Manure for the Garden

[growyourown]

Hi,

I live in Walthamstow, East London and i'm trying to source some manure for the garden. The soil in my garden contains alot of soil and i have been told that manure will help break it down. What do you guys think?

Does anyone know of any places near Walthamstow in north or east London that want locals to help rid of their manure?

I believe in giving back to the earth so i compost whatever i can, basically i let it rot in a heap then feed it to anything i have.

Thanks

[cideristhefuture]

Dont know your area, but look in your yellow pages for local riding schools/ stables......they maybe can help you out.

[growyourown]

@Cideristhefuture

Thanks for the reply. I'll certainly give that a go and I should of thought of that :)

Do you make your own cider? I was thinking of making my own and looking at getting a press from online

[oldjerry]

Some councils have Bio-Mass plants and bag up the compost residue selling it as soil conditioner.(At least they do in Herefordshire,not an area renowned for being at the cutting edge of 21st century recycling technology).They flog it off at the recycling centre.
Alternatively,you could consider venturing out beyond the Water Margins (ie. outside the M25) to any mushroom farm,and beg\steal\or even buy some spent mush. compost,it's good stuff.

[growyourown]

Thanks oldjerry

I'll look into that. I never knew that mush could be a good compost. Just what i need

You guys are extremely helpful and its much appreciated

[cideristhefuture]

Compost - look at your local council website, some do 'free' give aways during the year... mine does about 6 per year. Also do any of your neighbours have chickens...?

As for the cider, yes i do... but more wine . Have a look at the home brew section here, everyone gives great advice.

Dont pay a lot if you are getting a press. Try and buy out of season, what i mean.... less brewing going on when no fruit on the trees/ bushes so I found demand /price is less. Mine is an old Boots home brew press, £25.00 (internet auction) bought in winter months...same one in warmer weather going for more than double this.

[The Riff-Raff Element]

Speaking from memory, isn't there a City Farm out your way? Might be worth checking with them, if so.

[grahamhobbs]

OrganicLea, www.organiclea.org.uk, are a nice bunch of people out your way and might be able to help. They produce veg but also run courses, which may also be of help.

[growyourown]

You guys are amazing, thanks for all your help.

I'll let you know how i get on.

grahamhobbs - this is right next to me, fantastic!!!!!

[seasidegirl]

I'm trying some green manure at the moment. Plants that you grow specifically to improve the soil. There is a thread on it here.

http://www.selfsufficientish.com/forum/ ... re#p248676

So far mine has survived two frosts and the ground would have been empty at this time of year so it was worth sowing the seeds I think.

[becks77]

We have tons of horse muck and my friend has even more but alas it is a little far to travel just for a pile of poo!

[growyourown]

Indeed becks, you would think many would want to get rid of their poo!

[growyourown]

Seaside girl,

I never knew there was such a thing. I'll look at growing some of these plants and see how it improves the soil.

I never knew seaweed was good also. Amazing!!!

[seasidegirl]

I don't have access to manure very often either and am very pleased with results so far. Even in the green, the manure plants look great. If they had been destroyed by frost or snow then it's no big deal I can just dig them in.