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Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed (Post 856258)

I have a couple of large compost bins on my allotment which I regularly
fill with compostable materials from home, but this only accounts for a
few percent.

For the most part, I go to the local riding stables where they bag up
the horse manure and leave it outside for people to take for free.

In the winter time, when the horses are inside the stables, the mix is
heavy with straw and bedding. But now in the warmer months with the
horses outside , it is mainly stuff gathered straight off the paddock
areas where the horses pass their days.

The thing is this. The bins are 4'x3'x3' and I just do not have the
energy or strength to turn them. So , in effect they are cold compost
heaps. I let the contents rot down over a 2 year period.

But is there a danger that the pathogens in the horse dung will not die
off (as they would if I were operating a hot heap) and that my family
could become seriously ill if I use this composted material on my
vegetable plot even if it is 2 years old?

Ed
(South-East UK)

Welcome to Garden-Planters,

if you know the beast to be ill with a disease transmittable to
humans. No major human disease has ever been accurately attributed to the intimate
contact human beings have had with horses for thousands of years.
Veterinarians and vet students probably have the greatest exposure to true
risk from horse manure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brooklyn1 (Post 856259)

"Ed" ex@directory wrote in message
o.uk...
I have a couple of large compost bins on my allotment which I regularly
fill with compostable materials from home, but this only accounts for a few
percent.

For the most part, I go to the local riding stables where they bag up the
horse manure and leave it outside for people to take for free.

In the winter time, when the horses are inside the stables, the mix is
heavy with straw and bedding. But now in the warmer months with the
horses outside , it is mainly stuff gathered straight off the paddock
areas where the horses pass their days.

The thing is this. The bins are 4'x3'x3' and I just do not have the
energy or strength to turn them. So , in effect they are cold compost
heaps. I let the contents rot down over a 2 year period.

But is there a danger that the pathogens in the horse dung will not die
off (as they would if I were operating a hot heap) and that my family
could become seriously ill if I use this composted material on my
vegetable plot even if it is 2 years old?

There is no concern with pathogens with manure from vegetarian beasts except
perhaps if you know the beast to be ill with a disease transmittable to
humans. In your case I'd be more concerned with viable weed seeds.

Hi,
There are possibly some other pathogens in Horse dung but in
practice they don't pose much of a risk to human health these days. Not
worth worrying about provided you use normal sensible measures like washing
hands etc.

Compost Heap. Horse Manure. Pathogens.

The Fore of Papua, New Guinea.

On Sat, 18 Jul 2009 08:51:44 -0700, "gunner" wrote:
Not to get into your debates here, but I would like some info/leads on the
groups where this was rampant.
TIA
Gunner

Somewhere between zone 5 and 6 tucked along the shore of Lake Michigan
on the council grounds of the Fox, Mascouten, Potawatomi, and Winnebago

Compost Heap. Horse Manure. Pathogens.

I'm healthy so I use my own munure in the compost pile and have
for years.
Dav

Compost Heap. Horse Manure. Pathogens.

www.shanklinmanormews.co.uk
"Dav" wrote in message
...

I'm healthy so I use my own munure in the compost pile and have
for years.
Dav

Yes but you're not paranoid.

You are like most of us, ordinary and use our common sense!!

--
Mike

The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association
www.rneba.org.uk
Luxury Self Catering on the Isle of Wight?