Current green management practices
Merriewold Morgans’ present horse operation is near Lopez Lake, about 40 minutes from the new Huasna Ranch. These are some of the conservation management techniques we use now:
All manure is picked up daily, in the stalls and also in the pastures. This reduces parasites, flies, and smell in stalls and pastures. It also decreases our need for wormers and fly sprays.
We then compost the manure. Composting reduces the amount of waste by about 50% and gives us a resource to add back to the property.
We use organic fertilizer in the horse pastures and do a lot of hand weeding.
When we need to use chemicals we always use the least toxic and the smallest amount.
In the stalls, rubber mattresses (made from recycled material) reduce amount of bedding. In the runs we are trying out a natural rice hull by-product to reduce ammonia smell and flies.
For more information on us…go to our website:
Merriewold Morgans
We would like to hear about what you do to keep your horse operation green and Eco-friendly. Please leave your stories, comments and suggestions below.
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By Lolita, August 18, 2009 @ 11:49 am
Hi Diana!
This is so interesting!! I am sure that there are many ways that you can reduce your carbon footprint on your horse property. Although I haven’t read it yet (opps), the Worldwatch Institute (an environmental think-tank in DC) released a paper on mitigating climate change through land use! Here is the link: http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6126
I know the publication discusses how to manage soil to soak up the maximum amount of carbon, but I am sure other issues will be relevant to your Green Property too! I will bring you a copy when I come to look at Honey in September.
See you soon!
Lola
By Robin, March 16, 2010 @ 8:32 am
Is the natural rice hull by-product working in the runs and what particular product are you using?
By Diana, March 16, 2010 @ 3:17 pm
Hi Robin,
Thanks for your comment! Jackie Brittain will be answering your question about the rice hull product.
Diana
By Jackie, March 16, 2010 @ 5:01 pm
Hi Robin: The rice hull product works extremely well in the runs during dry weather. It saves on cleaning time and keeps the footing dryer. It also reduces the smell of ammonia that you normally have in sand or dirt runs. The product we are using is Perma Stall Plus and they do have a website. The drawback in wet weather is that it floats away. The horses may nibble on it when you first add it, but have not had any digestive upsets. Please do not hesitate to ask any other questions….Jackie.