Have you ever used horses' shit and cows' dung as fertilizers? Is it actually still considered organic gardening if one uses that? Yes, I'm throwing this question because I have never used 'em ( I'm one of those "hobby" gardeners okay? not a certified farmer so there are many things that I still don't know.)and in doubt that it's okay to use them.
I was happily weeding with my husband in our veggie garden when one of our gardening neighbors paid our garden a visit. She was amazed with the growth of the zucchinis. She looked around and saw the malnourished aubergines which I actually planted pretty late than it's supposed to.
She told us that the heap of that stinking mix of horse shit and compost that's left on the corner was actually for us. Hub and I looked at each other because at the speed rate the weed are growing - we both can't imagine putting those on the soil and working on it later on - specially that I sometimes take my gloves off. We told her she may have it. She chirped that it could make the plants grow faster and guarantee fruiting.
I kid my husband, we talk to the plants very often so he doesn't have to worry about fruiting. Besides, we've already had our first abundant harvest earlier on. We could barely eat them all.
Weeks passed by and I saw my friend's plants grow faster and bigger indeed and somehow I was starting to regret that I didn't try using them animal feces as my plants' vitamin sources. I guess that's human nature to look at what your neighbor has and feel sorry for whatever "seem smaller" you have eh? Just like here in Steemit. (Stop checking another person's wallet and just be happy for what others have achieved! Be grateful for what you have and you'll be more blessed!) I was however, taking it into consideration to use it when all is done and the soil is resting and recovering - some time in November. Plus I was worried that the horse and the cows were not fed organically. Is that an issue? - am not sure.. am not an expert to this.
I just learned however, when I asked many years ago about the difference between organic chicken and those that are not and what I was told was that - organic chicken are fed organic food, grown organically and are allowed to freely roam around - making them 100% organic. I guess, it's hard to hush my mind with the thought of - "what if .. the horse and the cows were not fed organically?" Is that a big deal .. yes, but only if they were fed with poison sprayed grasses but maybe am overthinking right? That's why I threw you that question above.
Anyway, I did not use them animal feces. What I did was place the weed on top of the plant's soil to ensure it would provide them enough moist since the summer heat back then was really unbearable and I could only water my plants at night. That means they're being fried all day long. Having the pulled weed there keeps them moist(at least .. I thought) and would provide them compost in the long run. After a week or two of the heat spell, rain and sun must have had a conversation and decided to take turns displaying their powers so watering the plants was no longer necessary and weeding was made a lot easier, too.
What comes after that is an explosion of growth, harvest and abundance. I guess, you really get what you wish for, think about more often and want - horse shit or no horse shit.
Nowadays, my friends could tell what we're having for lunch - zucchini, pakchoi, spinach, etc - all from the garden. In fact, am already fed up and mad at the zucchinis because they keep growing, my neighbors and friends as reinforcement are no longer enough to help us consume them.
Look at the size! We go to the garden to harvest a few and they still have tiny ones but a few days later when we get back they look like anacondas nested on the ground. Sometimes, they leak and rot from the inside because the snails got into them first.
The freezer is already full of 'em and I can't imagine where am going to put the pumpkins. I am overly fed up but don't get me wrong - am ever grateful.
There wasn't a day we go home with our bike bags full of harvests aside from the boxes that are loaded on the back. There's only abundance from that garden and still growing.
The fruits were a success and they barely needed tending.
These grapes are a part of our morning ritual now and though am not a fan of them black berries but my husband is enjoying them every morning.
Mother nature has provided us enough rain and shine and a very very rich soil with all the bugs and the birds working together to keep them fruits and veggies growing in abundance. It wasn't all just a success. We had an epic fail on many other things, too.
My watermelons and African melons tried their hardest to grow and fruit. Unfortunately, the heat wasn't enough to push those fruits to grow bigger. The African melons didn't manage to fruit at all but they did bear flowers.
Oh well.. it was just too cold and wet when it bloomed not to mention that the berry thief decided to pay them all a visit, too.
The broccoli are going bald because a cute lil' rabbit has found its way to them. It's funny though, he munched the rest all bald and left the leaf with the caterpillars on it. Even animals recognize respect and boundaries I suppose.
I guess gardening is like crypto - some gives you an abundance of gain and some - an epic fail cause you should have sold them right on time instead of waiting for a speculated price increase. Wait! I thought this is a gardening post! It is!!
Have you on the other hand ever used them animal feces to boost the growth of your garden?
Is it still considered organic gardening if we do?
When is the right time to use them - animal feces?
This content's 100% mine and each pic is taken with a plain Samsung Galaxy A3 2016 edition camera -as organic as it is - no app involved.
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