i have been reading alot on composting, and my best redily availble resource is horse manure. virtually unlimited. the problem is the "apples". its like raking charcoal briquettes! i was thinking of getting a wood chipper, and running it through. good idea? any other better ones?

thanks

Welcome to Handyman's Shmo and lucky you for having a manure supply!

If you're "picking apples" , instead of using a rake, get a "manure fork" or a "mulch fork", which looks like a pitchfork only the tines are about 1 1/2 inches apart and it's much sturdier than a rake. You can also "scoop the poop" with this, depending on the shape of the pile. OR use a square point shovel (what I use) and scoop the poop

Fran should pop (poop?) in with some suggestions because she has the same lucky circumstances you do. Looking forward to hearing her ideas!

Liz

thanks for the response (quick too)

but i'm afraid i don't understand. does this fork help break up the apples? that is my problem, i need to get the apples broken up to spread them. i'm gonna try to cover my entire yard (about an acre) with 1-2 inches of manure. and maybe every year.the soil is kinda bad, and it helps my mom out if i get rid of the poop for her. it doesn't seem to compost fast enough as apples, and it's piling up!

Ooooh, OK, I thought you were using it in a compost pile! My Sister (my "supplier") rented or borrowed some sort of manure spreader that attached on the back of her rider mower that I *think* broke the "apples" up when she spread it on her yard. I'll ask her about it tomorrow if she's home

Liz

the apples do take longer, but no biggie. if ur spreading by hand, then break them up urself (you can wear gloves) i wouldn't run them, when green/wet, thru the mower, prolly just clog it up, like wet grass does.

i had not thought of that, i guess i didn't think it was any different than a farmer tilling it under.

where do i get an analysis done?

For an analysis, if there is a Coop-Extension near you, give them a call. Our local Nursery/Lawn mower repair place does soil analysis (and closer than our Coop-extension)

Liz