Monday, August 16, 2010

By The Numbers: A Sh!++y Week

  • 1.5:  The number of bucket loads of manure (using the lawn mower on steroids) that will fit in our small manure spreader. 
  • 6: Number of months it took to accumulate the manure for this pile.
  • 9: Tons of manure produced by the average horse in one year.
  • 10: Number of bucket scoops used to augment gardens and provide composted manure for friends.
  • 24: Number of loads spread in a 1 acre (+/-) pasture before running out of manure and steam!
  • 145: Highest temperature noted while the manure pile was composting.
  • 183: Approximate number of wheelbarrow loads transported from stall and paddock to the manure pile.
BEFORE

AFTER
Now we can begin to fill it up again!

    6 comments:

    1. Do you cover it at all? How often do you turn it?

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    2. Now that's a handy machine. Can I borrow it? We're nothing but wheelbarrows, picks and shovels. I like clearing out the manure pile before winter. Feels like a clean slate, but still I always manage to run out of dumping room before the last snowfall.

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    3. holy geeze. When I was in Guelph they talked about putting PVC pipes into manure piles with holes cut into them to help compost adn let air get to the bottom of the pile. Might help break it down into hummus (hummus= really composted manure thats more like soft soil than poo takes a year or two)

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    4. don't forget the muscle count involved, and the inches they grow!
      - The Equestrian Vagabond

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    5. Leah: We have found that with the almost 3 sides protected we don't have to cover it. Occasionally we'll spray it lightly as we turn it, and sometimes I'll dump the water buckets into the wheelbarrow load to rehydrate the manure I've picked up in the runs. You do want it to stay slightly moist. It should form a ball when squeezed. If water were to come out, it's too wet. If it's getting too wet from rain, or too dry because it isn't protected, then covering it with a tarp is a good idea.
      We turn it when we notice the temperature going down. Yes, I take my manure pile's temp about every 2 weeks! (I must be sick, huh?!) I have a quick read thermometer that I taped on the end of a pole that I can thrust a foot or so into the pile. Once it is composted the pile won't heat up anymore.

      Sydney: Yes, you can put 'holy' pipes (as in Holy sh!+)- sorry, I just couldn't resist that one! Air is critical for composting it. If you don't have a way to turn it, then the pipes are a great alternative.

      Merri: I have often been heard to say that with all I do I don't need to pay for a gym membership! My hubby of almost 38 years says I'm in the best shape I've ever been!!!!\

      Nuzzling: My hubby LOVES his lawn mower on steroids. He finds every excuse he can to use it. He's a farmboy at heart...without much of a farm! I know what you mean about the 'clean slate'. It was wonderful to see the pit cleaned out. But....we do have another that is full. It's 'cooking' for the next 9 months or so. Ideally I'd like to have 3 pits at 3 different stages of composting.

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    6. Nice work!
      Glad to find the week's Sh----....Got all spread out nicely
      KK

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