Thanksgiving Turkeys Have Green, Sustainable Value

Thanksgiving Turkeys - Have Green Options

The holiday season is approaching and the demand for turkey on the festive tables is reaching it's yearly high.  The turkey, a fowl that is native to North America, is a traditional favorite for the holidays. And the desire for recipes for using the left-overs will saturate the searches in the coming weeks.The Minnesota Turkey industry provides 47 million turkeys for Thanksgiving, 22 M for the Christmas holiday, and Easter requires another 19 M turkeys. But to get all of those turkeys to market, the industry creates tons of waste. 

The staggering numbers of turkeys consumed has created a massive amount of turkey litter (poo) that could be piling up in mountains of waste with a smell that penetrates whole neighborhoods.  Tons of turkey littler, 750,000 tons (!) is just one number I found for Minnesota, which is the top turkey producing state in the U.S.  

Bulk turkey litter on farms

Turkey poo is trucked from farms to electric producing power plants.  There the turkey litter, which is a mix of manure and bedding, is burned to create steam that will produce enough electricity to serve 60,000 homes in the region.

  

Fibrominn Plant, Benson, Minn.

Staggering numbers of turkey litter is transported from local farms producing 4500 - 5000 semi-truck loads.  After the litter is burned, that massive, bulky, smelly product is reduced to 18 dump trailers of ash.  Ash that is sold back to the farms as a nutrient rich organic fertilizer without the bulk - without the odor.   

Bulk to Ash

This product is a mere 2% of the original mass of manure, but the nutrient values and ease of applying this form of turkey litter is unsurpassed. Applying manures from any source to farm fields has created environmental problems.  The Phosphorous and nitrates build up in soils, then these substances in the soil leach from the manures into runoff, affecting groundwater and surface waterways. 

This lab report of broiler litter ash indicates the intense concentrations of nutrients are 10 - 17 times more concentrated than the bulk poultry litter.  This added benefit of using turkey litter ash is powerful  and the ash is lighter in weight and transportation costs are much less than moving the tons of raw material. The nitrates are burned up in the combustion process. In addition to the added macro-nutrients of N-P-K of the ash, the micro-nutrients that plants also need is concentrated at higher levels than the raw manure.

Turkey Farm

Even though the turkey litter is not literally a 'left over', this by-product of the turkey industry is being used to it's maximum benefits for a very sustainable source for power.  

Feathers

Another by-product of the turkey industry is feathers. Turkey feathers offer another source for organic fertilizer.  Feather meal is processed from all poultry sources, duck, chickens, and turkeys.  By a pressurized steam process , feather meal is a great, slow-releasing organic fertilizer that is high in Nitrogen.  As with all organic fertilizers, micro-organisms in the soil will release the nutrients to plants. 

The sustainable energy source for our times -  truly a green option. Turkeys - litter, to generate electricity, litter to generate organic fertilizers, and feathers to generate organic fertilizers. The turkey litter and feathers are indeed sustainable with no seasonality for the product. The birds are always going to 'go' and litter is unlimited.  Oh, and let's not forget, turkey is the star of the holiday feasts.  

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Thanksgiving turkey has many high grade advantages for our time. Taste, Tradition and Sustainability. 

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10 Steps - Greener, Healthier Lawns

 
Thanks to Philip Brown for guest posting today. - Claudia, Gardening Naturally

About the Author: Philip Brown considers himself a lawn care enthusiast. A loyal employee of Trugreen for close to 12 years, Philip now spends his time sharing what he knows with others. When he’s not blogging about lawn management and lawn care, you can find him tending to his own front yard down in Loganville, Georgia . Contact Philip at  http://thelawnenthusiast.blogspot.com/. 
 
For many homeowners, including myself, there is a real sense of pride and satisfaction that comes with maintaining a thick and beautiful green lawn. But managing a lawn can sometimes place a significant burden on our environment, especially when we overuse different chemicals and don’t stop to think about what the grass on our particular lawn really needs. So how can we go about “greening” our lawn care? Here are 10 steps to get you started.

