This is an excellent
subject! Using worms to compost is usually done in a small enclosed area, such
as a 2’ x 2’ plastic covered box. You can add just about
anything that does not contain meat and grease. For worms to be happy you
need a warm, moist, protected environment. A pasture will most likely NOT
be a viable place for a large worm population as it would be too wet and soft
for your horses.
On my street I have a wonderful
neighbor that collects all of the manure from the street and composts it for
use in our gardens. The finished compost is wonderful stuff and free!
I use it on flowerbeds and veggies as both a mulch and food. Others have
orchards and extensive gardens that flourish from this black gold. My neighbors
and I have saved thousands in fertilizer costs over the past few years we have
started community composting.
I urge everyone to compost
all of their manure and bedding. If you do not garden, give it so a
gardener you know or advertise on Craig’s List. You might get some fresh fruit
or veggie from a grateful gardener. Manure should be composted for three
reasons – as compost it is worth it weight in gold, second the landfills
are getting full and third we need to keep manure out of the local waterways
and ocean.
Here is a link for a video done
at my neighbor’s ranch:
Click on watch the video...Yep,
that is my wonderful neighbor Tim and his tractor. The very first horse
is Genie, a multiple National Champion, and Legion of Supreme Honor inductee,
now retired trail horse. Hope you enjoy this!
Nancy Reed
Lazy J Ranch
Elfin Forest, CA
(where we have had 3+ inches of rain in the last 18 hours and more is on the
way!!!)
