Gardening is messy and sometimes stinky work. Awhile back, I posted an article about the Unglamorous Side of Homesteading and smell is definitely one of them. Using manure in the garden or dealing with manure from your livestock is a necessary evil for most homesteaders. Not everyone who gardens wants to use composted manure but neither do they want to use chemicals from some big agra company. I was asked a couple months ago about non manure options that were still organic and natural to fertilize with.
I was surprised at how many people were actually forbidden to use manure of any kind in their gardens, even in container gardens! These rules generally applied to places like homeowner associations or gated communities that aren’t exactly known for their personal freedoms in the first place. I knew about compost teas and a couple other things that would help but what shocked me the most is how many organic fertilizers we actually throw away on a daily basis!
Recently, we started saving used coffee grounds and crushing egg shells to be mixed in the soil of the cold frames and greenhouse. I originally intended the use of them to battle the slugs that are the bane of my existence but soon learned that these two things also added nutrients and nitrogen to the soil, along with some organic matter. Once I realized that this ‘trash’ would help me grow food and get larger harvests, I went on a researching frenzy to try and glean all the information I possibly could on using non manure fertilizer.
The prepper side of me wanted the information in case there is no supply of composted material to use and the homesteader side of me wanted the information for versatility. My dream garden will not be small by any means and I will need a considerable amount (and options) of fertilizer and added organic matter to replenish the nutrients from year to year. Thankfully, several things on the list I came up with are very easy to get, process, and store.
- Used Coffee Grounds – As I said above, we are saving coffee grounds not only for keeping the slugs away, they are also a fantastic way to put some nitrogen in your soil. It can be applied right on top, worked in to the top few inches of soil, or composted. The abrasive nature of coffee grounds helps keep slugs away. WARNING: It is possible to use too much so monitor how much goes into the soil. You don’t want to burn the roots!
- Crushed Eggshells – Eggshells are a great way to put some calcium and other minerals back into the soil. Their sharp edges also help to keep the slugs and snails away. Depending on how large your crushed pieces are, adding them to the top few inches of soil or mixing into the overall soil will help drainage while at the same time releasing nutrients back into the soil, making for better food! I suppose it is possible to put too many into the soil but unless you are eating a dozen eggs a day, chances are you aren’t producing enough to worry about it.
- Dried Banana Peels – Used as a mulch, dried banana peels make great fertilizer that will release nutrients over time. They also provide you with natural pest repellent. Bugs such as aphids can’t stand bananas. You can also bury small bits of peel an inch or two in the garden but whole peels are not recommended as they can attract unwanted rodents.
- Seaweed and Kelp – I can personally attest to the results of using seaweed and kelp can produce. A lot of people immediately think that using either of these organic fertilizers will cause a build up of salt in the soil but that is simply not true. When you think about it, the vast majority of the plant is water and what is left is a fraction of actual organic matter. The real upside to using either fresh or liquid seaweed and kelp is all of the minerals from the ocean being deposited into your soil. I cannot recommend this enough, especially if you are against using (or unable to use) manure fertilizers. I’ve never seen an issue with it being ‘overdone.’
- Bone meal – The use of powdered bone meal is an ancient practice to help restore nutrients and trace minerals needed to grow strong plants. You can make your own though most people tend to buy it as the process can be cumbersome.
The upside to several of these non manure fertilizer options is they actually add back some organic material to the soil along with the nutrients. Granted, you will still need to add in compost and other organic goodies to the soil for the next year. Using these methods for fertilization may lessen how much you really need and if nothing else, you are more self reliant by using resources you already had and saving money by increasing the usefulness of what you already paid for!
I started recently using a no till method and my success has been improving each year.I simply cover my garden(in the fall) with paper or cardboard and spoiled hay,leaves or grass clippings.I also use aged tree chips.I am finding that over time this is performing quite well for me.I do also use some of our kitchen waste.
Ever heard of composting; yeah, that natural thing nature does to break down organic matter of all kinds into its chemical components. Banana peels, egg shells, seaweed and kelp, coffee grounds; yup, put them in the ground and they break down just like compost, just not as good. Seriously, this article was sophomoric.
Did you even read the article Bill? Obviously not because in it, I point out all the reasons people CANNOT COMPOST but still want to use an organic fertilizer. Furthermore, Mr. Troll, not everyone wants to deal with compost or the time it takes for it to actually be useable. Funny thing, too. I told people exactly the same thing..IN THE ARTICLE YOU COMMENTED ON BEFORE READING…in regards to coffee grounds and whatnot being able to be put directly into the soil.
I cordially invite you to take your trolling, half formed opinions and shove them in your own compost pile. I don’t mind people having other opinions, so long as they aren’t jerks about it. You obviously have no idea about me or my site, its audience, or what I am trying to do here.
Bill is an idiot. Don’t be like Bill. Haha. 🙂
Maybe some of us are sophomores and need this info. If you are so advanced then contribute but down comments are not profitable for anyone and it does no make you any taller.
Green manure. Grow in fallow beds things like rye, vetch, clover, phacelia etc and turn them into the soil before they produce seed.
Um, blood or cotton seed meal for nitrogen.
Lime, gypsum and dolomite for calcium.
Rock powders and green sand for potassium and phosphorus.
I just throw all of my organic matter on the ground, as mulch. In the ag world it is called Sheet Composting. Just as good as composing in a pile, Bill, but much less labor.
Yes, I love kelp for the micro nutrients.
And yes, the bone meal, of course. As stated.
Thank you for adding to the list!!
Instead of composting my grass clippings which take up a lot of room, I spread them between the rows to keep the weeds from growing. It works especially well on corn, but the beans and most of my other plants love it too. I then usually have only a few weeds that come up in the rows and a few that come up in the middle. they all pull very easy, not at all like having to pull the whole row. I hate to pull weeds. then in the fall I just till everything once and I am ready for the next spring
Micronized Azomite, it is a natural source of minerals and trace elements and it is OMRI listed for use in organic production. (Take this as hearsay well readsay and do your research)
So interesting to see what can be used instead of manure. crushed eggshells and used coffee beans? I would never have guessed at those. I wonder what other kinds of organic fertilizer you can use. Is one better or worse for simple gardening? Either way awesome post, have to share this new info with my friends.
Thank you for the info
When cleaning our freshwater fish tank, instead of dumping the water down the drain, I water my plants with it, and they are growing bigger, faster. Of course, I suppose it contains small amounts of “manure” from the fish, but there is no smell.?
Fantastic idea! We have a small 10 gallon fish tank and I can’t believe I didn’t think of using that water for my plants. THANK YOU so much for the comment!