Preparing 1st Run Kit Soil!
So it was time to cook up another batch of soil. Thought I would share that process for anyone interested. When you order the kit it comes with a variety of dry amendments and a variety of drenches. To prepare a batch of soil you need about 20oz of 1st run amendment, 1 3.8 cubic foot bag of promix, and around 30lbs of earthworm castings. I went ahead and split the bulk bag of 1st run into 4 even amounts because it is enough to do 4 batches. Came out to a hair over 20oz each.
I spread out a tarp and dump the promix in the middle. I spread it out with a hoe and try to chop up any clumps I see. Once it’s spread out pretty good, I’ll spread the EWC as evenly as I can. Then I use the hoe to mix it all together by walking around the edge while continuously pushing and pulling the mixture towards and away from the middle. Make a couple rounds and it’s good and mixed. Then I add the 1st run amendment. There was wind today, so I got down real close to the soil mix because even the dust in the amendment is important. I didn’t want to lose any of it. Then another round or 2 of mixing.
Once all of those are well mixed, I add 3 gallons of water and mix again. Once that’s mixed well, I add 2 more and mix again. Seems like a lot of mixing, but it really doesn’t take long and you want it mixed evenly. Next I just load it into totes. I used 2 27gal totes today.
After I load it in the totes I take the shovel and kinda poke around in there just to break up any clumps that may have formed with my scooping. I check to make sure there is enough moisture. If it seemed dry then I would have added just a bit more water, but it was perfect. Nice and damp but not too wet. I could squeeze it into a clump, but when I drop it back into the soil it breaks right apart.
Then the totes go in the house where the soil “cooks” for a month before it will be ready to use. I may have enough of my other soil to handle the uppotting but I doubt it. So this way when the time comes I know I have all the soil I need!
it is ok. I am a stick my finger in the light socket kinda guy myself....they might just be stalled for the next few weeks....good news is.....
you get your OGKB merit badge when your done. 
And super nice collection of seeds! 
) I’ll add that you want cooking soil to be able to breathe just a little. So ‘closed’ doesn’t mean fully-sealed. You want just a little ‘crack’ here n there to allow for air exchange 
