I have been using a Grow mix that has peat and vermiculite in it, that I got at a nursery. Then I add a ton of compost (3 diff kinds) and it isn't exactly Mels, but so far so good.

Janet

Go to http://www.thomasnet.com/ and search for vermiculite. That and a little legwork should help you find some. Good hunting! ;-)

If you have a local hydroponics supply you can try there. You could also ask one of the nurseries if they would be willing to special order it for you.

I paid $30 for 3.5 cf at a hydroponics retailer in Oregon. I'm not sure that it was a great price but I wasn't finding it anywhere else for less. The one nursery I found which carried it was charging just under $50 for 4 cf. A spendy amendment but still a reasonably inexpensive hobby for me.

The prices are all over the place on this.I paid $19 for a bag that was 4 cubic ft.

I'm also in NoVa, and we buy vermiculite in huge bags (3cf?)at Meadows Farms for about $23.