If
you’ve ever read anything about gardening, or even seen one of those garden
shows on PBS, you are well aware that fertilizer is essential. And that good
fertilizer is more than worth its weight in gold. Especially when you’re paying
for that tag that says organic on it. You can take a stroll down any isle at
your favorite gardening center and clearly see that fertilizer holds a steep
price tag.
But why pay a steep price tag, with plastic waste often in tow,
when you can just as easily put what most consider just poop to good use? This
is where I sing even more praises on my rabbits. Aside from being one of our
family’s favorite meat sources, it is hands down the best food for any plant on
the farm.
Rabbit manure, or bunny berries, are amazing little pebbles of
wonder. It’s almost like they were conveniently packaged by nature to make a
great time-release fertilizer in our gardens. Unlike most animal manure, rabbit
manure is dry and odorless. Making it feel less like you’re handling poop and
more like you’ve got the world’s most expensive fertilizer in your hands!
Benefits
Rabbit manure is a rich, organic fertilizer that isn’t “hot” and will not burn
you plants. It has an amazing ability to help retain moisture in your soil and
even improve poor soil structure. Something that a lot of people benefit from,
as it seems most of our soil is so depleted of nutrients.
It is high in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, along with
several other minerals that lead to healthy, vibrant plants. When using rabbit
manure as fertilizer you can often experience lush, green plants, with
increased blossoms, better root systems, and higher quality of fruit- all while
improving your soils overall structure.
Ways to Use
Direct Use: Rabbit manure can be used directly in the
garden- just grab a handful, work it in well into the soil around the plant and
let it be. Sometimes giving it a good drench of water immediately after is necessary
depending on the moisture content of your soil.
Composting: Rabbit manure can be composted like any other
manure you would compost. Using old hay, wood shavings, kitchen scraps, etc.
you would just mix well, soak with water and cover with a tarp. Turning every
week or so, as needed, and then saturating again until it is all wet, but not
running a-muck.
Compost Tea: Similar to brewing tea, you essentially soak
rabbit manure in a five gallon bucket with water in direct sunlight for up to a
week. Methods vary by person making it, but overall you want to use a ratio of
about 1 part bunny berries to 5 parts water. We directly put the rabbit poop
into the bottom of a five gallon bucket and then fill with water, stirring
daily. When the color is similar to tea you would brew in your kitchen, you
strain out the manure and use the “tea” that is leftover in your garden. Best
results can be found when you dilute one cup of tea to a gallon of water, then
pour directly around the base of your plants.
Alternatively, you could put your rabbit manure into a burlap
sack or a cheesecloth tied to hold them so that you wouldn’t have to work to
strain all the berries from the bottom of the bucket.
Often farmers are willing to sell their rabbit manure by the
feed sack full. So before you take a stroll to the garden center this spring
for fertilizer, see if you can find a local farmer who raises rabbits. You’ll
enjoy the benefits of great organic fertilizer, the ability to keep a tight
circle on your veggie patch by knowing your truly using quality fertilizer, and
by helping keep your money in your community.
Comments
Post a Comment