Planting downhill from chicken poo

Hello friends. Last November I collected a large amount of chicken poo from a friend. I piled it in rows and covered it so I could plant in it this spring. Problem is it still smells rough and I'm sure it's not ready. But what about down the hill? What was a thistle infested mess now looks like a postcard from Ireland. Would it be possible to cut the grass, rough up the soil, cover with cardboard with a few planting holes and plant annual crops? I do have plenty of finished compost to pile atop the cardboard for an extra boost. What do you guys think? Thank you, Scott

I would do it simply out of curiosity, a couple hours of effort for the sake of science and permaculture! That said, I'm not sure how hot the compost would be, but it sounds like some plants are enjoying it. You could try planting stuff that enjoys more acidic soil, would probably be the best bet...or start with acid loving stuff and as you work away from the poop try less acidic-loving stuff.

Sounds like fun to me.

Colin, because of you I've set out on the adventure of poo planting. Because of you, my only response.
Today I covered the newly green poo grass with several layers of cardboard then pulled some old pine logs out of the woods to line it. If it ever stops raining I'll cut holes in the cardboard, fill with aged compost and plant. Will keep you updated. For God, permaculture experimentation, and for you Colin. Poophoria began today!

I'm an INSPIRATION!

Well Colin we have success so far. I didn't cut the grass. I just piled on the cardboard, cut holes, dropped in a handful of compost and planted. Then..... it stopped raining, but from within the Poophoria paridise life emerged! It still has rained very little but you couldn't tell it by the looks of the Dent corn, squash, and watermelon. I think the reason is that. I didn't cut the grass first. I lifted up the cardboard and it's really wet underneath. Rotting grass, cardboard, and uphill poo. A winning combo!

When my parents owned a riding academy, I planted squash around the base of Poo Mountain. The rich runoff grew a bumper crop.

Dale Hodgins wrote:When my parents owned a riding academy, I planted squash around the base of Poo Mountain. The rich runoff grew a bumper crop.

Great information from all above - I'm prepping an area with specific intent for it to be a chicken poo catch/process point (we get lots of rain here and the intended space is sited above the run-off to dam over a swale area in the food forest behind my back yard). Thinking it will be easy enough to manage chick poo with the system I'm constructing (as computer typing energy & project priorities allow for) - figure the birds will love sitting on the perches above it and it will be easy enough to flush out with the natural slope and the woody structure underneath with some plantings nearby. And, I think the product (more fertile soil in a swamp run to food forest will be great for a couple food bearing trees, which will then shade the back of the house in the intense summer heat.)

look forward to hearing more of all such adventures.

Scott, that is awesome! Thanks for keeping me up to date.

Here's another update. We have had half an inch of rain since I planted. This patch gets full sun all day. Not bad.

Probably the last pic of poo water veggies and fruit. The Dent corn and watermelon is doing wonderful. The squash is barely hanging on. All in all I'm really happy with the results. It's been a very dry spring and I didn't work the ground at all.

Not bad considering the lack of rain and all! Thanks for sharing, and for having garden fun with me...it's all an experiment!