Search...
Home Subscribe
Pie
Home Subscribe
Recent topics Flagged topics Hot topics Best topics
Search...
Search within organic Search permies
Advance search Google search
Register / Login
GMC website Sepp Holzer Desert or Paradise Documentary Better Wood Heat DIY Rocket Mass Heater DVD Clean with Cleaners You Can Eat - Free ebook Building a Better World Book with people picking apples
  • Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
Better Wood Heat DIY Rocket Mass Heater DVD Clean with Cleaners You Can Eat - Free ebook Paul Wheaton Tour of Wheaton Labs movie permaculture bootcamp design Full online Permaculture Design course and Appropriate Technology Course video
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Nancy Reading
  • Carla Burke
  • r ranson
  • John F Dean
  • paul wheaton
  • Pearl Sutton
stewards:
  • Jay Angler
  • Liv Smith
  • Leigh Tate
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
  • Timothy Norton
gardeners:
  • thomas rubino
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • Maieshe Ljin

What to do with a lot of fresh horns?

 
christine lawson
Posts: 37
Location: West Quebec
2
posted 12 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

Hi all-

A farm hand friend has just given me a bag of very stinky fresh horn from young cattle, and I'm not sure what to do with them all! I've got a couple of dozen ranging in size from about 3 - 8". Most still have the squishy, marrowy stuff in them, and hair attached.

A google search just brings up instructions for the biodynamic manure horn technique, not something I'm up for, I can't imagine how I'd get them cleaned out to get the manure in. (Did I mention they're really stinky?)

The local raven sure was interested in them, and if I hadn't buried them there'd be turkey vultures circling - I like vultures but not sure my neighbours would appreciate it.

Any advice/suggestions?

Oh and by the by, thanks for all your help last spring re my young fruit tree guilds, they're all doing really well!
 
R Scott
pollinator
Posts: 4020
Location: Kansas Zone 6a
284
posted 12 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
dog chews. They LOVE them.

They are too small for most horn craft projects.

"You must be the change you want to see in the world." "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." --Mahatma Gandhi
"Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words." --Francis of Assisi.
"Family farms work when the whole family works the farm." -- Adam Klaus

 
christine lawson
Posts: 37
Location: West Quebec
2
posted 12 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

Ooops, I'd better clarify - I'm wondering about ways to use them to enrich my soil. Should I leave them buried in the compost, or dig them up and rebury them within, say, the beds where I'm planning to put the leafy greens? I understand (I think?) they'll be a slow acting source of nitrogen - but I just don't know, that's why I need advice

C.
 
Austin Verde
Posts: 13
posted 12 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I imagine if you bury them the cartilage inside the horn will eventually decompose and fall out

however, if you want to expedite this process a bit, I think that the way this is usually removed is by boiling (it doesn't smell great, beware!). Boil the horn for 30mins in some baking soda or something to clean them and then that cartilage should come our fairly easily.

I've done this with a rams horn before and remember that there wasn't much information online describing how to do this. I think I got the most info searching for "how to make shofar". It's a traditional jewish instrument made from an animal horn.

Good luck!
 
R Scott
pollinator
Posts: 4020
Location: Kansas Zone 6a
284
posted 12 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

christine lawson wrote:
Ooops, I'd better clarify - I'm wondering about ways to use them to enrich my soil. Should I leave them buried in the compost, or dig them up and rebury them within, say, the beds where I'm planning to put the leafy greens? I understand (I think?) they'll be a slow acting source of nitrogen - but I just don't know, that's why I need advice

C.



Black soldier flies to compost them. Or however you compost your animal waste. Do NOT put them directly in your beds.

"You must be the change you want to see in the world." "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." --Mahatma Gandhi
"Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words." --Francis of Assisi.
"Family farms work when the whole family works the farm." -- Adam Klaus

 
Tyler Ludens
pollinator
Posts: 11853
Location: Central Texas USA Latitude 30 Zone 8
1261
I like...
cat forest garden fish trees chicken fiber arts wood heat greening the desert
posted 12 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

R wannabe wrote:Do NOT put them directly in your beds.



Aside from critters digging them up, what would be wrong with burying them in various places in beds? Not all in one hole, but here and there?

Idle dreamer

 
R Scott
pollinator
Posts: 4020
Location: Kansas Zone 6a
284
posted 12 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

Tyler Ludens wrote:

R wannabe wrote:Do NOT put them directly in your beds.



Aside from critters digging them up, what would be wrong with burying them in various places in beds? Not all in one hole, but here and there?



