The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: Cocomartinez on November 27, 2015, 09:25:26 pm
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I finally managed to get some horse manure from a local horsey place. :excited: I have put 2 bags spread over 2 beds with leaves, and 2 directly into the compost heap which I turned and re-piled. Going back tomorrow for more.
Itīs from about 8-10 inches of compacted deep bedding, so thereīs a high straw content. Fairly dry, I think itīs been there a while. The next batch looks newer and wetter.
There is some cardboard down where new beds will be dug in the spring, with some leaves and cut grass piled on top. A good place for the next batch? Over or under whatīs there now? Or better in the compost pile and spread next spring.
Thank you!
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On this it's much a case of , " You pays yer money & makes yer choice .\2".
Using your method above will like as not see you with a shed load of weeds for six or so years , as the viable wed seeds in the horse muck & soild beddings start theire everal years of delayed germinations .
Stable /horse muck is usually full of viable weed seeds not only from the horse muck as the digestion system is reasonable straight through ( unlike ruminants where it gets well & truly digested ) .
You also have all manner of seeds coming out of the hay feed.
If you can , try the " Berkley 21 day hot composting method " to the letter with your hose muck perhaps adding some wetted straw as a bulking agent .
Runinant poop is good ,as their digestion system is much more complex.
So sheep . goat and cow don't have much weed seed content unless there is a lot of hay being fed and it gets trodden into the bedding .
Bird poop is also a good addition to the well turned over compost heap .
In truth making a good balance compost out of dungs and other mater is quite an art and well worth reading up a dozen of so different methods from places like the American university ectension colleges or our very own DEFRA type sources ( including the Royal Horticultural Society website ).
You'll normally get far too much witchcraft , hocuc pocus & 8o11ck5 from the majority individuals blog side
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Thank you. Iīll investigate the Berkley composting method. There is quite a lot of straw in the mix. Until I can get chickens organized, itīs my only source of manure, so Iīd like to take full advantage.