1. Pick the Right Grass
Make sure you’re planting the right seed for your environment. While the region where you live will determine the type of grass that you need, there are a number of other things to consider in deciding on what variety of seed you want to use. Think about the amount of sunlight versus shade your lawn gets. Also think about foot traffic. Different varieties of grass are better suited to different levels of each. Choosing the right grass for your particular lawn will enable it to more effectively and naturally fight off diseases and pests without the need for chemicals.
2. Test Your Soil
Perhaps the most important step to take in using fertilizer is to test your soil first. Soil testing kits can be bought very cheaply and will tell you exactly what your specific soil needs. Once you know which nutrients are lacking and which nutrients are not, you can make a more informed decision about what variety of fertilizer you actually need for your lawn and you won’t be pumping excess nutrients into the environment.
3. Fertilize Organically
Organic fertilizers lead to healthier soil. They provide a variety of other beneficial nutrients that you simply won’t get with synthetic fertilizers. They also administer nutrients to your grass in a slower, more natural fashion, delivering only what your grass needs when it needs it. And with organic, you’re also avoiding all those unlisted and potentially harmful ingredients (like heavy metals) that are sometimes found in the synthetic alternatives.
4. Don’t Over-Fertilize
Many homeowners are conditioned to think they need to fertilize their lawns 3 to 4 times a year. They also have a tendency to apply excess amounts of fertilizer each time, leading to increased runoff and nutrient pollution in our watersheds. But do our lawns really need all these nutrients? The truth is that they don’t. Especially when you’re using organic fertilizers, a couple applications per year should be just the right amount.
5. Use Compost
Regular composting is one of the best natural ways for adding essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and many others to your soil. It is also good from a biological standpoint, adding organic matter to your soil that facilitates the growth of green, healthy grass.
6. Conserve Water
Your lawn doesn’t need as much water as you think. In fact, watering less often is actually good for your lawn, encouraging your grass to grow deeper roots and become stronger and more drought-resistant. A good rule of thumb is ensuring your lawn gets about 1 inch a week. When you water your lawn, do it early in the morning when the air is cooler so that you don’t lose water to evaporation. You’ll also find that applying compost will help the soil to retain water, meaning better absorption by your grass and less runoff.
7. Get Rid of the Gas Mower
Few people realize the extent of gas mower pollution. Emissions are worst during the summertime, when lawn mowers contribute a whopping 10% of all air pollution in the US. But don’t fret! There are some great alternatives – take reel lawn mowers for instance, which are powered by your own two feet. Other alternatives include solar-powered mowers (if you’re willing to shell out quite a bit of money) and plug-in electric mowers. But the reel mower is the all-around winner: carbon neutral, economical, and it even helps you stay in shape.
8. Leave the Clippings Behind
Use a mulching mower to add valuable nutrients from grass clippings right back into your soil. With all this organic matter and nitrogen that you’re reinvesting in your lawn, you won’t need to worry as much about fertilizing.
9. Find an Alternative to Pesticide
It is well-documented that pesticide-use can be a serious hazard to the environment. Many pesticides already exist at levels high enough to kill or cause defects among birds, fish, and other aquatic organisms. Finding alternatives to pesticides is therefore a wonderful way to go green with your lawn. One of the best natural ways for fighting pests is to introduce other insects that will feed on them: beneficial nematodes and ladybugs are great examples of good insects that will help you control pests on your lawn.
10. Ditch the Weedkiller - Grow a Thicker Lawn Instead
The best approach for fighting weeds is very simple: grow a thicker lawn. This will effectively crowd out the weeds so they have no room to grow. You can achieve a thicker lawn by overseeding, that is, by spreading seeds over the grass you already have. So try it out. A great time to do it is in the fall, or even now in the spring if your lawn is particularly thin.
You’ll find that with the right mindset and with a little bit of commitment, taking a green approach to lawn care can be a very rewarding experience. Give some of these steps a try and I’m sure you’ll soon agree. I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts with everyone and best of luck!

