Manure! and things I didn't know about manure, did you?

     We were having a conversation about planting some winter hardy crops(here in Florida) and son number three mentioned a new PBS programme he had seen.  Growing  a Greener World.  http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/

     There are three seasons of episodes with a picture and synopsis to scroll through.  Today, I was flabbergasted when we were talking about manure and the simplest piece of information just blew me away.  Joe Lamp'l pointed out if the manufacturer of the manure is using a progressive weed killer on his grass fields, the cows are passing it along to your garden!

http://www.growingagreenerworld.com
/killer-compost-it-happened-to-us/

     Of course!  It is simple.  There are non-progressive chemical weed killers that attack a specific variety of weed.  Then the progressive variety attacks a broad spectrum of broadleaf weeds.  These chemicals are in the field, in the animals and in their manure.  I noticed this year, my plants were stunted and the leaves were curled.  I had a disappointing crop and I pouted about it at length.  

     I'm over it.  It wasn't me.  It was the manure.  I will not mention the name of it again, but, it's everywhere.  Joe pointed out he hadn't gotten his manure commercially but, even he didn't ask the farmer if he used a progressive weed killer and became a victim.  So, I will be importing horse manure by the five gallon bucket from a local source I know, from now on.  However, if you are stuck with a commercial product, you can call the 800 number on the bag and ask where the manure comes from.  Joe commented later on his blog:

JOE LAMP'L SAYS

SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 AT 8:02 AMIt does not apply to bags of peat moss and we contacted the folks at Black Kow directly about this. They have had no known issues with this, and don’t expect to. Their manure comes from dairy cows that do not graze on fields or consume products containing any persistent herbicides.

http://www.planetnatural.com/
product/burnout-weed-grass-killer/

     For the beginner and prepper gardener, the greener methods of growing in your garden is the smart way to go.  In a SHTF scenario, there will be no feed store or big box store or home improvement store to run to for weed killers, fertilizers and information.  You will be on your own to grow what you can, where you can, how you can.  Getting it green and going now and learning what works and what doesn't is good to know for anyone, anytime.  

    I have looked for an easy to use safe organic product that won't transfer it's weed killing through the garden.  I found a product called Burn Out, $7.95 for a 24 ounce bottle.  The home page gives the recipe! Active Ingredients (Ready to Use):   Citric Acid ….. 6.00%  Clove Oil ….. 2.00%   Other Ingredients:Water, Lauric Acid, Sodium Caprylate, Gum Arabic, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Acetate   Total Other ….. 92.00%  

     There is a driveway with brick pavers where the weeds grow so much that the chemicals needed to kill them, kill the grass several feet away.  I will be testing this product this week.


      I am also looking into putting myself in a position to never run out of clove oil.  I am not going to run out of citric acid in Florida!  So, for medicinal reasons, clove oil will be an essential in the cupboard!  

Oil of cloves

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) essential oil in clear glass vial

Oil of cloves, also known as clove oil, is an essential oil from the clove plant, 

Syzygium aromaticum. It has the CAS number 8000-34-8.

It is a natural analgaesic and antiseptic used primarily in dentistry for its main ingredient 

eugenol. It can also be purchased in pharmacies over the counter, as a home remedy for

 dental pain relief, mainly toothache. It is also often found in the aromatherapysection of 

health food stores and used in the flavoring of some medicines. The main oil-producing 

countries are Madagascar andIndonesia.^[1]