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Dirty Jobs

We don't have cable TV, but if we did, I think I'd be a big fan of Mike Rowe's Dirty Jobs. I like how Rowe has brought exposure and (even) honor to those who have important but often overlooked jobs. Besides, it's much more fun to WATCH a dirty job than to DO one.

One of the stinkiest jobs on our farm has to do with manure. Manure happens. We compost nearly all of it--some through the invessel system, and some we windrow compost.

After the sheep are let out to pasture in the spring, the winter manure pack is piled up in the sheep barn in a long pile.


Every few days, the pile must be turned/moved, and water must be added. Air and water are important parts of the composting process. A pile just left to dry out will stagnate and stop composting. You can see the steam coming off the pile in the photo below. What you can't see is the smell!


Turning the pile is about a half-day job for two people. One gets to play with the skidsteer, and the other stands with a hose, spraying the pile...


Dirty (and tedious) jobs.
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  1. SonjaJune 16, 2011 at 7:16 AM

    Ok , let's just make it official. I would not want that dirty job. Oooo, yuck yuck!!! I hope this is not a silly question but... Do you sell the compost locally or do you use all of it on your farm? Just curious!

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