That is enough of a reason, but you will also get bugs that will move to your roots next. And I would never put animal product in my beds unless I was 1000% sure they were healthy.

"You must be the change you want to see in the world." "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." --Mahatma Gandhi
"Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words." --Francis of Assisi.
"Family farms work when the whole family works the farm." -- Adam Klaus

 
Tyler Ludens
pollinator
Posts: 11853
Location: Central Texas USA Latitude 30 Zone 8
1261
I like...
cat forest garden fish trees chicken fiber arts wood heat greening the desert
posted 12 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
What kind of bugs?

Idle dreamer

 
christine lawson
Posts: 37
Location: West Quebec
2
posted 12 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

R wannabe wrote:

Tyler Ludens wrote:

R wannabe wrote:Do NOT put them directly in your beds.



Aside from critters digging them up, what would be wrong with burying them in various places in beds? Not all in one hole, but here and there?



That is enough of a reason, but you will also get bugs that will move to your roots next. And I would never put animal product in my beds unless I was 1000% sure they were healthy.



I am absolutely sure the animals are healthy, as well as grass fed, no antibiotics etc.

Could you elaborate on what you mean by "bugs"? Insects or microbes?

c
 
R Scott
pollinator
Posts: 4020
Location: Kansas Zone 6a
284
posted 12 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Bugs as in larvae/maggots and beetles. Anytime we have any animal waste, even buried (shallow), it will get fly larvae that will bring more pests. Even the birds trying to get the worms will tear out young plants. YMMV.

"You must be the change you want to see in the world." "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." --Mahatma Gandhi
"Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words." --Francis of Assisi.
"Family farms work when the whole family works the farm." -- Adam Klaus

 
Tyler Ludens
pollinator
Posts: 11853
Location: Central Texas USA Latitude 30 Zone 8
1261
I like...
cat forest garden fish trees chicken fiber arts wood heat greening the desert
posted 12 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I've never had trouble with burying animal parts, it's what I've done with chicken guts and feathers, etc....never noticed any maggots when it's buried......

Idle dreamer

 
Austin Max
Posts: 98
Location: South Central Kentucky
3
posted 12 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I know you are looking for ways to use these for fertility, but I can't resist. Horns are great for things like knife making, handles, whetstone holders for scything, there is some awesome carved horn sculpture out there, and the list could go on. Get creative!
 
Hanley Kale-Grinder
Posts: 112
Location: Mountain West of USA, Salt Lake City
1
posted 12 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
If you want to get jiggy you could smash them with a sledge hammer, then ferment them with bokashi, THEN bury them.
 
christine lawson
Posts: 37
Location: West Quebec
2
posted 12 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

Thanks everyone! right now the horns are at the bottom of the garden and the birds are loving the bugs. Those that were buried have been unearthed, of course, as predicted. I'm fine with this, it's all going on a safe distance from the beds.

Some of the horns are a decent size, so we may keep some and see what we can make out of them.

Bokashi, eh? I'd never heard of it but a quick googling has me really intrigued. Love the idea of quicker composting/friendly bacteria.
 
Duncan Dalby
Posts: 36
Location: England, Midlands.
1
posted 12 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
You could try using them to make biodynamic horn manure http://www.biodynamics.in/BD500.htm. I've never tried making it but I've heard people say grate things about it as a soil conditioner.
 
Brenda Groth
pollinator
Posts: 4437
Location: North Central Michigan
43
posted 12 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
myself I think I'd attempt to find a way to smash or crush them up..otherwise I'd follow the above advice

Brenda

Bloom where you are planted.
http://restfultrailsfoodforestgarden.blogspot.com/

 
christine lawson
Posts: 37
Location: West Quebec
2
posted 12 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

Brenda Groth wrote:myself I think I'd attempt to find a way to smash or crush them up..otherwise I'd follow the above advice



Yep, Brenda, that's likely how I'll go, it's just getting the gooey stuff out that had me stumped. I'm not easily made queasy but...ewwww! So I'll let nature takes its course and crush them once they're clean.
 
Bob Dobbs
Posts: 145
3
posted 12 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I dunno, I would try it. I have composted weirder things. I know that horn meal used to be used as fertilizer, rich in nitrogen. And if an animal (even a cat) eats it and poops it back out, technically it is helping to break down the horn into fertilizer.
 
I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody. Instead, I'm a tiny ad.
Heat your home with the twigs that naturally fall of the trees in your yard
http://woodheat.net
reply
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
Boost this thread!
Similar Threads
More...