Happier diner Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 42 minutes ago, Zarley said: How did they do it in the old days? (Genuine question) I have no idea. Dont get me wrong, it has potential as a fertiliser, but these days there are rules about what you can do. You would have to analyse it and then work out what the maximum application was. Fertilisers are always best rotted down first as the process of decomposition is what yields thr nitrogen and phosphates. Basically the bugs need to eat it and the bug poo is your fertilisers ( in simple terms). Just flinging it on the fields would not work very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisy Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 Historically It was used extensively by our Channel Island counterparts https://www.bahs.org.uk/AGHR/ARTICLES/14n2a4.pdf https://guernseyseaweed.com/history/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Mexico Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 45 minutes ago, Zarley said: How did they do it in the old days? (Genuine question) According to the Royal Horticultural Society: Fresh seaweed has long been used by coastal gardeners as a soil improver and plant feed, but there is no public right to collect seaweed from the beach unless you own the beach and it is not designated a site of special scientific interest or a special area of conservation. If you plan to gather seaweed, it is always advisable to check with the land owner and the local council first. Although seaweed is salty, the salt is not usually present in sufficient amounts to damage crops or soil, and the salt will in any case leach out readily with rainfall as it is highly soluble. [...] If you do have access to fresh seaweed, it is a useful substitute for farmyard manure, and does not need to be rotted down before use. It is best dug in fresh in winter or spring before it has had time to dry. If dug in fresh, then seaweed is used like any other soil conditioner, digging it in to one or two spades’ depth below the surface and using up to a barrow load per square metre (if you have this much available). I certainly remember it being spread on the fields (for example by Fishers Hill) in late winter, and then presumably ploughed in. 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zarley Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 (edited) Its been used in the British Isles since the Neolithic period. According to Pliney, in Ireland they used to burn it first and use the ash. Don't think you'd be permitted to burn it these days though. I've not been able to find anything on methods used in the 19th and early 20th century though. Source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336878973_Historical_Use_of_Seaweed_as_an_Agricultural_Fertilizer_in_the_European_Atlantic_Area ETA: thanks Roger, you posted while I was getting a screenshot. Edited May 24, 2023 by Zarley 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happier diner Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 2 hours ago, Roger Mexico said: According to the Royal Horticultural Society: Fresh seaweed has long been used by coastal gardeners as a soil improver and plant feed, but there is no public right to collect seaweed from the beach unless you own the beach and it is not designated a site of special scientific interest or a special area of conservation. If you plan to gather seaweed, it is always advisable to check with the land owner and the local council first. Although seaweed is salty, the salt is not usually present in sufficient amounts to damage crops or soil, and the salt will in any case leach out readily with rainfall as it is highly soluble. [...] If you do have access to fresh seaweed, it is a useful substitute for farmyard manure, and does not need to be rotted down before use. It is best dug in fresh in winter or spring before it has had time to dry. If dug in fresh, then seaweed is used like any other soil conditioner, digging it in to one or two spades’ depth below the surface and using up to a barrow load per square metre (if you have this much available). I certainly remember it being spread on the fields (for example by Fishers Hill) in late winter, and then presumably ploughed in. This is a good bit of work. The trouble is these days is that there are regulations governing fertilisers that are used in the production of food. Yes the RHS might have their views and there is potential. However anything that is used has to meet criteria. Without controls you could end up with people putting fluoride in the water and other heinous crimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Time Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 Hopefully Amadeus and a few others are looking into this right now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Tatlock Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 1 hour ago, Happier diner said: ...there are regulations governing fertilisers... Someone needs to advise some of the current Tynwald speech writers on this. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happier diner Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 2 minutes ago, Albert Tatlock said: Someone needs to advise some of the current Tynwald speech writers on this. Explain. The way I understand it is that horticulture is gardening. That's not regulated. Agriculture is commercial farming. Its regulated. For good reason. Agriculture produces food. Therefore fertilisers used in agriculture need to meet a standard. Again for good reason. It maybe that, with a bit of planning and forethought our seaweed could be used in both. It would potentially better than the futile exercise of pushing it around the beach all year. However, it would need some trials including plant growth trials where the foods grown in it are analysed to check that it wasn't going to slowly poisen us all. Used in moderation, and controlled, I think it's a good idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Port Soderick Herald Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 News scoop festival itinerary now released for July https://portsoderickherald.wordpress.com/2023/05/24/douglas-beach-festival/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Tatlock Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 3 minutes ago, Happier diner said: Explain. OK. There's a lot of shit speeches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happier diner Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 33 minutes ago, Albert Tatlock said: OK. There's a lot of shit speeches. Gotcha. Albeit a bit of a tenuous link.😆 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTF Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 25 minutes ago, offshoremanxman said: That sounds better than I’m sure most people imagined. and will be shitter than most people hoped for. 🙂 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hissingsid Posted May 24, 2023 Share Posted May 24, 2023 If the stink keeps people away from that scruffy fun fair it will be a plus, I was told some rides cost £10 ☹️ …..unbelievable when everyone is crying poor mouth. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blade Runner Posted May 25, 2023 Share Posted May 25, 2023 could it not be put in one of those big shredders tree guys use and the fine chippings may better float away in the sea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happier diner Posted May 25, 2023 Share Posted May 25, 2023 3 hours ago, Blade Runner said: could it not be put in one of those big shredders tree guys use and the fine chippings may better float away in the sea? those big shredders don't deal well with wet stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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