At the March 27, 2010 meeting Les Ulm provided an excellent summary of organic fertilizers. Here are the suggestions:

• Nitrogen (to green up plants):
  • Cottonseed meal
  • Dried blood (also referred to as blood meal)
  • Alfalfa meal
• Phosphorus (to make plants stronger and hardier):
  • Bone meal
• Potassium (for root growth):
  • Green sand
  • Wood ash (but not barbeque bricket ash)

Lee's Feeds was suggested as a source of these items and a visit there on March 29th confirmed that they have most all of these. [Lee's Feed Store is on Milburn Drive, just off Seneca Turnpike west of Onondaga Creek and east of Valley Drive.]

The person at Lee's Feeds also suggested sprinkling just a little dried blood on plants to deter deer, rabbits, and groundhogs. If you try it, let us know if you find it effective. Reapplication after a rainfall would be necessary.