Organic Fertilizers–Part 5–Sea Sources

Ocean Plants and Fish Offer Great Fertilizers

From Kelp, we get one of the most nutritious organic fertilizers.  This algae is not the seaweed that washes up on the beach, but a highly sustainable plant that is harvested from the ocean floor.  The kelp regrow within ten days of harvest, giving a fresh harvest that is quite renewable.  
Kelp contains 79 minerals, or micronutrients. The is almost every mineral and trace mineral found in nature. Carbohydrates are available to feed microorganisms in soil when applied as an organic fertilizer.

 

Kelp is the most common type of seaweed. It is processed in three different methods.  One is a Kelp Powder.  The fine ground kelp is small enough to be mixed into a solution.  Applied as a foliar spray, kelp powder solution nutrients that can be taken in by the foliage of plants.



Kelp meal is another version of this organic fertilizer source.  Kelp meal is a good source of potassium , with some nitrogen.  Kelp meal is primarily used as a soil conditioner. 



Kelp meal, or seaweed meal, is dried and milled into a powder as shown here. Liquid kelp is yet another form of this product.  Liquid kelp is usually cold processed and has high amounts of growth hormones.  These hormones are readily available to plants.  Liquid kelp can be mixed into water for application. 



Seaweed is divided into three types – green, brown, or red.


Seaweeds, particularly the green and brown seaweeds, are processed into extracts which are accepted in the horticultural industry to improve plant yields, plant growth, plant health, and the plants have better resistance to insects and diseases. Seaweed extracts are full of macro- and micronutrients.  High in amino acids, and plant growth regulators, seaweed extracts offer a good source of nutrients to benefit plants.




Fish fertilizer is a by-product of the fishing industry.  Most fish that are processed into fertilizers are not fish by-products that come from the food industry, but fish that are specifically used for plants and animals. These are bottom fish that don't make the grade for human consumption.

Like the seaweed, fish fertilizers come in different formulas. Fish powder is ground up, and using heat, produces a water soluble product that is high in nitrogen.



Fish meals are ground up carcasses of fish.  The meal is high in nitrogen with an N-P-K of around 10-6-2. Nitrogen aids in the growth of plants, and the phosphorous benefits good root development.  Use fish meal early in the growing season for vegetables and flowers for a slow release benefits for months.

Using a process called hydrolyzing, which uses enzymes, manufacturers omit the use of heat and acids in making a product that is water soluble and high in nitrogen. This product called Liquid fish are less smelly than Fish emulsions. However, the cost is higher.

Fish emulsions are produced from the fluid remains of the fish. A liquid remains and results in a fish concentrate by evaporating this liquid by about half.  The evaporating portion of this process destroys some nutrients but at 5-2-2, fish emulsions are still known for the micronutrient availability.


Fish bone Meal is high in calcium                                                  

Alaska Fish Fertilizer is OMRI (C) listed

Ok – here is the conundrum I am facing: Do I close this article now, or do I tell you –as Paul Harvey used to say – the rest of the story?

Fish emulsions and fish meal are made mainly from fish that are not suitable for human consumption.  This ‘trash’ fish often contain toxins.  The Menhaden is a fish that spends time in heavily polluted waters and is a popular fish in production of emulsions.  Heavy metals can be found in these fish. Even some freshwater fish that are not allowed for human food, are used in some fish emulsion processes.


Bunker or Menhaden Fish
Fish Processing


Some fish fertilizer companies do use food grade waste products in addition to non-food fish. This may reduce the impact of the toxins that may be in non-food ingredients

When steam is used in the process, it can be problematic too, especially if the water comes from a municipality that chlorinates it’s water. Since the emulsion is ‘reduced’, the chlorine becomes more concentrated too. High chlorine amounts can harm plants.
 
