Fish, blood and bone meal

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Fish, blood and bone meal

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nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Sat Apr 02, 05 11:26 pm Post subject: Fish, blood and bone meal
Another random thought fluttered through my fluffy head today, whilst digging the allotment: what shall I do re fish, blood and bonemeal, or hoof and horn? Surely it is made from intensively farmed animals fed on god knows what, I'm not sure I want it anywhere near my lovely veggies. Are there any decent alternatives?

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 05 1:24 pm Post subject:
If you can grind it, you can have all my bones I was thinking about this myself, I need to do something with it all, our two dogs do their best, but the last month has really been too much for them

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 05 2:51 pm Post subject:
I tend to be careful of animal products in the garden in the same way as the ones I eat. I would love to use up my kitchen scraps in a safe and useful way. At the moment I burn the bones on a wood fire and use the ashes. Hopefully anything that's left goes on the garden. I wonder what people like the Soil Association would say.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 05 4:28 pm Post subject:

I've had a quick look around the HDRA site and they've got some information freely available on fertilisers etc; interestingly there are guidelines on what type of poultry raising systems can produce manure suitable for organic growing and these go as far down the line as deep litter and semi intensive systems.

Haven't found any specifics on blood fish and bone or hoof and horn; they are mentioned as providing certain elements but they naturally say the ideal is not to have to use these, and I share your concerns about where they come from. Have a look around yourself - https://www.hdra.org.uk and let us know if you come across anything useful.

If you're not a member and have �40 or so down the back of the settee, do seriously consider it, especially with your new allotment and you're nearish to Audley End(?), it's very, very worthwhile (worthwhile anyway, even without the visits!).

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 05 7:46 pm Post subject:
Isn't it just designed to add nutrient balance - (chemistry a bit fuzzy here) nitrogen, potassium and magnesium? Manure or compost would do your nitrogen, woodash or comfrey your potassium. Wonder what you do about magnesuim - seaweed maybe? can someone who's chemistry is a bit less fuzzy tell me if I'm wrong? I'm quite good at it!

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 05 10:38 pm Post subject:
NPK isn't it?

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 05 10:59 pm Post subject:
And the K stands for the Potassium! P for Phosphorus... from Phosphate, guano, and... ?

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 05 7:43 am Post subject:
Bloody hell, my chemistry really is fuzzy! I knew it was npk, but couldn't remember what they stood for (have to dig out my periodic table!) potassium is what you get in woodash (and potash - doh!) isn't it? So where can we boost the magnesium - isn't it important for tomatoes?

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 05 4:18 pm Post subject:
When the horses have a visit from the farrier I collect the bits of parings from the hooves - as this is horn - can I put this directly onto my compost heap or dig into the soil?

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 05 5:13 pm Post subject:
Blimey Gertie- I take it you haven't got any dogs then? Ours used to nick the hoof parings before you had a chance to pick them up. YUCK!

gavin

Joined: 10 Feb 2005
Posts: 93
Location: Leeds, W Yorks

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 05 5:32 pm Post subject:
Any ideas here? https://www.veganorganic.net/info4.html All best - Gavin

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