Bovine Manure

The qualities of Bovine Manure depend on the age and gender of the cattle, stage of lactation, season, quantity and the qualities of the feed. Cattle manure is not one thing—it includes feces and urine from cattle as well as bedding material. We have long-term agreements with high quality dairy operations who handle the manure with appropriate respect for our needs and concerns. It has long been known that cow manure is highly beneficial to crop soils. It is generally cooler manure than equine or bird.

Different animals remove and impart different qualities from feed and to manure. We believe that it is beneficial to include a broad range of manures which increases the biodiversity and resilience of the soil system. Cattle are the multi-gastric mammals in our system.

Equine Manure

Donkey, horse, and mule manures have a drier and hotter nature than cattle manure. These are the mono-gastric grazing mammals in our system.

Avian Manure

Domestic and wild bird manure: Birds excrete a packet that consists of both urine and feces, and is very high in protein. Once removed from the acid environment of the bird’s digestive system, the pH rises, driving off protein in the form of ammonia (which is the principal component of the strong odors frequently associated with poultry). By providing acidulating blend materials to our poultry (late cut hay which is carbonaceous, silicatious, imparting of porosity, full of diverse weed seed for bird feed, and source separated community food residuals), we stabilize proteins so we do not loose them to volitization. This also prevents malodours. This poultry-powered blend adds a third and different type of manure to our system.