Black Gold

(Hold your emails! We DO know how to spell M-A-N-U-R-E!)

According to the website ukponies.com, in 1900 approximately 1,000 tonnes of horse manure was cleared from London’s streets every day. That's a lot of manure to haul away and put somewhere. Despite the obvious difference in scale, I can relate to the challenge faced by city engineers back in the day. 


Our manure pile (generated by five horses and occasional contributions from the goat pen) is modest in size by comparison. Though we don't aerate, turn, water, or do any of the various things one is supposed to do to a manure pile, eventually the underneath stuff composts anyway. The result is marvelous, rich compost, excellent in the garden and nearly perfect in terms of the Carbon:Nitrogen ratio (the ideal is about 30:1). 


Despite regular visits from our gardening friends and our best efforts to haul loads uphill to various places in the garden, we can't keep up with the impressive output our well-fed horses. Fortunately for us, we managed to get onto the Michell Excavating secret (not so secret any more, I guess) manure list. Our excess horse manure gets picked up a couple of times a year and is taken off to the Michell farm at 7473 East Saanich Road. There, the manure is lovingly tended for another 6-12 months. Large machines flip the piles on a regular basis and eventually the composted manure is mixed in various proportions with other materials to create several products used in gardens. It's a great recycling system and a win-win situation for all involved. (Unless, of course, you are a horse owner and have not managed to get onto the list and find yourself wondering just how massive that manure pile of yours could possibly grow... If this sounds like you, please don't harrass poor Karen in the office as they are at capacity when it comes to manure clients... and, heaven knows, I don't want to annoy one of my favourite people on the planet!) 


The good news is, if you are a Vancouver Island gardener looking for a steady supply of excellent enhancements for your flower or vegetable beds, you are in luck. Judging by the size of the manure mountain at Michell Excavating, they aren't likely to run out of quality stuff for the garden any time soon. And, of course, the folks at Michell aren't the only ones able to supply gardeners with black gold. Most horse owners are happy to share the bounty - just ask and see what kind of deal you can make in exchange for a piece of the pile. Over the years, we've been the happy recipients of plums, greens, beets, carrots, and tomatoes from town gardens that have been enhanced by liberal applications of our composted manure. I've even been lucky enough to find cash contributions and happy notes left by friends who've come by to collect a load destined for raised beds and containers. 



Looking for information about managing your manure pile? Check out the Manure Maiden website. It's refreshing to find someone else who gets as excited as I do about the destiny of horse poop. 


Horse manure is not the only great ingredient in a compost pile. Send your best composting tip to allpointswest[at]cbc.ca and we'll put your name in a draw for a copy of



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