ic Kathe With an E: Oh Poo

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Oh Poo

We are expecting cooler temps this week so it was time for me to get a start on next years garden.  Many of the flowers are still blooming such as the zinnias and Jacob's Beard but once we get the hard freeze that are predicted mid-week my gardening, for this year, will be done.

First I emptied my compost tumbler and sifted it.

I use the wheel barrow and an old door screen.  It provides the perfect size to spread over the gardens.
With the tumbler now empty I took what I had going in the compost bin and put it into the tumbler along with leaves and shredded paper.  The best combination for heating up compost is 3 parts dry (the leaves and paper) to 1 part wet (coffee grounds, kitchen scraps (no meat products), lawn clippings).  You want compost to heat up to kill off pathogens (bad stuff) and to break it down into good loamy soil. Home composters like myself love a hot bin.
My bestest gal pal, Ms. K, is a recent convert to the benefits of composted poo.  She lives in a condo and doesn't have her own plot of land to garden in.  Ms. K wasn't going to let that stop her from having pretty flowers to greet her as she returns home from either of her two jobs.  She claimed the rock bed at the bottom of her stairs and made herself her own little garden. She even made this adorable birdbath herself! 
Each fall Ms. K and I load up Mr. B's truck with shovels, pitchforks and bins and head to a nearby horse rescue farm.  We go in the pursuit of hot steamy semi composted manure, good old fashioned poo! 
 
The poo is free for the taking but we always leave a donation so that they may continue to care for abandoned and/ or abused horses. 
And poo they have!  Mountains of it in fact!
Ms. K and I dug in.  The warm temperatures had heated the pile up pretty good.  If you look closely you can see it was steamin'!
We loaded up our bins as full as we could.  I am thinking I need to get some more bins for next year.  I'd do a truck bed full if I could!
We took one of the bins and spread it over Ms. K's garden.  The other bins came home with me for my compost bin.

I started first with a layer of shredded. paper.  I am able to get the paper from work, friends like Ms. K, and Mr. B. He shreds up, each week, all of the junk mail and any other documents no longer needed.  
Next comes a bin of poo.

I continue layering in this way until all of the poo has been emptied.  I am left with a full compost bin.  

I will continue to add materials until early spring.  Then I will empty and sift what is the tumbler to add to my gardens and refill it with some of the material from the compost bin.  Now, some will say my way isn't the most efficient but it works for me.  I don't get weeds and my gardens seem to love it!  I am a strong believer in composting.  Done right there is no smell and it keeps tons of waste out of the landfills.  

Here are my tools:
And an example of the results:

(Don't miss this post where I announce that I am planning a giveaway soon)

27 comments:

  1. Oh my your gardens are definitely loveing it. Such gorgeous and lush flowers and lawn. Good for you. Hugs, Mary

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  2. I guess that horse poo really works. I always use cow poo it pretty good too. Just keep your eye on the prize of a great garden and off the smell! If you would, I'd love it if you'd post on my 1st Sunday's Best Party. I'm a graduate of Debbie's Newbie Party. You need to share!

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  3. Love your poo post, Kathe! We tried a compost bin this summer, but the dogs became obsessed with it. We have to figure something out. I think what you are doing is great--especially making a donation to the horse rescue. And, your garden looks beautiful!

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  4. Never have gone out looking for poo, but after reading this post, I may! I compost, but a little extra fertilizer would be a good boost!

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  5. Thanks for the info Kathe. I've been composting for years but some things don't break down very fast. Maybe I'll try adding paper and upping the dry ratio. Thanks, too, for dropping by my site. Love having you! ~ Maureen

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  6. Oh, my! No wonder your gardens are so beautiful!

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  7. I am so glad you compost! One day i will too :)
    For now, i recycle.
    Follow me back when you can please :)
    Hugs
    http://lechateaudesfleurs.blogspot.com

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  8. I’ve awarded you the Versatile Blogger Award because you’re so inspiring! Go check out the details at http://www.thehouseofbledsoe.com/2011/10/18/blog-award/

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  9. Hi,

    New follower from the blog hop please comes follow me back :)
    http://lifewithtwinsandadramaqueen.blogspot.com/

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  10. Great...free poo! It is so good for the garden! Compost is always one of my favorite gardening chores.

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  11. Your garden looks wonderful! Thanks for sharing,Joann love your new header

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  12. Composting is certainly paying off for you! Your garden looks lovely. Thanks for all the information. Jean

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  13. Hi lovely lady.
    Your garden looks Beautiful with your colorful flowers. I know you need to mix with other things this pop looks good.
    Thanks so much for your sweet comments on my new Tablescape. I hope you have a great week.
    XXOO Diane
    I'am going to look at your other post.

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  14. Oh Kathe, what a lot of hard work, but next Spring it will all be worth it with beautiful results! Thank you so much for linking to It's a Party!

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  15. New Follower from Welcome Wednesday Blog Hop. Hoping you will follow back! =0)
    My Crazy Life

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  16. Nice! I plan to begin composting and while I would rather not cart around horse poo, I do have 3 rabbits.....I have plenty of pellets ;-)
    Your yard is beautiful.

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  17. Have been interested in composting a while - nice to see the steps... even the poo.

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  18. What fun it was to read about this..My husband an I used to compost..but after we moved and he passed away..no more. I hope the "poo" we buy is helping in the same way you do by going to the horse rescue place.
    Your steps were very clear and should be simple for those who want to begin a compost.
    A very informitive post! Thank you!
    The results of your efforts certainly do show in the happiness of your flowers!
    :)
    Mona

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  19. Very informative- I learned alot from this post! Thanks for linking to Things I've Done Thursday.

    Melanie
    bearrabbitbear.blogspot.com

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  20. I wish I had access to all that Poo! Looks like fun gathering it on the horse farm... good for you! I also learned something from you!
    Happy upcoming winter!
    Sandy

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  21. Great job. We do the same thing. We get at least one truck load of manure each season. we haven't done it yet this year (we plan to be moving soon). You can tell from your pictures what great results come from taking care to feed your soil. Thank you for being part of TTF and have a fantastic weekend!

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  22. That's so funny! My husband is the gardener at our house and he uses bat poop..poop is the key to a beautiful garden! :) Thanks so much for linking up with us at Show & Share! Can't wait to see you again on Wednesday!

    Marie
    mylilpinkpocket.blogspot.com

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  23. What a great resource (horse farm) to have nearby! It's great that they allow the public to take the waste to reuse.

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  24. Hi Kathe, We compost too but I've never used manure. I'd heard it can have weed seeds in it, depending upon the horse's diet. Your gardens do indeed show that what you are doing works!

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  25. I remember when I was young and my parents bought a new house in a new subdivision. Everyone used cow poo to get the yards started! The whole street had black yards from the poo and stunk to high heavens!

    I have never composted, but want to give it a try! Thanks so much for sharing this at Living Big on Less Money! You are a keeper!

    Cynthia at http://FeedingBig.com

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