If you don't ask you don't get

[BilboWaggins]

All day today I have watched the chap from the farm at the top of our village go back and forwards with HUGE trailer loads of gorgeous, steaming muck that has come out of the cow sheds and is being spread on fields further up the valley.

Finally plucked up the courage to go to the bottom of the drive and wave at him to stop, and to cut a long conversation short, I can have as many TRAILER LOADS of the lovely smelly stuff dropped on my driveway as I like, no charge (think I'd better add a bottle of good Scotch to the shopping trolley at the weekend ).

From what I have seen it is a mixture of cow poo and straw. I've never had the opportunity of such bounty before and would appreciate advice on how to best utilise it. I'm thinking to incorporate some into the soil we dig over for the veg beds (which will also need freshly bought topsoil added to give us the volume) and mix the rest into the compost heap and leave it for . . . don't know how long.

Hope this is the right place to ask "what do I do with a massive pile of cow poo?" . Thanks in advance

[Matt.]

Whack it on the veg beds and you won't need to buy the topsoil. Keep getting the deliveries until you've had your fill! Avoid the plants that don't like freshly manured ground this year and just go with those that do. Fill your compost bins and use them next year to replenish those parts that need it. Get enough of it and you'll not have to weed or fertilise and you can go staright to no-dig gardening. Sounds like veg growing made easy to me!! Lucky fella.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I think that you should add 'stout plastic sheets' to your shopping list before he drops that lot on your drive.

Oh - and make sure that your cars are out of the way when he drops it, or you might find that you are blocked in...

[Nicos]

Oh - and make sure that your cars are out of the way when he drops it, or you might find that you are blocked in...

and don't plan on a BBQ for the next few days!

[Flummery]

We get the cow poo from the farm just opposite the allotments. He drops loads of it over the fence each autumn and we stack it over winter - or just spread it neat on the beds. I wouldn't want to use it still steaming fresh, but cow manure is a really fantastic soil improver. It's broken down beautifully now - lovely stuff! Fill yer pockets kid!

[BilboWaggins]

Whack it on the veg beds and you won't need to buy the topsoil. Keep getting the deliveries until you've had your fill!

Really? That easy? Oh my, oh my - frabjous day! Thanks Matt, you've made a small Hobbit very happy!

[BilboWaggins]

I think that you should add 'stout plastic sheets' to your shopping list before he drops that lot on your drive.

Giggle - very large tarp. already in position at side of drive waiting to be unrolled when the tractor arrives!

Oh - and make sure that your cars are out of the way when he drops it, or you might find that you are blocked in...

and do you have personal experience of this sort of bad-planning ??

I wouldn't want to use it still steaming fresh, but cow manure is a really fantastic soil improver. It's broken down beautifully now - lovely stuff! Fill yer pockets kid!

That's what I was concerned about but if I leave it a while and be careful what I plant as Matt suggested ? ? ?

Shall I fill Head Rooster's old wellies whilst I'm at it?

[Capsid]

You'd better ask the farmer if he has used aminopyralid before using it.

[Nicos]

You'd better ask the farmer if he has used aminopyralid before using it.

Good point Capsid!!!!

There was so much damage done to veg growing last year...do make sure
Bilbo!

[BilboWaggins]

You'd better ask the farmer if he has used aminopyralid before using it.

Oh RATS, I'd forgotten about that "little" problem. Must go and Google to remind myself how long it takes this blasted stuff to completely break down, I remember reading something about not all farmers even knowing they had used it - for example, being on bedding straw?

Thanks Capsid, appreciate you being on the ball and reminding me about this.

[Flummery]

Giggle
Shall I fill Head Rooster's old wellies whilst I'm at it?

Might as well - you can grow geraniums in 'em!

[rana]

Strange folk these gardeners

Most people would complain like hell if they came home to a big pile of s&!t on the driveway

[BilboWaggins]

Strange folk these gardeners

Most people would complain like hell if they came home to a big pile of s&!t on the driveway

We're the sane ones, it's all the others who are strange