Garden Alternatives - Living with Manure

Gardening with children gives them the sweetest memories later in life, and presents an opportunity to teach them about appreciating nature and the vital process of how we get the foods we need to eat. A fertilized garden is easy to spot. Fertilizer makes the plants healthier. Speaking from fond memories, I remember when the manure would arrive, and my mother was so excited about spreading it all over the vegetable garden. That took some explaining.

Why it is a fertilizer that is beneficial to the vegetable gardening process is because the nutrients in it have an excellent fertilizing effect on the soil and the fertilization of the plants. As fertilizer, manure improves the soil texture, adds microorganisms that increase the mineral content, makes it hold water better, lessens the tendency for erosion and increases the amount of oxygen in the soil.

Do not use manure from cats or dogs as fertilizer as these animals carry parasites and may have contaminated waste. For fertilizing, it is best to use the manure within three months as the fertilizing nutrients will be lost. Once the garden is fertilized, the nutrients work for months. If you do not fertilize immediately, the nitrates that work to fertilize begin to evaporate and the phosphorous, potassium and organic matter are washed away with weather. That is why for the best fertilizer action, it is good to put a good amount of bedding to absorb the liquid from the fertilizer.

Other little things to bear in mind are to not spread the fertilizer on frozen ground. Also, don’t spread manure when the wind is blowing in the direction of your neighbor's house.

A Return to Nature

Composting is another fertilizing alternative to dependency on store bought fertilizers which add to pollution concerns affecting the water supply. Composting is as easy as taking your food waste from the house, bypass the plastic bag in your garbage can, and truck it on out to the compost bins in your garden that you bought in order to keep your composting activity clean, pest free, odor free and compact.

The vegetable matter you place will compact into a black colored substance that is nutrient rich to fertilize vegetable gardens and flowerbeds. No cost to you, once you buy the compost container, and virtually no work, either. Just turn it according to the schedule, and in about ten weeks or less, you have the "black gold" as they call it, to fertilize your garden, the natural way.

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