 July 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The official newsletter of Horses for Clean Water, http://www.horsesforcleanwater.com
Message from Alayne: Crossing PathsSometimes in life we find ourselves coming full circle and meeting up with ourselves. A few weeks ago I had just that experience. Matt and I, the dogs and two horses all went to Boise, Idaho for a three-day weekend of exploring. I made arrangements for the horses to stay at a boarding facility that sounded nice—the website stated that it had easy access to miles of riding trails. When we arrived we were thrilled to discover that some of the trails actually were on the Oregon Trail, a place that has stirred my heart for many years.
About 30 years earlier, as an undergrad in college, a friend and I came up with a plan to retrace the Oregon Trail on horseback. Our idea was to document present day life along the trail, contrasting it with historical perspectives. We dreamed, schemed and wrote National Geographic of our idea. Lo and behold, the editor of National Geographic personally replied to us that he liked our idea—and wanted to hear the details of our plans. Unfortunately our plans for the Oregon Trail never quite came to fruition, but another smaller and more tangible trail did: The Bozeman Trail. In 1980 I completed a Masters degree in which I retraced the Bozeman Trail in Wyoming and Montana, photographing life along the trail in a contemporary setting and pairing that with historical research and quotes. Retracing trails is something I enjoy. I like to think about what life used to be like, the layers of history, like skins of an onion, one on top of another. I find the similarities and contrasts fascinating, like seeing horses calmly grazing in a pasture that was once the site of one of the bloodiest battles in Western history. See this month’s featured product in the HCW CafePress Store, Story, Wyoming Notecards.
It took a couple hours for Matt and I to ride across the expansive sagebrush and cattle fields and reach the first BLM marker which stated that this really was the Oregon Trail. As I sat there on my horse, breathing in the fresh smell of sagebrush and surveying the endlessly dry hills around us, my heart raced with the thrill of touching history. It almost felt like I could palpate the heartbeat of hundreds of thousands of hopeful wanderers, all searching for something new, something better. The irony of the setting touched me as I, too, am doing a little searching. There is something about the human spirit and our drive for something new and better. I’m always trying to think of ways to expand Horses for Clean Water towards new horizons. I’m always interested in weaving fresh perspectives into our work. Like to see my wish list?
Maybe you might have some ideas to share—or stories of trails you’ve been traveling that you’d like to tell? If so, I’d like to hear them! And, in the spirit of adventure seekers everywhere, happy trails to you! Alayne Homemade Weed Control SprayTrying to beat those weeds? Here’s a homemade herbicide recipe for tank sprayers or spray bottles that’s low in chemicals and caustic substances.
Mix ingredients together in a tank sprayer and spot spray weeds on a calm day when it is not going to rain for at least 12 hours. NOTE: The spreader sticker is a useful product to use even for those who use chemical herbicides. When used as an additive to sprays, it acts as an adhering agent and helps disperse product evenly, protecting it from rain and sun and keeping it on the plants, not running off or evaporating. Also, you won’t have to use as much insecticide/herbicide to get the job done!
Farm Focus: Clever FarmJuly 16th Special Composting and Manure Management Workshop in Olympia, WAMarcie Cleaver has several very lucky beef cows! These cows do not know mud, never wallow in manure, have healthy pastures to graze and dwell on a farm that is lovely for all to look at. Some of the unique features to her farm include excellent mud management, sacrifice areas, pasture management/rotational grazing (Marcie even grows her own hay!), composting, wildlife enhancement, landscaping with natives, and riparian management of a salmon-bearing stream. She’s also received the Thurston Conservation District Farm of the Year Award. Would you like an opportunity to see Marcie’s place in action? Then join HCW on Monday evening, July 16th for a special workshop on manure management options, held at the Clever Farm in Olympia, WA. Attend this event to:
Come early to join us for a farm walk with Marcie and resource staff and learn tips on chore efficiency, mud management and farm care. Find out how your place can become an asset to your animals, your neighborhood and the environment!