If you can't tell from the product label, check on the MSDS, Material Safety Data Sheet for details.  The MSDS will be specific on ingredients and chemicals in the product.


I will be looking for liquid fish made from the enzymes.  This process retains more of the proteins, enzymes, vitamins, and micronutrients than emulsions.

Peaceful Valley Enzymatic Digested Liquid Fish

Seaweed, kelp, and fish can be excellent fertilizers.  The seaweed and kelp are highly renewable, and the fish by-products offer complete nutrition to plants if they are not loaded with heavy metals.
( I have no financial connection with any of the products I have featured here.)

Organic Fertilizers–Part 3–Plants Sources

Plant Parts are High In Nutrients

   Alfalfa plant

Plants, specifically plants grown for grain, are used in the organic cycle.  Grains that are grown for livestock and human consumption, or grown for seed, are plants that are used for organic fertilizer.  Little or no food is sacrificed in the fertilizer process.  The grains are harvested, and the remaining parts of the plant – the stalks, stems, and leaves – are ground into the organic fertilizer product.

Palm tree waste
  Coir planting mix

Palm trees are a source for organic fertilizers.  They also provide coir, a fiber made from the coconut shell. Coir can be used in place of  peat moss as a more sustainable product. Peat moss bogs have taken 100+ years to  create. These bogs are not sustainable at the rates they are harvested.  Coconuts are highly sustainable year after year.    In soil, coir is slightly acidic, holds moisture, and loosens soil as peat moss does. Although the N-P-K of coir is .5-.08-1.9, ( good Potassium source) it helps in holding nutrients in soil for plants to use.

   2 year old palm
  palm oil nuts

Another palm product is palm oil waste powder. The life span of the oil palm is about 200 years. As the oil is harvested, the hulls are processed.  The product is humic acid which is not a fertilizer, but enhances the nutrients by supplying organic matter. Palm oil waste powder can be used on cereal and bean crops, and on turf.  This product encourages deep roots, and increases yields of crops.  

Rice husks are also used in the fertilizer industry.  The husks have little value in feed for livestock or human consumption.  N-P-K for rice husks is minimal at .2-.4-.2, but, here again, the organic matter added to soil is valuable.  Zinc is a trace mineral found in rice husks.  Rice hulls



Alfalfa has a long tap root that penetrates deeply in the ground and draws nutrients into the plant. A good amount of trace elements are found in this fertilizer.  A natural fatty-acid called trianconatol, is an element in alfalfa.  The trianconatol is a growth stimulant that helps plants grow larger, and provide higher yields.  N-P-K for alfalfa meal is 2-1-2.  Because of the long tap root, alfalfa prevents soil erosion.
Alfalfa is a member of the pea family and is a Nitrogen fixer in the soil. 



Plants in the pea family, Fabaceae, are many and include the alfalfa, various beans, and peanuts (legumes)  They fix nitrogen into the soil from the atmosphere.  A colonizing bacteria attached to the roots draws in nitrogen from the air and converts it for food for the bacteria.  Any remaining  nitrogen is used by the plant for growth.  The nitrogen doesn't come to the plant from  fertilizer, but from the bacterial activity.
 

Canola Plant and Seed Pod

Canola is processed for two different consumer markets, the oil for food and for livestock feed. The by-product of the livestock feed is a canola meal that is used for fertilizer. The oil food by-products are used for bio-fuels.  There is no waste of any part of this versatile plant.

Flax is very similar to canola meal.  Flax seed meals are the by-products of fiber production and livestock feed production.  N-P-K is about 6-3-2 for both oil seed fertilizers.

Soybean meal is also primarily used for feed for livestock.  It’s 7-2-1 nutritional values indicate high nitrogen.  Soybean meal is a by-product of the food industry, and cosmetics manufacturing.

