How to Fertilize With Manure

Manure is divided into 2 types: hot manure and cold manure.

Hot manure includes horse manure, chicken manure, and manure from carnivores such as dogs and cats. Cold manure is manure from rabbits and from ruminants.

The two types of manure are handled differently

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Cold manure-that of rabbits, cattle, sheep and such- can be placed directly onto the garden at any time without damaging the plants. In the interest of protecting the vegetables from germs, however, I allow at least 3 weeks between using the manure and harvesting from any low-growing plant, such as bush beans and cabbage.
   
   Hot manure, such as from horses or carnivores, needs to be composed before using it because, when it rots, it creates heat that can damage the tender young plants. In addition, manure from carnivores can carry parasite eggs than need to be destroyed by composting before the manure is used.
   
   To compost hot manure, heap it into a pile with any kind of vegetable matter and keep it damp.
   
   The heat that the pile will generate will kill any weed seeds and any parasite seeds. Turn the pile occasionally so that the cool outside of the pile is mixed with the hot inner pile. Steam coming out of the pile is a sign that microbial action is working. When the manure stops steaming when the pile is broken open, or when the pile is reduced by perhaps half, the manure is ready to be used for fertilizer.

2. The hot manure can be placed around the plants after the compost heap is no longer hot, and the cold manure (like manure from cattle, sheep, goats, or rabbits) can be used immediately without first being composted.
   
   Manure is not as concentrated as chemical fertilizer, and so it can be places around the plants 2 inches thick, if desired, without any damage to the plant. An artificial fertilizer will usually injure the plant if you use that much!
   
   In the interest of cleanliness, I never use manure around a plant that has leaves that will be eaten, unless there will be several weeks between the use of manure and the harvest of the leaves.
   
   Sun, wind and rain will destroy any pathogens (harmful bacteria such as e. coli) in time, but it DOES take time.

3. While it is not recommended, hot manure such as chicken manure CAN be used directly onto the garden if it is scattered thinly enough.
   
   When I clean out the chicken house, for instance, I usually take the manure out to the garden and scatter it by flinging shovelfuls as hard as I can. This is not a very effective way of fertilizing the garden as the manure is spread too thinly to give the plants much nourishment, but it is a way to use it immediately without burning the plants. Again, I do not harvest anything that might have come into contact with the manure for at least 3 weeks.