It can be very costly to fill the garden can't it? Some cities offer compost by the truck load at their yard debris centers , but if your's does not, you may want to try a local landscape store for bulk. I would also suggest creating your own compost if you have not already. If you do your own, you can skip the 5 different type method because you can ensure the diversity of what is being composted. When I first filled mine I just bought bags from the local big box store, Lowes in my case. I think I had black cow, some mushroom compost, some off brand maybe evergreen? I mixed that with what I had of my own. Since then my box has been maintained with my own compost which I ensure a good diversity of material. The bulk of my compost is typically grass/weed/clover clippings from my back ally, leaves from the front yard, chicken poo, some chicken bedding/pine chips, cardboard/paper products, garden scraps, and then table scraps. I can get a decent load of compost each month if I constantly turn and chop, but typically I do a few big loads during the spring and Summer and one big load over the winter. I have one of those big rubber made storage containers filled at all times. This gives me more than enough compost to maintain the boxes and yard. Just find what you can. Try more than one big box store as they have different brands if you are really concerned. Honestly though, you can probably get by with just the three or two options and throw some balance organic fertilizer in there for the first go around and then have your own compost from here on out.

I started my first pile over the winter but it's been slow to decompose so far because it's very brown stuff heavy and I haven't bothered to go out of my way to add nitrogen but hopefully after this first try I can speed it up! I appreciate the advice on just the 3 or 2 compost options. I might end up doing that!

I usually make my own compost but last fall I never got around to making a new pile so this year I had to hunt up bagged compost. This is what I found.

Black Kow can be purchased at Lowes, Home Depot and just about any hardware store that sells gardening supplies.

Chicken Compost purchased at a local feed and seed store.

Cotton Compost purchased at a local feed and seed store.

Evergreen Compost purchased at lowe's.

Mushroom Compost purchased at Home Depot.

Worm Castings purchased at local Garden Center.

I did not purchase this because I had enough but this is sold at Walmart.

I did not purchase this because I had enough but this is sold at Walmart.

Thank you for all the great pics! And I'm in GA too so most of these should be available around here!