Free manure?

unregistered168043 · #1 04/07/12, 08:31 AM

I'm wondering how I might get my hands ( not literally ) on some free 'brown gold'. LOL. I sometimes see advertisements on craigslist. But there are also alot of small cattle operations around here. I'm wondering if anybody knows what dairies and small meat operators generally do with their manure? Wondering if it might be worth my time to knock on some doors and ask if they have any they'd want to get rid of? Any other ideas?

The local farm store charges $12 per scoop ( small scoop ). I can fit 3 scoops at a time in my 1/2 ton. Thats just too expensive considering my high requirements.

sammyd · #2 04/07/12, 08:49 AM

they generally put it on their own land.

sunflower-n-ks · #3 04/07/12, 09:49 AM

I have tried several times to give a barns worth away. Notified the "garden group" in a nearby city, ads on the "free" sites, etc. Only two different families showed up to take some and the rest - just too much work for um. Guess what people want is the goods with no work involved.

So, do you want it all sacked and loaded in your truck free, or are you willing to do a little work for it? Probably could get lots if your willing to do the scoop and shovel routine for it. I have a whole barn full for free, taker does the scooping. I do the scooping, I will use it on my own garden.

ChanceTheRapids · #4 04/07/12, 09:52 AM

I've used Craigslist multiple times. People are always happy to give it away or charge a small fee for loading it.

Forerunner · #5 04/07/12, 10:33 AM

Why not literally ?

I say go for it....ask around.
My experience is that they'll even get you a glass of lemonade or a soda pop while the farmhand loads your truck, they be so happy to see some of the pile headed off the site.

willow_girl · #6 04/07/12, 11:42 AM

If you're anywhere near 15050, and have a loader (or aren't afraid of a pitchfork and wheelbarrow) I can supply you with all that you need!

Belfrybat · #7 04/07/12, 01:02 PM

I get mine from a rabbit breeder, and she has trouble giving it away as folks don't want to load it themselves. I went last week and got 12 5 gal buckets full in less than 20 mins. Very little work, really.

I'd suggest you put an ad on Freecycle and Craigslist stating you want some and can load it yourself. I'm sure you'll hear from folks.

Yvonne's hubby · #8 04/07/12, 01:08 PM

I dont know your location... but if you are in the DC area there is plenty available.... particularly at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

T-Bone 369 · #9 04/07/12, 04:01 PM

Manure Share - University of Illinois Extension

If your not in these parts there may be a similar program you can find.

meanwhile · #10 04/07/12, 04:42 PM

Where are you? I saw a pile of horse manure down at Harmon Field (horse show part) on Hwy. 176, Tryon, NC.

Ask at Horse show places.

WV Farm girl · #11 04/07/12, 07:09 PM

Stock yards often give away the manure. A local stock yard charges $5 to load. Also there is a boarding stable I see that advertises free manure once in a while. Check with those places.

HilltopDaisy · #12 04/07/12, 11:41 PM

Many ads on the local craigslist, free manure (usually horse).

I have neighbors who bag it in the 50# feed bags and charge $1 per bag, nice and neat, but as far as I'm concerned, horse manure needs to be composted a few years. You might be better off paying for cow manure that has been composted.

Pony · #13 04/07/12, 11:46 PM

Before we started producing our own with our own livestock, we used to go to the local riding stables and dig into the giant manure pile. We'd fill up our little trailer a few times, and the folks were glad to give it to us.

unregistered168043 · #14 04/08/12, 06:14 AM

Just got a response from someone nearby with horse manure! I wish I had a trailer to bring my tractor w/bucket, but..oh well you cant have it all. I'm going over there tomorrow with a shovel. I'm gonna make alotta trips

countryfied2011 · #15 04/08/12, 06:32 AM

Quote:

horse manure needs to be composted a few years

agree, we let ours at least go thru 1 winter and one summer if not another winter. We just put compost manure on the garden this year from 2010 ..we keep a couple of different piles going throughout the year. Ready, almost ready, and not ready piles.

Fresh manure may burn your garden.

meanwhile · #16 04/08/12, 07:08 AM

Remember to compost it before using in garden beds or you will have a mess with weeds. A way to speed that up is to mix the manure with rotting wood chips or rotten straw and some soil. Then, put that mixture down in the bottom of the garden beds. Put a layer of newspaper (we use it 3 - 4 sheets thick) over the manure mixture, then top it with regular garden soil. The manure mixture will compost naturally down in the garden bed and the plants can send roots to it but the newspaper will help keep the weeds seeds from germinating. Be sure to mix the manure with something or it will burn plant roots.

Good luck.

hintonlady · #17 04/08/12, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belfrybat

I get mine from a rabbit breeder

Reminds me of the time I used my rabbits manure. I had been feeding them fresh grass hay. Well, what I overlooked was that the hay had gone to seed and they were dropping some through the bottoms of their cages.

The going joke around here is that if we need to seed a patch of grass to just let me plant a veggie garden.

Best lawn we ever had...

Forerunner · #18 04/08/12, 08:12 AM

Darntootin'....them trailers to go behind a tractor ain't hard to come by.......

Paquebot · #19 04/08/12, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HilltopDaisy

but as far as I'm concerned, horse manure needs to be composted a few years.

In your case, you are losing a lot of nutrients for no particular reason. We just cleaned the stable and paddock at the farm 3 weeks ago and that was a winter's accumulation from 4 horses. It will be done again in September. Being mostly manure, will not compost since it is lacking carbon found in bedding. The entire pile then will be spread on just about an acre and plowed under. Garlic will be planted a few weeks later. A project in the next few days will be to lay out a 190' long row for squash and melons. There will be 10 gallons of fresh horse manure tilled in every 10'.

Around here, one is not going to find any cow manure available unless it is either in liquid form or from a feed lot. Can't be stored in piles. Last time that we got any solid cow manure was scrapings from a milking parlor. Otherwise everything goes into a lagoon or storage pit.

Martin

EDDIE BUCK · #20 04/08/12, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paquebot

In your case, you are losing a lot of nutrients for no particular reason. We just cleaned the stable and paddock at the farm 3 weeks ago and that was a winter's accumulation from 4 horses. It will be done again in September. Being mostly manure, will not compost since it is lacking carbon found in bedding. The entire pile then will be spread on just about an acre and plowed under. Garlic will be planted a few weeks later. A project in the next few days will be to lay out a 190' long row for squash and melons. There will be 10 gallons of fresh horse manure tilled in every 10'.

Around here, one is not going to find any cow manure available unless it is either in liquid form or from a feed lot. Can't be stored in piles. Last time that we got any solid cow manure was scrapings from a milking parlor. Otherwise everything goes into a lagoon or storage pit.

Martin

Martin,can lagoon waste water be used as fert in a veg garden??If so, how much per thousand sq ft.thanks.eb