A reader asks:
I must admit to being a bit confused about your use of the term “NPK fertilizer” – I presume by that you are referring to artificially manufactured fertilizers? All fertilizers, including those we consider “natural” such as animal manure and compost, contain varying concentrations of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) (amongst other things), which is what makes the plants grow. So it seems to me that wanting to be “NPK free” is a bit odd? Julie
Thanks for your question, Julie. I’ll see if I can help answer your question.
Simply put we do not use any organic fertilizer product that has those three N-P-K numbers on the package.
To clarify, fertilizer by law carries a guaranteed ‘N-P-K Analysis’ — a promise that inside the bag you’ll get a certain percentage of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), and Potash (K). Your bag of fertilizer is supposed to replace used up N P K. Non-organic fertilizers have very high guaranteed NPK analysis while organic fetilizers have a lower guaranteed NPK analysis.
For example a list of “organic fertilizers”:
- fish emulsion
- bat guano
- seabird guano
- blood meal
- bone meal
- alflafa meal
- kelp meal
- feather meal
- etc
For example, somethings we do use:
- EM
- Compost/Humus
- Worm Castings
- Animal Manure ( from our own backyard barnyard)
- Green Manures
- Mulch
- etc
You can see from some of the products that we do actually use, they aren’t classified as “fertilizer” since the nutrient content is NOT labeled on the package. We consider them soil amendments. This year we did splurge for the 10k Challenge and bought more than normal to give the soil (and me!) an extra boost.
No Comments
Erin Evans says:
April 3, 2008 at 5:41 amWhere do you get rock dust from? I havn’t found any at my local nurseries. How much do you put on?
PhoenixJen says:
April 3, 2008 at 5:47 amThanks for clarifying, Justin. I had the very same questions! Please keep us posted on your progress as you do this – it’s very interesting to me.
PhoenixJen
Ginny says:
April 3, 2008 at 6:26 amThanks for that perspective on feeding the soil. 😀
By the way, that picture gave me a little twinge of that ache I get when overwhelmed with the beauty of the Lord’s Creation. You guys do good work! 😀
In Christ,
Ginny
Claudia says:
April 3, 2008 at 9:41 amHi
Can you tell me regarding your animal manure, I know you have straw down with your animal manure. Do you scrap up the animal manure with the straw and put it directly into your garden beds or do you compost the straw manure first?
Thanks
cg
P~ says:
April 3, 2008 at 1:21 pmI can’t say that I’ve actually made a declaration to not use NPK’s, but I have basically moved that way. I really got going with my compost pile last year, and with the addition of the Hens this year, I’ll be able to add fresh manure to that arsenal as well.
I do have a question, Have you or “Farmer J” ever made a manure tea with your chicken manure. I’ve been toying with the notion of steeping some manure in water and then diluting it with a spray-spreader for my lawn. If I’m going to have it, by golly it ought to be natural.
Thanks.
P~
Charlene Long says:
April 3, 2008 at 3:59 pmThis is a little off topic but looking at the picture at the top reminded me of a question I’ve been wanting to ask. I see what looks like spinach going to seed.
If you are using all heirloom seeds and yet you are doing succession planting (aiming for high yields), how do you have the time and space to allow the plants to go to seed so that you can collect it?
Any tips would be appreciated because I do raised beds exclusively and find it difficult to have enough space if I have to allow the plants to stay in the box for an extended amount of time.
Thanks!
Devin Quince says:
April 4, 2008 at 5:11 amSorry if this is somewhere I missed, but could you explain why you choose not to use “fertilizers” with phosphates?
Namaste,
The Quinces
Anais says:
April 4, 2008 at 5:59 amHello Erin
If you aren’t able to find ROCK DUST locally, certain organic garden supply companies do offer and ship rock dust.
We are working with one of our suppliers to see if can offer such soil supplements on our online store (www.PeddlersWagon.com)
Anais
Anais says:
April 4, 2008 at 6:00 amGinny
Amen. Creation is certainly a glorious thing. We are blessed to be living a garden, surrounded by God’s creation.
Blessings,
Anais
Anais says:
April 4, 2008 at 6:09 amHello P
Farmer D and J have used and made COMPOST TEA. As for MANURE TEA we are cautious about using such an application directly on the plants. Just to be “on the safe side” due to the fact that we do sell our crops and wouldn’t want accidental contamination.
We use and apply our animal manures only in the soil.
More about using MANURE TEA
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/soil/msg062100132171.html
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_plants_other/article/0,1785,HGTV_3609_1397984,00.html
I popped on over to your blog – my the chick, er, chickens have grown! Looking good. 😉
Happy growing and chicken raising!
Anais
Anais says:
April 4, 2008 at 6:13 amClaudia
Thanks for the question. We do both ways – depending on the season and type of beds we are using the compost/manure in.
Right now (during the rainy season) we no longer have straw in the animal enclosure but are using wood chips (free) The wood chips are easy to handle with the manure than straw (straw gets heavy and matted when wet).
Hope this helps.
Anais
Lisa says:
June 16, 2008 at 8:02 pmWhat you have done to your property is great! Do you know where can I find free or low cost mulch in the Pasadena area? I have a large area so I need a lot. I already know about the City of L.A. Dept. of Sanitation mulch–I won’t use it anymore after I found out it contains sewage sludge and yard waste. Thanks.
ferdie says:
July 15, 2008 at 11:10 pmjustin im very much interested interested with ur biodiesel, can u share it with me how to make it at home?
here’s my email add — “fcs_ph@yahoo.com”