Where can I get 2 tons of farmyard manure?

spend_thrift

I'm part of a community allotment start up on my estate. After a slow start we're finally at the stage where we're building raised beds (using reclaimed scaffolding boards) and filling them up with soil ready to plant. :j

So far we have filled one bed with topsoil. It took a whole builder's bag (about 1 ton?) to fill to a depth of about 10cms. I read today that this still isn't fertile enough to grow in and we need to mix in manure to get a decent crop. The website I was reading (Seed to Plate) suggests 150L manure for every 32 square feet of bed. That makes 2025L in all for our space, which is about 2 tons! :eek:

Where will we get 2 tons of poo? We're in Dulwich (SE22) and would need to get it delivered - preferably at the weekend and preferably as cheaply as possible. Southwark Council has nothing on its website about manure.

Any ideas?

WestonDave

Best bet is get on the phone to the local farmers and/or stables and see what deal you can do. Hopefully one of them will be happy to flog you a trailer load for little more than the cost of transporting it, which they will possibly do with their own tractor and trailer. I know when I was a kid Dad used to get a farmer to bring a trailer load of manure to the allotment. I guess in Dulwich there aren't many farmers around but you may find some stables if you head out a bit.

Lotus-eater

Yes ring stables, I was in London at the weekend and saw a stable offering free manure and compost, it had a big sign outside, so it is possible.
I would think most would have some sort of transport and may be able to help you out.

ausmummy

Have you tried freegle / freecycle? When I ask for manure I get four or five responses offering it and many have tons to give away. You usualy need to collect it yourself though. I guess it depends on the area.

LJM

im sure if you rang the farmers they would let you have some

balloo_2

Stables If you are able to transport yourselves. Farmers use the manure on the fields but when money is involved they would sell you their souls :rotfl:

Orange_King

I've just been offered free bags of horse manure for the garden from someone who owns stables locally - they are glad to see it being removed due to the vast amounts the beasts produce!

My question is though, what should I be doing with it if it is still relatively fresh? Should it all go into the compost bin for a few months or are there any opportunities to use it among the fruit and veg plants? I have heard conflicting reports about it being good for raspberry canes while leading to too many weeds from the seeds etc in it?

SailorSam

Try your local Council as well, not for horse manure but they may have plenty of compost for you to take now that we all have separate bins that they take our garden cuttings away.

lostinrates

Another thing to consider for the future is getting some fresh. Many horse keepers keep theri fields clear of manure, daily or weekly. Many more would be thrilled to provide you with a couple of plastic feed bags to ''poo pick'' from and take it home: I'd be thrilled if someone wanted to do this for me for the manure. This manure also has no bedding, meaning none of the tyes of bedding than can often take a long time to bed down.

I wonder if I find a local allotment anyone would be interested in that?

lostinrates

Orange_King wrote: »

I've just been offered free bags of horse manure for the garden from someone who owns stables locally - they are glad to see it being removed due to the vast amounts the beasts produce!

My question is though, what should I be doing with it if it is still relatively fresh? Should it all go into the compost bin for a few months or are there any opportunities to use it among the fruit and veg plants? I have heard conflicting reports about it being good for raspberry canes while leading to too many weeds from the seeds etc in it?

we leave urs to rot in heaps for a few years. recently our friends uncovered an old muck heap, unused fr a couple of years, and it was the most amazing topsoil. You could ut some in your compost, or in a separate heap/stack. It compacts down and if stancked in the ''traditional'' way, the inside gets hot, and it all breaks down much more swiftly. Any smell soon wears off.

NeverInDebt

Some councils offer free soil improver I am sure they would help you given what you are doing