A Load Of ...

We took delivery of a trailor load of horse manure ...

I love these good old tractors that seem to keep on going forever. For me they are an aesthetic reminder of what country life was like when I visited it in my childhood,  school holidays were spent  rummaging around woods in County Roscommon and visiting family friends with orphan lambs in cardboard boxes keeping warm beside the range cooker and requiring bottle feeding much to the glee of  small children, including me!

You may recall the problem with this horse manure is that its mixed with a high volume of wood chip and so we will have to compost it for a couple of years. In the meantime, its covered with a polythene sheet until it goes into compost bins. Somebody has discovered that composting manure gives off a considerable amount of heat and is spending the majority of her day happily ensconsed !!! ...

Or what about coiling some pipe through it for hot water, or sinking a hot tub into it!

Comments

[Maria Kinsella]

Did you know that a manure pile like the one you have makes a good place for germinating seeds that need warmth? Some one just mentioned this to me the other day and I thought it was fantastic. Talk about green energy!

[Anne]

I was just going to say, you can keep your tender seedlings on there to give them heat at night before planting them out.

Or you could sink some pots into it with plants that need heat. A handy old coldframe on top and you have a mini greenhouse.
Whatever you do, be inventive with the heat....its not going anywhere else but the sky.

[letty]

Your little cat really looks nug as abug, amazing how they have such a homing device for warmth, smart kitty!

[letty]

Your little cat really looks nug as abug, amazing how they have such a homing device for warmth, smart kitty!