jjaj2022 Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 My future father-in-law keeps telling me that I should use steer manure in my garden but something about it doesn't sit right with me. If I purchase manure, am I possibly supporting the beef/dairy industry? Someone is making money from this sh*t, right? I'm sure that the cow sh*t is scraped from the floors of these factory farms and sold. What does everyone think? Are a lot of the veggies we eat fertilized with this cow/chicken sh*t? Is this just something we deal with if we want to eat fruits and veggies? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinisterkungfu Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 I really don't see a problem with it. It's a waste product, it may as well be put to good use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MontanaVegan Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Sadly, it probably supports the meat industry in some way.If they didn't make any money from the manure, it wouldn't bother me.But that manure will end up somewhere, either in your garden or polluting our earth.Maybe the garden of a vegan is the best place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CollegeB Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 I agree with montanaV. If its not in your garden it goes in the river. Put that shit to good use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FormicaLinoleum Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Friends of mine get horse manure from a friend who owns horses. I know there are other places around here that sell horse manure. Maybe it's not much better than steer manure, but at least the horses aren't being raised in factory farms for food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compassionategirl Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Friends of mine get horse manure from a friend who owns horses. I know there are other places around here that sell horse manure. Maybe it's not much better than steer manure, but at least the horses aren't being raised in factory farms for food. agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 I don't consider manure vegan. You may be able to get it from sources that are not tied to factory farming and animal exploitation, but compost IS vegan, and works just as well (both manure and compost go through the process of being chewed up by larger organisms--cows or bugs--then being worked on by bacteria and microorganisms. And if you haven't turned your compost for a while, and dredge up some of the stuff in the midde that anaerobic bacteria has been working on, it smells pretty much like cow poo!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veggymeggy Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 I don't consider manure vegan. You may be able to get it from sources that are not tied to factory farming and animal exploitation, but compost IS vegan, and works just as well (both manure and compost go through the process of being chewed up by larger organisms--cows or bugs--then being worked on by bacteria and microorganisms. And if you haven't turned your compost for a while, and dredge up some of the stuff in the midde that anaerobic bacteria has been working on, it smells pretty much like cow poo!). He brought up a good point though...a lot of veggies in the store probably were fertilized with manure....where do you draw the line? Or do you grow all your own? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjaj2022 Posted May 31, 2006 Author Share Posted May 31, 2006 I don't consider manure vegan. You may be able to get it from sources that are not tied to factory farming and animal exploitation, but compost IS vegan, and works just as well (both manure and compost go through the process of being chewed up by larger organisms--cows or bugs--then being worked on by bacteria and microorganisms. And if you haven't turned your compost for a while, and dredge up some of the stuff in the midde that anaerobic bacteria has been working on, it smells pretty much like cow poo!). Yeah, I have some compost brewing quite nicely. I know what you're talking about with the smell. I just turned mine the other day and on the bottom of the pile was a bunch of kitchen scraps. Whooweee it was NASTY! http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/wuerg/vomit-smiley-007.gif Because I have compost, do you think I really need the manure? http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y42/RIPMacDre/garden022.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_raVen_ Posted June 1, 2006 Share Posted June 1, 2006 I agree with Kathryn; go for a veganic garden! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted June 1, 2006 Share Posted June 1, 2006 He brought up a good point though...a lot of veggies in the store probably were fertilized with manure....where do you draw the line? Or do you grow all your own? I draw the line at doing the best I can. Store-bought produce probably is fertilized with manure, but I can't do anything about that (though it's best to buy organic, because with organics, any manure used must be composted or dried and heated to the point of killing off bacteria like e-coli, whereas conventionally-grown produce can use manure that is not composted). When I grow my own veggies (which I do), I CAN control what is used as fertilizer, and I use animal-free compost, kelp meal and other vegan nutrients. I do, however, use worm castings as well, which are not technically vegan, I suppose, but the worms aren't killed or deprived of an essential part of themselves in the process, 'cuz it's worm poo and the worms keep on making more!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted June 1, 2006 Share Posted June 1, 2006 Because I have compost, do you think I really need the manure? You definitely don't need manure. Well-balanced compost (a combo of 'greens" and "browns") is great! And there are other vegan supplements you can add to the mix, like kelp meal. You can also get some worms (red wigglers, from a store that sells them for fishing, so you can save their lives!) and add them to the compost pile so they can add some good worm casting to the mix. Manure isn't good anyway unless it is composted or heated, because it can contain bacteria you don't want in the garden, like e-coli. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjaj2022 Posted June 1, 2006 Author Share Posted June 1, 2006 Thanks for all the input guys! I'll just keep doing what I've been doing and not buy any manure. I think I've got a good mix of browns and greens going because the compost is starting to look and smell good. It should turn out to be a very good organic vegan fertilizer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrispyQ Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 Those are some great compost bins, jjaj! Compost intimidates me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 Another option for future gardening ventures: get a composting toilet! That way, you get vegan manure from a critter whose diet you are aware of (you!) and that isn't being raised in captivity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjaj2022 Posted June 2, 2006 Author Share Posted June 2, 2006 Those are some great compost bins, jjaj! Compost intimidates me. Thanks! I just got a compost thermometer today and I'm at 145*F! WOOT!That is some hot shit! It's so easy and fun to compost. I think I'm addicted. It's really no hard. I think you should give it a try! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjaj2022 Posted June 2, 2006 Author Share Posted June 2, 2006 Another option for future gardening ventures: get a composting toilet! That way, you get vegan manure from a critter whose diet you are aware of (you!) and that isn't being raised in captivity. Yeah, I was just reading about this. I don't know though, seems kinda nasty to save my own poo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willpeavy Posted June 3, 2006 Share Posted June 3, 2006 I'm not sure if it is like this everywhere, but in Florida there are lots of cattle ranches and the ranchers usually scoop cow manure from the fields and sell it as organic fertilizer. Personally, I see using the manure as the lesser of two evils. I think using chemicals is worse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinisterkungfu Posted June 3, 2006 Share Posted June 3, 2006 You could always use humanure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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