Vermicomposting dog manure poses a greater challenge since dog manure contains pathogens (bad bacteria) that might cause disease to humans. But it can be done so long as proper handling is followed.
Wear gloves and use tools (a dustpan or spade) when collecting dog manure. Wearing gloves protects the hands from making direct contact with the manure.
Provide a drying bin (two bins) with cover. The bin should still allow air flow but prevent flies and other insects from infesting the manure. When the dog manure completely dries out, the material is ready for pre-composting.
Pre-composting minimizes the pathogenic load because of the heating stage the material goes through. To pre-compost, thoroughly mix the dried dog manure with carbon-rich (brown) materials while sprinkling water to reach 60% moisture content. Place the mixed materials in a bin (e.g. rice sack) and allow it to decompose for two to three weeks. Starting on the third week, water the pile to reach 80% moisture content and to facilitate cooling.
Earthworms can be introduced to the pile when the temperature has gone down (usually on the fourth week). Give the earthworms 54 days to consume the materials before harvesting the vermicompost.
July 17, 2011
Biolant BM Controls Pet Cat Odors
A pet owner successfully eliminated pet cat odors using Biolant beneficial microorganism (BM) concentrate. The pet owner takes care of nine cats - seven adults and two kittens - that are housed in a room outside the main house. The cats roam during the day. At night time, the owner confines them in their room that is provided with a litter box and sheets of newspaper beside it.
Unfortunately, the cats didn't learn to use the litter box and soiled the floor instead. So every morning, cat poop is collected and the room cleaned with a bleach solution.
Overtime, this cleaning regimen gave rise to bad odors. It reached a point where the room had to be cleaned twice daily to lessen the foul odors. But even with that, the room still emitted foul odors a couple of hours after cleaning with bleach solution.
The pet owner decided to replace the bleach solution with Biolant solution. The twice daily cleaning regimen was continued for two weeks. On the third week, the owner returned to once-a-day cleaning. This is still the cleaning chore followed until today.
Now, the pet owner wishes to experiment with a 4 times a week cleaning program. Clearly, here is one satisfied user of Biolant BM Concentrate.
Cat Odor Problem
Unfortunately, the cats didn't learn to use the litter box and soiled the floor instead. So every morning, cat poop is collected and the room cleaned with a bleach solution.
Overtime, this cleaning regimen gave rise to bad odors. It reached a point where the room had to be cleaned twice daily to lessen the foul odors. But even with that, the room still emitted foul odors a couple of hours after cleaning with bleach solution.
Biolant Solution Eliminates Odors
The pet owner decided to replace the bleach solution with Biolant solution. The twice daily cleaning regimen was continued for two weeks. On the third week, the owner returned to once-a-day cleaning. This is still the cleaning chore followed until today.
Now, the pet owner wishes to experiment with a 4 times a week cleaning program. Clearly, here is one satisfied user of Biolant BM Concentrate.
June 19, 2011
African Nightcrawler Earthworm Supplier
I posted this advertisement on sulit July 2010.
Since then, I have sold an average of two kilograms of worms per month. I also declined two bulk orders (more than 14 kilos per order) within the period. The vermi-compost produced were incorporated in the garden and plant containers.
My customers were mostly highly educated professionals concerned with the environment. These guys bought worms just to do their part in reducing garbage.
It seems that there is really a demand considering that I haven't been really serious in marketing earthworms. Most buyers of earthworms are farmers and avid urban gardeners. LGU's and government agencies buy in bulk for dispersal to marginal farmers. Schools and urban communities are largely an untapped market based on anecdotal evidence from farmer-businessmen raising earthworms for sale.
I am thinking of a couple of business models to expand production and lower selling price. The models that I am studying include organic herb production in an urban setting. I hope to start by the last quarter of this year.
African Nightcrawler earthworms for sale at Php300/one-fourth kilogram or Php1,000/kilogram (pick-up price)
Pick-up price at Php300 per one-fourth kilogram; Php 1,000/kg.
Minimum Order: 250grams;
Location: Concepcion Dos, Marikina City
Please email biolant@gmail.com
Website: African Nightcrawler Earthworm Supplier
Since then, I have sold an average of two kilograms of worms per month. I also declined two bulk orders (more than 14 kilos per order) within the period. The vermi-compost produced were incorporated in the garden and plant containers.
My customers were mostly highly educated professionals concerned with the environment. These guys bought worms just to do their part in reducing garbage.
It seems that there is really a demand considering that I haven't been really serious in marketing earthworms. Most buyers of earthworms are farmers and avid urban gardeners. LGU's and government agencies buy in bulk for dispersal to marginal farmers. Schools and urban communities are largely an untapped market based on anecdotal evidence from farmer-businessmen raising earthworms for sale.
I am thinking of a couple of business models to expand production and lower selling price. The models that I am studying include organic herb production in an urban setting. I hope to start by the last quarter of this year.
January 4, 2011
Vermiculture Resolutions for 2011
I am not a fan of making new year's resolutions but it is something that I will do for my home vermicomposting project.
My workload didn't allow me to spend time on vermiculture forcing me to increase price to discourage orders. My first resolution has something to do with pricing.
First, I will exert effort to bring African Nightcrawler prices down to at least Php800.00 per kilogram. This means I have to look for cooperators who would also propagate earthworms in their backyards.
Second, I will make it more convenient to customers to buy earthworms by engaging retail partners around NCR.
Third, I will post more frequently and blog on organic gardening and solid waste management.
I hope I get to encourage more people to do home vermicomposting by doing all the things I listed above. More people getting into vermiculture means less garbage. Less garbage means a lot of savings.
My workload didn't allow me to spend time on vermiculture forcing me to increase price to discourage orders. My first resolution has something to do with pricing.
First, I will exert effort to bring African Nightcrawler prices down to at least Php800.00 per kilogram. This means I have to look for cooperators who would also propagate earthworms in their backyards.
Second, I will make it more convenient to customers to buy earthworms by engaging retail partners around NCR.
Third, I will post more frequently and blog on organic gardening and solid waste management.
I hope I get to encourage more people to do home vermicomposting by doing all the things I listed above. More people getting into vermiculture means less garbage. Less garbage means a lot of savings.
December 5, 2010
Wicking Bed Technology For Your Organic Garden
Web search can lead to interesting and USEFUL sites as what happened to me last week.
I was searching for ways to lessen watering frequency due to current work load. The search led me to a website on wicking bed technology. It also has technology that combines wick beds and vermicomposting worms called wicking worm beds.
What's so great about wicking bed technology? It features a water reservoir that conserves water and lessens watering frequency. The technology also features an anaerobic component that results in better carbon sequestration.
Check out the story of the Australian engineer, Mr. Colin Austin, who developed the wicking bed technology.
I will be trying out wicking worm beds for growing organic vegetables and herbs, I hope sooner than later.
I was searching for ways to lessen watering frequency due to current work load. The search led me to a website on wicking bed technology. It also has technology that combines wick beds and vermicomposting worms called wicking worm beds.
What's so great about wicking bed technology? It features a water reservoir that conserves water and lessens watering frequency. The technology also features an anaerobic component that results in better carbon sequestration.
Check out the story of the Australian engineer, Mr. Colin Austin, who developed the wicking bed technology.
I will be trying out wicking worm beds for growing organic vegetables and herbs, I hope sooner than later.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)