Skim milk improves soil, plant health and pastures: Watch out grasshopper...and more

silvertipgrizz

https://underwoodgardens.com/how-milk-improves-soil-health/

LaurieLovesLearning

I wish the links spoke of were listed in the article.

This is an interesting practice. I knew of feeding extra milk to livestock, particularly to fatten up meat birds, and use of extra milk to make milk paint. I vaguely remember something about milk put into gardens. What I appreciate about this article is how the improved pasture translates into gains otherwise.

Thank you for posting. I would be interested in more follow up articles on this subject. If you find more, @silvertipgrizz, please post them within this same thread for easy reference. Thanks.

I have crossposted this in the livestock area as it fits that category as well. That post redirects here for further discussion.

LaurieLovesLearning

Well, after a bit of looking, I think these are the articles that should have been linked.

https://underwoodgardens.com/milk-molasses-magic-garden/

https://www.agupdate.com/minnesotafarmguide/news/state-and-regional/milk-works-as-fertilizer-says-preliminary-study/article_51d44570-06a0-5015-8b8a-e7a5abed9d48.html

silvertipgrizz

@LaurieLovesLearning Yes they are. It was late and I was going to post it and others I have in my 'to post list' today. (if I didn't already)..

fyi, I originally found this info about 10 years ago and use it all the time.. ie, for milk that is starting to sour if I don't have a recipe I want it for the sour stage, I put in in my garden or on the lawn. Right now I have a jug of milk, heavy cream and one of buttermilk...waiting for the pour lol... Most of the time I dilute but I 'eye ball' it...never an issue. OH, And I never use skim. The article I found way back was when very few knew or was using and it was whole milk if I remember right, but I do not drink skim milk..I did years ago and i know better now so whole milk is the only milk I use....irregardless of what others use I'm sticking with whole milk.

stay tuned for the next discussion I think you will like...

Have a great day!!!

LaurieLovesLearning

@silvertipgrizz Since we have our own cows, we can't drink all of the whole milk & really love cream. Everyone except me prefers whole milk. I used to drink it, but now prefer skimmed (it will still have much more cream left in it than processed whole milk). My preference works well for us, because we then have cream to use!

So...skimmed milk on the garden it will be.

silvertipgrizz

@LaurieLovesLearning Pasteurized skim so much better than store bought pasteurized...

LaurieLovesLearning

@silvertipgrizz Pasteurized of any type hurts my stomach. Raw is the only way to go and so much healthier! 😉

Pretty much anything is better than store bought.

seeker.nancy - Central Texas

I wonder if store bought would work? I don't have access to raw milk currently. I might have to try it and see.

LaurieLovesLearning

I really don't know. It would be interesting to find out.