Organic Fertilizer - Make Your Own!
The world is witnessing a climate disaster. Contaminated water, bleached land and a poisoned food supply are all symptomatic of a fundamental flaw in our approach to agriculture.
With a slow leak of information I hope to turn as many heads as possible to some very simple and effective methods of organic and sustainable farming.
You may grow some food of your own already? Or perhaps not. But it won’t hurt to know a few tricks of the trade. Even if you don’t use your knowledge on the land, it may help you to understand a crisis that stems far beyond your own personal space.
For now, let’s learn about organic liquid fertilizers. I have released a separate article that covers the production and use of compost.
What to use:
Got any unwanted nettle patches nearby? What about some local livestock such as sheep, cows or horses? Nettle plants and animal poop are fantastic for your garden. Provided that you prepare and apply them well and with caution. Here’s why and how they can be put to use...
Stinging Nettles:
Nettles are not the enemy you once thought you had. Quite the opposite. They’re one of the best, most prolific and highly sustainable sources of organic plant food.
All you have to do is cut them, brew them and use this ‘tea’ to water your garden.
To think that people actually use harsh chemicals to kill off nettles is crazy! Especially considering that by using them, you can remove all need for chemical fertilizers too.
Nettles have a very high nitrogen content which is essential for plant health as they cannot extract it from the air. Therefore, suitable nitrogen levels in the soil are optimal for your plants
Making a Nettle ‘Tea’
Method:
Cut down enough nettles to fill a large watertight container. (I use a 50-gallon bin)
Loosely compress the nettles to fill the container — no need to compress them as you’ll want to stir the mix.
Fill the container to the top with water and allow it to sit for at least a week. The longer it sits the greater the infusion will become.
Decant some of the brewed ‘tea’ into a watering jug and dilute it to a ratio of around 1 part tea to 10 parts water (it’s strong stuff).
Water your garden flower and veggies with your natural fertilizer. When those nettles grow back, you know what to do!
Caution:
You may want to do some quick research as to what plants/vegetables in your garden may dislike this fertilizer. Not all plants are the same and with the high nitrogen content and potency, it is possible to overfeed beds and shrubs.
Bonus!
When watered down and sprayed onto the outside of plants and crops, nettle tea can act as a natural insect repellent! More reasons to get brewing your weeds!
Manure:
To the same tune as the nettle tea, you can max a mixture, all the same, using a variety of animal manures.
Animal Manures and their Qualities:
All manures are best composted first or made into a ‘tea’ (as I am discussing here). Though high in nutrients, there is always the danger of harming you plants by applying fertilizers that are too strong.
All typical livestock manure can be used to great benefit and carries a high nutrient profile. Here are some things to look out for:
Chicken: High nitrogen as well as potassium and phosphorus. Compost/brew well before use.
Cow: High in ammonia which can be harmful if not dealt with — Compost/age well and apply caution with heavy use.
Sheep: Low nitrogen — good for use with nettle ‘tea’ or in gardens with high nitrogen content as a balancing fertilizer — Compost/age well before use.
Horse: High nutrient profile — Compost/age well before using.
Goat: A safe manure to use, with good nutrients but without excessive potency. Still, it’s best composted/aged well.
Pig: Excellent nutritional profile and of great benefit — but must be composted/aged well before being used.
Composting manure will further break down compounds and will allow the nutrients to become less harmful and more readily available.
Aging it (either in the compost pile, dug into the beds months before they’re planted up or brewed in liquid form) will ensure that the manure is free from pathogens and is safe to use.
I am specifically talking about liquid fertilizers here, where of course, fertilizer can be watered down and brewed to achieve adequate potency. Read on!
Method:
Collect the poop. Either from your own animals or with the permission of a livestock/landowner (I collect sheep manure from a local farmer).
Fill a large watertight container with 1 part poop to 5/8 parts water. Allow the mixture to sit and brew for at least a week. Again, the longer the better.
Strain some tea into a watering can at 1 part tea to 5 parts water and apply to your garden.
Repeat the process no more than once every two days.
Failing to dilute these ‘teas’ can result in some serious harm to your beloved plants. Their strength and potency are enough to ‘burn’ the leaves and roots, and can even kill the plant.
Always dilute your mixtures and if your plants don’t seem to like it (yellowing, drooping even rotting) — stop!
Often highly nutritious (and especially smelly) soil can attract pests. So there’s no need to go crazy — it is possible to ‘kill with kindness.
No need to worry!
It’s all very straightforward really and with the right amount of caution your plants and garden will only thank you! Either by the greenest growth, the fullest flowers, the fattest vegetables or the juiciest fruits — you’ll get your thanks!
Fancy Saving a Few Flushes?
You can even water your garden with your own pee!
Again, water is down to a ratio of 1 to 10, pee to water, and you’ll be good to go!
You might not want to go crazy with the pee as your garden could get smelly. And you may avoid using it to grow salads and other foods of the type. But on the topic of liquid fertilizer, I have to at least mention that you excrete it every day!
Spread the Word!
Whether it is with pee, poo or stingy nettles, I wish you success in the garden! If we all acquire this knowledge then we wouldn’t need to fuel the damaging chemical industry. So spread the word!
