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  • From: Harvey Ussery <boxwood@nelsoncable.com>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] Vermicomposting alternatives to manure (was Re: tainted mulch story)
  • Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2007 13:04:14 -0400


Bitter Harvest In Sperryville
Couple's Farm Falls Victim To Herbicide-Tainted Mulch

--This story reminded me of a couple who have a
compost-making operation here in Central Wisc. i
bought some compost from the guy once, and he
explained how they use chopped alfalfa, not manure, as
their nitrogen source. ~bobby g
The disaster at Rachel and Eric's farm has me re-thinking some of my own strategies. I've learned, for example, that that accursed Grazon remains active right thru the digestive process of the horse so that even its *poop* is herbicidal in effect if used to fertilize cropping ground! Many antibiotics given as medications remain intact as well on their trip thru the horse (cow, sheep) system.

I've been basing my extensive vermicomposting operation on horse manure I get from a neighbor. She warns me when the horses have been wormed, and I avoid the manure during the withdrawal period. But she doesn't advise me if antibiotics have been given, and I seriously doubt whether she even knows if the hay she buys has been sprayed with Grazon.

So I noted with interest Bobby's message about alfalfa as an alternative. I'm experimenting with a worm bin fed exclusively with plant-based materials. If the worms do a good job on it (it's taking them longer than with manure, but for my purposes that's okay), I may try to grow a sizable patch of alfalfa to feed the worms. Comfrey is high in nitrogen and would also likely be a good bedding/food material.

~Harvey

--
Harvey in northern Va
www.themodernhomestead.us

Whether we and our politicians know it or not, Nature is party to all our
deals and decisions, and she has more votes, a longer memory, and a sterner
sense of justice than we do. ~Wendell Berry




  • [Livingontheland] Vermicomposting alternatives to manure (was Re: tainted mulch story), Harvey Ussery, 07/20/2007

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