Comments on: Manure Tea

By: Greg Stanko

Greg Stanko — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:14:23 +0000

Trying to email you pics. I pasted the brewser adress from this page and tried “worldpress.com” without any luck.
Suggestions? Thanks, Greg

By: Barbara Peterson

Barbara Peterson — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:21:44 +0000

Greg,

If you e-mail me a pic I will get it up on the site along with a blurb about what you have done. I think it is important for all of us to share our experiences so that we can learn from each other.

By: Greg Stanko

Greg Stanko — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:40:51 +0000

Chicken manure is hot but if used sparingly, in my experience, will not cause burning. I experimented this year with 6 rows of corn this year- 3 with chicken manure, 3 without(control). Results-control corn is much shorter and nowhere near as green as the “chicken corn”. Corn is very shallow rooted and if any plant would be burned easily, it would be corn.
If there is a way to attach a photo, let me know and I’ll post it. It’s impressive. Greg

By: Barbara Peterson

Barbara Peterson — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:46:25 +0000

Goose manure is classified as a “hot” manure, and must be composted before using or it will burn plant roots. Here is some info on composting:

“According to past Edgewood studies, goose manure is one of the best decomposers in compost. ”
http://natsci.edgewood.edu/wingra/wingra_compostingeffects.htm

This actually goes for any type manure. You do not want to use it straight from the animal. We collect it, mix it with the soil and other nutrients, and let it sit for a year before planting. Either the manure or tea can be put on the soil after harvest, turned, and left until next year. The reason to make tea is to eliminate a lot of the weeds that come with solid poop.

By: J.Masterson

J.Masterson — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:49:09 +0000

Other articles I have read about goose manure say that it contains contaminants and bacteria…does making a tea out of it make it safe for plants.

By: Barbara Peterson

Barbara Peterson — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:21:30 +0000

Great site, Wendy! Would like to place a link to it on my site.

By: Barbara Peterson

Barbara Peterson — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:20:24 +0000

Hi Rosemarie,

I have chickens and geese, and their manure is excellent. It is also very hot, so you have to be careful to not use it while it is still fresh or it will burn up your plants. Here is some really good information from a university. Go to the website and it will give you a chart showing what percentages to use for what crops. It doesn’t address the tea, but is a good reference guide. Here is an excerpt from the site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AA205:

“Animal manures have been used effectively as fertilizers for centuries. Poultry manure has long been recognized as perhaps the most desirable of these natural fertilizers because of its high nitrogen content. In addition, manures supply other essential plant nutrients and serve as a soil amendment by adding organic matter. Organic matter persistence will vary with temperature, drainage, rainfall, and other environmental factors. Organic matter in soil improves moisture and nutrient retention. The utilization of manure is an integral part of sustainable agriculture.” http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AA205

By: Wendy

Wendy — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:39:19 +0000

Thanks for that advice, Barbara! We are planning to wwoof the west coast in 2010 for a year (visit http://www.wwoofusa.org for more info), and want to work at a few farms in Northern California, Oregon, and Washington State. Hopefully we will find an area we like and work towards getting some property and starting our little homestead. Your blog is very inspiring for us! :)

By: Rosemarie

Rosemarie — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:48:17 +0000

Hi Barbara,
I have chickens and get plenty of manure,They leave me nice piles after a good night sleep and I just scoop it up without dirt etc. I heard it is not safe for vegetables. Is this true, I have been saving the manure to make tea and or spread on my vegetable garden. I also save the eggs shells and grind them a bit to toss in there also. Thankyou for your anticipated reply.
Rosemarie from NJ

By: Barbara Peterson

Barbara Peterson — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:58:50 +0000

Hi Wendy,

Before buying land in Oregon, check out the weather patterns and soil composition, as well as flood zones. I live in the high desert area, and our planting season is limited. There are certain crops we cannot grow outside of a greenhouse, such as melons, tomatoes, and corn. Also, we have no fruit trees where I am, a big loss for me. If you can find a place where there is limited snow, good soil, and water available, go for it! If not, then you can still grow, just with limitations.