Our wonderful friend and correspondent Christi wrote to your faithful Gardening Enthusiast with a question about Manure:
To: Beatrix Potts
My mother just brought me two big buckets, maybe 20 gallons total, of cow poop and hay mixture. Is there anything I need to do to this before using it?
Christi
Hi Christi,
OH MY, aren’t you the lucky young lady, not every mother is so thoughtful by bringing her daughter two giant buckets of cow poop (even I’m laughing at that one). The most important thing about this is to not just glop it all on in one big heap. When something this moist and organic is left in a large pile it tends to rot rather than decompose. All you need to do is spread it, no thicker than about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch, on top of some “browns.” That would be straw, grass clippings, twigs, branches and things of that nature. Putting this wonderful organic material on your compost is going to speed up process and provide you with absolutely wonderful organic gardening compost. I must tell you my dear that I am totally envious of you for getting such a wonderful gift from your mother (I’m smiling in that one, but when one is discussing organic gardening this really is a thoughtful and terrific gift, especially since it comes from your Mom.) If you have any other questions or need any assistance please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail I’m always here for you.
All my best,
Beatrix
Hi Beatrix,
I talked to my Mama, and she explained a little more to me about what this cow poop really is. She said its from around the hay stall, where the cows eat. Its been layered with hay for a year or longer and is not fresh. She has already started using this in her garden. What I’m wanting to do is use this in containers. Do I need to mix this with anything like potting soil? I’m only planting tomatoes right now. I’m going to use these 15-20 gallon containers that are both now filled with this black gold 
I was going to put 2-3 plants in each. If you have any ideas, please help! lol! Thanks for everything! I may try to post parts of our emails on the blog with a few pictures if you don’t mind.
Christi
Hi Christi,
It sounds to me like this cow poop has already turned into organic compost, and that is absolutely wonderful. Once again, Beatrix has to say you are one very lucky young lady. The very cogent issue about manure is that it is some of the most active compost available and, this is the most important point, because of its very nature it contains a great deal of nitrogen. So, the concern here is that you do not want to “nitrogen burn” your plants by giving them too much compost. In this case since it has been decomposing for year it should be perfectly OK to mix with potting soil or even good ground soil half-and-half. For every shovelful of this manure add a shovelful of potting soil or ground soil. I don’t think you have to dilute it more than that but that mixture would be the absolute minimum to avoid burning the flowers that you’re going to plant in these pots. And dear, you must promise us that you’re going to take some photographs when you get your tomatoes planted so that we can all enjoy them together. Well, I’m glad you wrote me back and straightened me out on exactly what was going on. This is so very wonderful of your mother and so very exciting that you are using organic compost in your tomato pots. They are going to grow, thrive and be absolutely wonderful. Keep me informed please.
All my best,
Beatrix
The Pit Controversy
Video Alert, Beatrix Video – Click on “To read the rest of this article,” below, please
Hello my wonderful gardening chums, it’s Beatrix Potts your, “Organic Gardening Maven.” First a word or two about our title. When you are given inaccurate and even false information about organic gardening fertilizer your organic vegetable garden may be in terrible danger. Bad information is just as dangerous as cutworms. We are here to set the record straight and give you the most reliable information available.
So, on with the show. Beatrix is here to tell you that organic fertilizer, a.k.a. organic gardening compost is the life’s blood of your organic vegetable garden. Organic gardening is incomplete without organic gardening compost. This is not just an essential element of organic vegetable gardening it is probably the singular most important element. And it is the element that you can produce and control.
To read the rest of this article: Danger in the Vegetable Garden Vol. 1
Another of our faithful readers, Miss Caroline has written us not with a question but with an urgent request. She writes, “Beatrix, help me please. Every time I open my compost bin a million little flies swarm out. Am I doing something wrong.” To which Beatrix replies, My dear, those little fruit flies have a very small part to play in composting. However, this is a sign that your compost may be just a touch too wet, OR, has too many “Greens” in it. Mr. Melvin Potts, our wonderful spouse and “Mr. Organic Gardening Compost Man,” has reminded yours truly to give a plug for the often neglected “Browns.” They are defined as plant matter that was formerly green and has dried and become desiccated and is now as its name implies, Brown. Dried leaves, plants, and dried grass clippings are excellent sources of brown material for your organic vegetable garden. Re-balance your mixture with some “Browns” and make certain you have a tight fitting lid and all will be well. If you have a question or comment for Beatrix or Melvin, please contact us at the Contact Us page. All my best, Beatrix.
Recently a wonderful reader of our Blog, Organic Gardening Fertilizer – Compost, wrote and asked your faithful correspondent a very important question. James wrote, “Beatrix, how does organic compost help our vegetable garden?” Your ‘Organic Gardening & Composting Maven’ is delighted to reply to dear James and to you all also. As you know Organic Compost is a biologically active and even probiotic substance. One of its most excellent primary functions is to provide the roots in our organic vegetable gardens with fluid nutrients, that’s water loaded with wonderful and nutritious substances like proteins, essential amino acids and carbohydrates for our most excellent vegetable friends. All of those substances are absolutely necessary for not only the health, growth and longevity of our organic vegetables, but also for one of the main reasons we grow organic vegetables, the flavor. You see my dears, sunlight and photosynthesis are a main factor in the growth of our vegetables and organic compost is a main factor in photosynthesis. (I’m sure your remember from High School biology that photosynthesis is carbon dioxide into the plant, oxygen out, making the sugars the plant needs for food. Beatrix blushes to remind you and begs your pardon knowing you are aware of this simple fact, no offense is intended to my gentle gardening chums.)
Some say you can determine if the compost is ready based on the smell, Beatrix says that’s absolute silliness. What you are looking for is a deep dark brown color, the smell of the earth, and when you squeeze a handful of this compost it should spring back in the palm of your hand. That’s the most certain way to make sure that your compost is ready to be put into your organic vegetable garden. What you’re checking for is this earthy smell, springy feel, and the appearance of this dark brown material.
Hello my wonderful gardening chums, it’s Beatrix Potts your, “Organic Gardening Maven.” Someone said that organic gardening is incomplete without organic compost. Beatrix is here to tell you that organic fertilizer, a.k.a. organic gardening compost is the life’s blood of your organic vegetable garden. This is not just an essential element of organic gardening it is probably the singular most important element. And it is the element that you can control.
Organic fertilizer will allow you to understand how important the plant’s life is and it will help the soil, insects, and everything that our wonderful vegetables need to grow and thrive.
