Using horse manure in a vegetable garden

[neversaynever]

Don’t know if this has been previously posted http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/es032519b Have not seen much info on NSAIDs and composted manure. There are some studies on NSAIDS and euthanasia drugs on composted carcasses.

The primary question would be how often are the drugs/wormers used? If short term use and/or not many animals being administered those drugs contribute to the total compost pile, you probably don’t have to be overly concerned. Concentration and prolonged exposure really does matter. Toxins are released to our waterways daily - the volume released and the flow rates of the water are monitored to make sure the toxins are diluted enough and not retained long in one place to cause significant impact. In other words “dilution is the solution to pollution” in much of today’s environmental world. P.S. that is one of the big reasons for increased antibiotic resistance and estrogens being found in our drinking water…

ETA - I would make sure it is well composted. The heat generated during composting helps to kill pathogens and does break down some chemicals. Composting with manure/organics is sometimes used to remediate soils contaminated with hydrocarbons. Hyper accumulating plants are used for phytoremediation of metals. Heat from composting would not likely help with some of the inorganic compounds.

[subk]

Let’s keep something in mind here. The average horse produces 50 pounds of manure a day. 1 gram of bute is .0022 pounds. So while I tend not to compost my horses’ manure when I’m giving any type of drug, it’s not something I would ever lose any sleep over. If you’re are going to get cancer from such an small exposure you are probably so fragile that something else will do you in first. Trust me, I’m A LOT more concerned about what I might find in the commercial compost that available at Home Depot that typically comes from cattle feed lots.

[Palm_Beach]

@subk

Let’s keep something in mind here. The average horse produces 50 pounds of manure a day. 1 gram of bute is .0022 pounds. So while I tend not to compost my horses’ manure when I’m giving any type of drug, it’s not something I would ever lose any sleep over. If you’re are going to get cancer from such an small exposure you are probably so fragile that something else will do you in first. Trust me, I’m A LOT more concerned about what I might find in the commercial compost that available at Home Depot that typically comes from cattle feed lots.

@subk - so what “might” one find in Home Depot compost? Are you making assumptions or is this documented? You can get organic compost…

[Ticker]

I’ve used composted manure in my gardens for more than 30 years and I’m still here. I do keep an aged pile that is several years old for plants we eat vs flowers. Last year, for the first time, we grew tomatoes in my kitchen using the aged manure. I currently have a huge cherry tomato plant in a small flower pot that is growing on my counter top. The mature tomato plant finally fruited it last and I have a new young tomato in a large tree type pot…filled with aged manure of course…whose name is Tom.

The cherry tomato is still bearing fruit and growing like crazy. We do use lights on a timer and have a large sky light. However, I don’t think the sun shined at all last winter to help. I make a salad, turn around and pick the tomatoes…which are delicious.

[subk]

@Palm Beach

@subk - so what “might” one find in Home Depot compost? Are you making assumptions or is this documented? You can get organic compost…

The biggest thing I’m personally concerned about finding in Home Depot compost is sand–does nasty stuff in my clay soil–which is used as cheap filler. But if you are worried about the occasional horse wormer from your typical horse operation, I would think the even heavier usage of not just wormer but antibiotics, hormones and other such drugs typically given to livestock when they are contained in such close quarters might give you pause.

[JB]

I would LOVE to get some sand in my clay soil LOL

TBH, probably the biggest concern with compost for the veggie garden is whatever herbicides were used on the hay the horse eats.

[froglander]

@JB

I would LOVE to get some sand in my clay soil LOL

TBH, probably the biggest concern with compost for the veggie garden is whatever herbicides were used on the hay the horse eats.

Have lots of sand down here! I would love to make my sand less…sandy, lol.

[subk]

@JB

I would LOVE to get some sand in my clay soil LOL

TBH, probably the biggest concern with compost for the veggie garden is whatever herbicides were used on the hay the horse eats.

I’ve found that the sand just makes my already heavy clay soil heavier and doesn’t do anything that organic matter can’t do better while also feeding the soil food web! Lots of organic matter, is bliss to garden in, and totally transforms my soil. But I totally agree with you on the persistant herbicide in hay issue–that’s my single biggest concern as well.

[susanne]

Clay + sand = pottery

This depends, of course, on the type of clay you have. Course builder’s sand or gravel fines can work well with some clays.

[Ticker]

@Ticker

I’ve used composted manure in my gardens for more than 30 years and I’m still here. I do keep an aged pile that is several years old for plants we eat vs flowers. Last year, for the first time, we grew tomatoes in my kitchen using the aged manure. I currently have a huge cherry tomato plant in a small flower pot that is growing on my counter top. The mature tomato plant finally fruited it last and I have a new young tomato in a large tree type pot…filled with aged manure of course…whose name is Tom.

The cherry tomato is still bearing fruit and growing like crazy. We do use lights on a timer and have a large sky light. However, I don’t think the sun shined at all last winter to help. I make a salad, turn around and pick the tomatoes…which are delicious.

I just wanted to give an update on my resident kitchen tomato plant named Tom Terrific…he’s four foot tall and blooming. He should be producing tomatoes in the coming weeks. We are still picking cherry tomatoes as well. The most interesting thing I have noticed is that these plants seem to be among those that are good for cleaning the indoor air. Before I started raising tomatoes in my kitchen, I was getting terrible bronchitis by December the past few years to the point where I realized , much later, that I probably should have been hospitalized.

Apparently, some (all?) plants can remove virus’s from the air…so maybe Tom Terrific is terrific in more than one way! I love my compost. I’m going to start some chives next.

[NancyM]

ALL my horse manure at this farm is composted and used in veg gardens. I use very little or no bedding at all, horses are usually in paddocks, turned out together. I like a bit of sand added to the compost, just what sticks to the horse buns when the paddocks are picked. Since we make our own hay, and know exactly what does and does not go onto the hayfields, and use little or no manifactured feeds, I think it is pretty good stuff. I am not concerned with the drug residue from wormers, or antibiotics, or bute, and there isn’t a lot other than that that gets used here. We have been self sufficient in our vegetable production for the length of our growing season for years now, and beyond growing season with stored veg. I love your tomato Tom Terrific, ticker. I have some lettuce growing under lights in the house, and just the other day, a baby tomato plant also mysteriously appeared. In your honour, I shall call him Tom.

[Ticker]

NancyM…thank you for making me laugh so hard today!

[JB]

@NancyM

a baby tomato plant also mysteriously appeared. In your honour, I shall call him Tom.

:lol::lol::applause::applause:

[Rabtfarm]

My only observation after composting stall muck for 10 years: If it has shavings, then you will want to compost at least 6 months so the wood portion doesn’t rob the soil of nitrogen if it is spread fresh.