Selfsufficientish.com

Hi all,

We are trying to keep our veg patch as "green" as possible, - no spraying etc. Is it a problem using manure from a non-organic farm for our compost for the plot? It is very likely the only manure we can get within a reasonable distance.
What do you think?

Personally I think some manure is better than no manure. I collect horse manure from the field and it can't be really organic as the farmer fertilises the fields annually, we feed hay from fertilised fields and they are fed any mannar of carrots and apples over the fence from tescos.

BUT it is so much better to feed the soil with something natural rather than something bought from a shop that says its organic and is probably isn't as good as all that- why not ask the farmer what he actually does and see if it fits in with your ethics?

When, several years ago, I looked up what the DEFRA definition of organic was, my first impression was "What a con". It didn't mean organic by my own definition - several things were allowed which I would have thought questionable. Unless it's all changed recently then I still think that organic doesn't mean additive-free. So - yes, use any manure you can get your hands on.

Thanks for the answers. I will have a chat with the farmer.
Hopefully we'll be able to provide some manure from animals we keep as well. That will help, - but you can never have enough manure.

I also just found this on the gardenorganic.org.uk:

"Farmyard and horse manures from non-organic sources can be used in organic gardens after being aerobically composted for three months, or stockpiled under cover for six months."

I wonder if this means that any chemcials will be leached out by then or whether this is another technical 'get out'. For example, wormers these days are quite persistent, I clear the muck just afte worming my horse to another area and don't use it. But then again I've no idea what he's fed by passers by!

Our muck is full of worms - teaming with it - and yes, the sheep get wormed on a regular basis...

As long as the muck is properly composted, I wouldn't have any problems with it.

Interesting, one of the posts a while back scared me a bit with wormers saying it could kill the earthworms, hence my mucking out precautions since- but I have to say the 'old' compost from ladt year wheich was before I had read this is teaming with worms. So i'm either lucky or it doesn't kill anything except paracites

Went to an organic seminar a couple of yaers ago and was told that all manure is technically organic after sitting for a few months because the heat kills all additives in it.

Now I don't know how true this is but I have heard it said over and over again.

Manure is great anyway so just go for it.

Incidentally I noticed that they are selling organic bagged farm manure at our local garden centre now. I'd rather take my chances and get it locally for free. The bagged stuff maybe organic but its is wrapped in plastic and has carved a carbon footprint on it's journey across the country. I'm so confused over what's best that my head is spinning...

Peggy Sue wrote:Interesting, one of the posts a while back scared me a bit with wormers saying it could kill the earthworms, hence my mucking out precautions since- but I have to say the 'old' compost from ladt year wheich was before I had read this is teaming with worms. So i'm either lucky or it doesn't kill anything except paracites

different sort of worms.

Peggy Sue wrote:Interesting, one of the posts a while back scared me a bit with wormers saying it could kill the earthworms, hence my mucking out precautions since- but I have to say the 'old' compost from ladt year wheich was before I had read this is teaming with worms. So i'm either lucky or it doesn't kill anything except paracites

I think it was Nev putting horse muck in his wormery, and it killed them all.

Perhaps it is different for those of us with compost bins who wait 6 months or more for it to rot down.

Millymollymandy wrote: Perhaps it is different for those of us with compost bins who wait 6 months or more for it to rot down.

Yes, well rotted muck/compost is the secret...

I did suspect the different sort of worms- in fairness you need at least 2 types of wormers to effectively worm for horse worms so it would be bad luck if they killed earth worms. Anyway I shall relax on that score and barrow to my hearts content!

Got to say I can't see how heat will destroy chemicals, it may destroy nitrites from fertilizers but not everything at what are effectivley only 'warm' temperatures not exactly a furness. Still I do feel there is a time not to worry

ina wrote:As long as the muck is properly composted, I wouldn't have any problems with it.

Wot Ina said

Take as much as you can get/store!

Edited to say: Repay the farmer with a good bottle of whisky - make sure you can keep going back for more!