Mooooooove Over Zoo Doo
Forum Archives
Lisa A
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Apr-07-2005 at 10:54am There's a new guy in town. Well, actually, not new but improved, yes, and more available to the public.
I'm talking about washed dairy manure, folks. The stuff which has earned sky-high praise from gardening gurus Ann Lovejoy and Ciscoe Morris but has been a tough find for many of us. Until now, that is. A Boardman, Oregon, dairy farm is turning their cows' "organic waste" (how's that for a nice term for "cow poo") into a rich, yummy, garden-boosting product that gardeners are sure to swoon over.
Read all about it in today's The Oregonian's Homes and Gardens of the Northwest: Waste not
JeanneK
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Apr-07-2005 at 2:53pm
Wow! Great article. Thanks for posting, Lisa. Now I have a great source for this wonder product, if you believe Ann Lovejoy. The article says it's available at Mt. Scott Fuel. Very close to me. Cool. I'll have to try some!
Jeanne
Screaming Eagle
Location: Puget Sound corridor
Posted: Apr-08-2005 at 9:26am
Great article. Now I just need to find out how to get some in Bellevue~!
tommyb
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Apr-08-2005 at 10:57am
Always on the look out for more manure information, I was fasinated by the technology involved. I suspect that some of the liquids will eventually surface in a commercial compost tea liquid---either "ready to use" or highly concentrated.
Now if they'll make a eau de toilet or an aftershave, I might consider shaving just to use it.
Tom
BTW:There are a couple of sources for "the straight stuff" locally, whether it's washed or just composted (similar windrow type technology) shouldn't make any difference, IMHO.
Lisa A
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Apr-08-2005 at 11:20am
Well, don't just tease us, tommy, give us names! Unless, of course, you're trying to hog it all for yourself.
tommyb
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Apr-08-2005 at 11:47am
Well, if you must know, Pro Gro,has two forms: Tillamook Compost and Digested Fiber. I just love Digested Fiber as a "new" term for manure.
The Tillamook Compost is windrowed (piled in a long narrow shape to avoid wind damage) and turned just like the Boardman stuff. The Digested Fiber is run through a "digester" and heated to drive off the methane gas, which is used to heat the next batch and generate electricity. Both products become part of ProGro's potting mix which they sell to the Nursery Trade and anybody else, so the products have to pass a strict set of standards. Still has a fair odor though!
And outside of Donald is a dairy which piles their manure and then screens it. They have recently raised their price to equal Pro Gro, and Pro Gro is closer, so I get mine from them.
Ain't no new "manure" tricks out there that I know of, just better marketing. I do like the tie in with the Oregon Garden, you get to "support your local cow" and "support your local garden".
Edit: Do to mental manure, I have failed to share an important factor regarding "high solids (much manure)" composts: it has been my experience that these materials tend to form a crust which sheds water when they are used a mulch. Your luck may vary, I would like to hear other gardener's experiences.
Tom
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton