Wish I had something new and exciting to post about besides manure, but after a wet cold week we finally had some sunshine here in Florida on Saturday, so it was a day to get out and take care of some long overdue muck raking, piles and piles of it. Between the rabbits, chickens and the goats there is plenty. I can't believe how much manure five little rabbits can make. My horse and pigs are out in a very large pasture so I don't have a problem with that manure accumulating and don't generally worry about raking it up.
All of the muck goes into the brewing compost pile. I have not really taken composting as seriously as many do, I figure it will get to where it needs one way or another over time. I had hoped the compost would be ready for the garden this spring but it has been an especially cold winter here and I have not turned the piles regularly so I don't have as much usable organic matter as I would have liked. I know I could till it directly into the garden soil anyway but I really am curious to see how it turns out if I leave it to fully decompose in piles. I want to learn more about vermiculture ( happy hungry little worms) as a way of more quickly decomposing the material but I have not gotten around to it yet.
We had another night in the 20s here again, this has been one of the coldest winters in Florida History. On a personal note, I went out to dinner with friends to a new Country Western Themed Steak House, the food was great, the band was good, came home and slept like a baby, amazing what good medicine a little hard work, fresh air, good friends and good food can be.
If you have roses, you could seperate the chicken poop in it's own piles. Roses, for some reason thrive on chicken poop. My father in law started me a beautiful rose garden in the early 80's and would bring sacks of this manure to work into the rose bed, and I have to say that I had the healthiest roses around. And yes, getting out with friends will do wonders for you!! Happy Valentines Day!...debbie
ReplyDeleteYes, I have declared this the Year of the Compost! I too, have not taken it seriously before,but I really want to succeed at his self sufficiency thing.It is funny to say the key to success is poop! I have been shoveling,well, when it is dry enough for the wheel barrow not to get stuck!
ReplyDelete20 degrees is reduiculously cold for Florida, that's crazy. I wished I had room in my yard for a compost pile, we have a tiny back yard.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun night out with friends last night.
"amazing what good medicine a little hard work, fresh air, good friends and good food can be"
ReplyDeleteBetter than any sleeping pill! Sounds like you had a nice time.
What kind of horse do you have?
Sounds like a good time...you just have to do it every once in a while...Have a sweet Valentines Day !
ReplyDeleteTwistie, I have an older Quarter Horse Gelding named Red, I lost my Arabian right before Christmas to colic, I can't quiete get to the place where I am ready to replace her yet, it was so sad for me. Red is a great old horse that anyone can ride, everyone should have one of those. I will eventually get another more spirited horse to satisfy my riding needs.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the nice Valentines Day wishes, hope you all had a sweet day.
Yessir, hard work is better than any sleeping pill! =)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by farmhouse..and that is so cute..blogworld is a small world...i've met the greatest new friends here...
ReplyDeletei'll be back soon
kary
Happy Valentine's Day, manure and all! Hope you have a wonderful day and had a wonderful weekend, Laura! Lots of love and hugs...
ReplyDeletexoxo
Michelle :)
Vermiculture, I would like to know more about that as well! You learn and fill the rest of us in :O)...
ReplyDeleteDitto on the winter! Bring on Spring and Summer is my thinking!
We put several load of compost from the barn on the garden spot in the fall. I haven't really got a "special compost" pile like a lot of folks.
ReplyDeleteIt has been one of the coldest winters here in middle Georgia, also.
I am so ready for spring. High of around 40 today.
Have a great day.
Pam