A New Aerated Compost System in Snohomish, WA Comes On-Line
Ever since she bought Liberty Bell Farm in Snohomish, Washington, Sue Bell has wanted a better way to manage the manure produced by her 12 horses. And now, with the assistance of the Snohomish Conservation District and 50% cost share provided through an EQIP Grant (Environmental Quality Incentives Program), Sue has a brand new, state of the art, aerated compost system of her very own. Before she began composting, Sue stockpiled her manure and sawdust bedding in a long windrow and every six months she either hauled it away for off-site disposal or she applied it on her own fields. From the many workshops that she attended, Sue knew that this was a questionable practice and therefore she sought assistance through the Snohomish Conservation District. The grant application process did take a considerable amount of time and effort, however, in the end she was able to construct a 3-bin compost system that includes aeration to enhance the composting process. Oxygen is critical to the compostng process. Most piles of manure have little to no oxygen deeper than 18 inches from the surface. As a result, the composting process can often be slow and often quite smelly. With aerated composting, an electric blower periodically induces airflow through the pile, thereby replenishing the oxygen in the biologic system. In response, the microorganisms thrive and their by-product—heat—is used to destroy parasites, pathogens, weed seeds and fly larvae. The oxygen also minimizes offensive odors and greatly expedites the composting process. The engineering design for Sue Bell’s new compost system was provided by O2Compost of Snohomish, Washington. O2Compost specializes in compost system design and operator training, and while they work with all varieties of organic wastes, they specialize in composting horse manure and helping horse owners convert an expensive problem into a profitable opportunity. Once Sue is up and running, she plans on selling the compost (that she doesn’t use around her farm) to local neighbors and garden club members as well as local landscape companies and nurseries in the area. For more information about this and other aerated compost systems, visit the O2 Compost web site. Horses for Clean Water promotes composting as an environmentally friendly horse-keeping practice. O2Compost is a wonderful option for horse owners across North America.
Dealing with Odors in Horse Paddocks(Part one in a two-part series)Gravel or sand in paddocks provides an excellent footing for horses. Both are good for reducing mud, decreasing erosion, and they make chore-life easier by simplifying manure removal—it’s much easier to remove manure from gravel or sand versus dirt or mud. However, a possible downside to using gravel footing is a potential increase in urine smell. This can be a real concern from the good neighbor standpoint. Breathing ammonia is also unhealthy for horses and unpleasant for us. In this two-part series, I’ll address several useful ways to tackle paddock odors. This month I’ll start with the basics and will discuss the odor control benefits of zeolites, a mineral found in clay. Next month I’ll talk about beneficial microorganisms as well as other popular options. The most important thing to remember is to begin with healthy soil and good topography before you put down any gravel. Don’t begin by dumping gravel or sand on top of a bunch of mud or muck, and then wonder why it smells. Be absolutely certain that you have a good, even slope to the surface you are putting the gravel on. Any depressions in the underlying soils, however slight, will cause water and urine to pool under the gravel. There are a variety of products that can be sprinkled on urine spots to neutralize odors. I have found zeolite products to be the cheapest, most effective solution. Zeolites are naturally occurring minerals found in clay that have a very porous structure. Among other beneficial uses, zeolites are used in industry for many purposes including odor control, toxin removal and as chemical sieves.
The pores in the zeolite minerals bind with ammonia molecules, holding onto them until naturally occurring bacteria break down and eliminate the ammonia. Zeolite is in many stall deodorizer products, such as Sweet PDZ, Stall Fresh, and several other brands. These products, which look like finely ground kitty litter, can be purchased at feed stores. Sweet PDZ, a product I have been using for many years, comes in a powder and granular size. In some areas of the Pacific Northwest, an additional larger size (usually half-inch pieces) called a “paddock product” is available, which is most useful for a horse’s outdoors areas. The most effective way I have found for using Sweet PDZ is to buy several bags, about three to four per paddock (my favorite is the “paddock product”). I work two to three bags into the horse’s “pee spot,” digging down and stirring it in well. Then I take part of a fourth bag and sprinkle it across the top. I find this method to be quite effective and to last a long time. Next month we continue with odor control by discussing beneficial microorganisms and other useful options. Educational EventsDiscover great ways to get your horse property in ship shape for you and your horses! Check out the web site, for new events added regularly.
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