mushroom compost

Hi everyone --As a new member id like to say a happy new year to the forum and post my first question.
ive decided that horse manure is far too messy and i dont have the space to store it long enough to get rid of any antibiotics that it might contain so im going to try this year. Has anyone got any tips

 

Hi Aster, welcome aboard. I've a feeling that Mushroom Compost is a soil-improver rather than a fertiliser. Are you trying to improve the soil structure or feed it?

 

Agree with Cajary.

Any antibiotics are likely to be minimal and no more so than those in say organic milk or beef. Even in organic production antibiotics are used, those used for horese with a few exceptions eg bute are virtually the same as used in livestock farming. Personally it wouldnt woory me a jot but I do respect your opinion.

A pelleted chicken manuare is a good 'clean' alternative to manure but better still home made compost or leaf mould. Have you thought of a wormerry?

 

Hi Aster just wanted to say welcome to the forum and also to agree with Pro Gard.... chicken pellets are great and as an added bonus you don't get a nasty farmyard smell like the real stuff.

Home made compost is wonderful and also a great way to recycle, last year I use up about 2 tons of the lovely stuff which I found at the bottom of our garden left over from the gentleman that lived in our house before us...a nice little present indeed!
Helen.xxx.

 

Thanks for the replies so far. I do use chicken pelleted manure and I do composting at the allotment dont seem to get much though. Im actually trying to improve structure,i want to try and retain more soil moisture during the summer months without the need for constant watering. The main problem is finding tthe space to store the horse manure for the required length of time.

 

Aster, why not use an old bulk bag that the bulder's yards deliver sand and gravel in. They used to be returnable, but are not nowadays - so there must be loads of them around.

The benefit of this is that it has vertical sides. And if they are easy to get hold off, you can afford to cut them to get the stuff out.

 

Hi Aster, welcome to GC. I use dumpy (builders) bags to store just about everything outside. they are tremendously strong, very cheap to buy new and last for years. Just remember that once they are full, you'll never move them!(unless you've a fork lift handy)