When it comes to organic lawncare for our holistic home, I’m enthusiastic about composted manure. From locally sourced cow manure and alpaca “beans” to not-so-locally sourced bat guano, we find that nature offers up some of the healthiest nutrients for cultivating gardens, orchards, lawns, etc. Hurrah for free, 100% organic fowl fertilizer!
Waterfront Waterfowl
The photograph above, captured discretely by Tony Foster on Friday morning, shows more than a dozen Canada Geese fertilizing Rosslyn’s waterfront grass.
In addition to seasonal aeration of the lawns surrounding our home and outbuildings, we also apply organic (bat guano derived) fertilizer every year or two. But, given proximity to Lake Champlain, we avoid fertilizing the grass adjoins Rosslyn’s beach. Abundant wild waterfowl (mostly Canada geese and mallards) ensure that this lawn gets plenty of natural nutrients nevertheless.
Foul Fowl Fertilizer?
Although I’ve never had the opportunity to use chicken manure, I’ve anecdotally heard that it’s an exceptional fowl fertilizer. Maybe. But our fowl fertilizer is free! And so far as I can tell, it is very effective.
But — yes, there’s always a “but“, right? — my beautiful bride would hasten to add that Canada geese and mallard s**t peppering the lawn where swimmers walk barefoot isn’t ideal. And Carley has the disagreeable habit of scarfing up this free fertilizer before it has a chance to perform it’s magic on the grass. Few things trigger Susan more than having to intervene when Carley is Hoovering fowl fertilizer!
Fortunately, spring and autumn are especially welcoming for the foul fertilizers. Our daily presence and heightened summer activity along the waterfront prompt most of the Canada geese and mallards to find less peopled property.
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