was "TERRICCIO"!!!!
I thought compost was something different .... after your suggestion I read better the "ingredients" of all types of "terriccio" I could buy from garden stores and...it works!!
moreover tomorrow there will be and important garden expo in Brescia, I'm sure there I'll find everything I need.
next week my garden will be ready!!!
thanks to you all!!

Welcome to the site ,

Look up on-line " The 18day Berkley hot composting method " there is a massive set of lists of materials in it that you can use to make compost and also the easy way of doing it if your reasonably fit ( if your not that fit & well  get someone who is to do it for you     ).