 

Cottonseed meal is another high nitrogen product.  N-P-K is 6 – 0 .4 - 1.5. Because cotton attracts pests that can ruin or reduce the crop, cottonseed meal may contain pesticides.  Pesticide free cottonseed meal is available, but you may need to check labels.
 



Molasses is a sugar cane or sugar beet by-product and can be dehydrated to become an organic fertilizer.  The high carbs in the molasses are ‘good food’ for microbes in the soil. Dried molasses is easy to apply because it is bonded to dry grain to stay ‘grainy’ for applicators.  The grain adds another layer of nutrition and organic material.  Molasses also comes in a liquid from some suppliers.  This product is a Dutch organic beet extract – molasses.

The last organic fertilizer that comes from plants in this article is Corn Gluten.  This 9-0-0 product is the by-product of the corn industry for livestock feed, and food processing.  High in nitrogen, this product also acts as a pre-emergent for seeds.  Applied in the spring, it can keep crabgrass seeds from germinating.  Applied in late summer, it may keep summer weeds from getting established before fall.  This product is not recommended on newly seeded lawns but will green up an existing lawn well.

 
Plants are a great resource for organic fertilizers.  The processing is minimal.  Use of a ‘waste’ product is cost effective. 

We will talk about Animal sources of organic fertilizer next time.  Thanks for your interest.  Please leave a comment.  I love to hear from you.

Nimblewill – Grassy Perennial Weed

Difficult Grassy Weed in the Landscape

As the garden renovations continue in my yard, the lawn has to be renewed too.  The problem is the grassy perennial weed know as nimblewill.  This lawn weed is quite at home in moist, shady locations, but it can tolerate sunny conditions too. 
The plant produces thousands of seeds, and mowing will assist in the spread of this warm season weed.  As this clump grows, the stolons that rest on soil, will root and produce another plant.

Nimblewill does not last in cool temperatures. As the stems and stolons die in the fall, patches of this lawn weed will appear as brown or tan sections in the grass.

Pulling nimblewill is fairly easy, as the roots are shallow.  However, broadleaf weed killers have no effect on this grassy weed.  The active ingredient in Roundup®, glyphosate, is effective. But glyphosate will kill anything it is sprayed on, including your prize perennials or ‘good grass’.  A new product call Tenacity, a herbicide by Syngenta, has been approved for use on cool season lawns.  Tenacity's active ingredient is mesotrione and can control 40 weeds, both grassy types and broadleaf types. 

Due to the wide spread of nimblewill in our lawn, we felt pulling it or even scraping it out was more than we could handle.  So hubby brought out the Roundup® , a non-selective herbicide, and these brown patches are evidence of its effectiveness.  (Yes, this was all nimblewill!)

Nimblewill had become a real eyesore in our lawn. Given a few years of taking over large parts of the yard, this grassy weed had to go.  Had we taken steps earlier, we may have been able to simply pull the small patches. 
As an organic gardener, I have relied on cultural methods to control weeds and insects in the garden.  So I’m really paying for ignoring the spread of nimblewill over the last few years. Before I completely lose any credibility I  have gained as an organic gardener, let me describe the cultural prevention methods and maintenance that will lessen the need for harsh chemicals.
Moist, shady locations are ideal for nimblewill. Removing the moisture by regrading or installing tiles will go a long way to reduce the dampness. Applying organic materials like organic fertilizers or compost to loosen the soil will help to absorb moisture better.



Shade can be reduced by limbing up trees to allow more sun to penetrate the area so soils can dry out.


Lawns that are thick will make weed seeds more difficult to take hold.  Feeding with organic fertilizers and watering deeply are two keys to a healthy lawn. 

Our next step will be to rake in a layer of compost, and then use the same grass seed blend we used on the bare areas. (Here the seed has started to sprout, and is filling in well.)

Nimblewill has been here too long, and I’m happy at its demise. 
Do you have any lawn problems?  Share your conflict with us.  Thanks.