How to Use Cow Manure in Your Garden: Compost, Tea, and More

Cow dung is a classic garden amendment, but using it correctly makes all the difference. Fresh manure can burn plants and harbor pathogens, so composting is the safest route. Build a compost pile with a mix of manure, straw, and kitchen scraps, turning regularly until it's dark, crumbly, and earthy-smelling—usually 3–6 months.

For a quicker liquid feed, make manure tea: fill a burlap sack with aged manure, steep in a barrel of water for 1–2 weeks, then dilute 1:10 before watering plants. This tea also works as a foliar spray, delivering nutrients directly to leaves.

Always avoid applying fresh manure to edible crops within 120 days of harvest. And consider watching One Man, One Cow, One Planet for inspiration on regenerative agriculture.