A brief list of popular, commercially available, organic fertilizers. Knowing the pH and nutrient make-up of your gardening space will help you determine what kind of fertilizer is right for you.

• Worm Castings - An extremely rich, organic fertilizer chock full of nutrients (you can buy bags of castings for distribution but earthworms do this for free...earthworms are your friends! The more you have in your garden, the merrier! You can also purchase eggs to start a worm colony.)
• Bat Guano - Great source of phosphorus. Using guano from the bats in your attic is not recommended.
• Seaweed and Kelp - High in potassium and good for the overall health of your garden.
• Manure - Many different kinds of animal manures are available and make great fertilizer for ornamental plants and flowers. If you can get a wheelbarrow or truckload from the local cow guy, even better. Make sure to mix manure well. Not recommended for direct contact with food plants.
• Wood ash - Good for acidic soils.
• Cottonseed Meal - Good for alkaline soils.
• Bone, Hoof, and Horn Meal - Great sources of nitrogen.

* If you use a commercial fertilizer, make sure to follow the directions. Too many nutrients can burn or even kill your plants. Mix the fertilizer into the dirt or sprinkle it on top as per instructions.