Planting a Garden in an old Dog Run??

[Stimw]

Does anyone know of problems planting a garden in an area that was a large dog run?
I don't know how many dogs or how long ago they were kept there. They were raising and training Greyhounds for years.
I am looking at 7 acres to buy and the old dog runs look like the best spot for a garden.
My best guess is it's been 6 months or more since they were there.
I worry about the feces/other contaminating the ground. ??

 

[orezok]

Does anyone know of problems planting a garden in an area that was a large dog run?
I don't know how many dogs or how long ago they were kept there. They were raising and training Greyhounds for years.
I am looking at 7 acres to buy and the old dog runs look like the best spot for a garden.
My best guess is it's been 6 months or more since they were there.
I worry about the feces/other contaminating the ground. ??

The biggest problem will be the over abundance of nitrogen in the soil from urine. Think yellow spots in grass. Too much nitrogen will greatly affect plant growth resulting in huge top growth but little product.

Test the soil to be sure.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Does anyone know of problems planting a garden in an area that was a large dog run?
I don't know how many dogs or how long ago they were kept there. They were raising and training Greyhounds for years.
I am looking at 7 acres to buy and the old dog runs look like the best spot for a garden.
My best guess is it's been 6 months or more since they were there.
I worry about the feces/other contaminating the ground. ??

I personally wouldn't do it. Here's an article to get you started:

Advice on Composting Dog Poop - Organic Gardening - MOTHER EARTH NEWS

 

[OldMcDonald]

I have never seen proof of what I have been told time and time again since I was a kid - never ever use dog or cat manure in your vegetable or ornamental garden areas. I have tried on several occasions in the past to find the reasoning behind this, and all I could come up with was that both animals carry diseases that might or might not affect them, but could be extremely serious, possibily fatal for us.

As I say, I have not been able to find definitive proof, nor can I remember the diseases that were mentioned in the scant info I did find. Maybe it is not true, but I have never taken the chance. In the western world I am fairly sure that it is not customary to eat any carnivorous mammal - possibly for similar reasons.

I am sure there are plenty of people out there who have used manure from both and lived to tell the tale. It just does not seem right to me.

#3 posted as I was typing this. The link explains a few things.

 

[deanwerden]

So your thinking about pulling the pin on a piece of property because of the location of your soon to be garden ?

 

[dave1949]

I would garden there after some precautions. Plow it with a moldboard plow to turn the surface under first, and then plant a cover crop for one growing season before gardening.

Whatever parasites were present aren't going to be confined just to the run area IMO.

People here eat bear, an omnivore. Pigs, another omnivore, will gladly eat meat too if given the chance.

 

[Jstpssng]

I would garden there after some precautions. Plow it with a moldboard plow to turn the surface under first, and then plant a cover crop for one growing season before gardening.

Whatever parasites were present aren't going to be confined just to the run area IMO.

People here eat bear, an omnivore. Pigs, another omnivore, will gladly eat meat too if given the chance.

Good points. We also are adviced not to use human waste, yet the Chinese have been doing it for centuries. (The landscaper I once worked for used composted sewerage sludge when putting in lawns and raised bed gardens for people.)

 

[Jstpssng]

I would garden there after some precautions. Plow it with a moldboard plow to turn the surface under first, and then plant a cover crop for one growing season before gardening.

Whatever parasites were present aren't going to be confined just to the run area IMO.

People here eat bear, an omnivore. Pigs, another omnivore, will gladly eat meat too if given the chance.

Good points. We also are adviced not to use human waste, yet the Chinese have been doing it for centuries. (The landscaper I once worked for used composted sewerage sludge when putting in lawns and raised bed gardens for people.)

 

[Stimw]

Good points. We also are adviced not to use human waste, yet the Chinese have been doing it for centuries. (The landscaper I once worked for used composted sewerage sludge when putting in lawns and raised bed gardens for people.)

If you have ever heard of "Mill-orginite" it is processed waste from a sewage plant!
To a dog the whole world is a toilet!

I signed an offer to buy today but I was looking for more info because the dog runs would be the better place for a garden.
Googling I find that some say OK and others say He// NO!

 

[randy41]

if the ground is well drained there should be no problem. whatever crap was in the crap has washed away.

 

[sixdogs]

Chisel plow to get some air and rain in there. Maybe moldboard plow and call it good. Most everything will be washed out or killed. If you feel really bad grow sweet corn for the first year and save the root crops till the urge to hurl passes. Heck, the wife's dishwashing sponge likely has more bacteria than anything you'll encounter in that garden.

My lawn would likely be a superfund site.

 

[SandburRanch]

Check with your county extension service. They may have the information you need or have a connection with those people that would have accurate information.

 

[Western]

I agree on getting a full soil sample, might even speak to your city or county health dept. Soil samples are cheap and in this case very relative.

 

[smstonypoint]

To my knowledge, the standard soil testing procedures used for ag. lands and lawns do not include detection of parasites/pathogens harmful to humans. I suspect that specialized testing procedures would be required. Your local health department may be able to conduct the test.

Steve

 

[OldMcDonald]

stimw, Is it really worth the risk? Your own research gives you some for and some against.

 

[dave1949]

Can I use former dog run for planting vegetable garden?
Can I use former dog run for planting vegetable garden | Introductions

I don't really see the danger exceeding what people with pets are exposed to on a regular basis with or without a garden. If the run was for greyhounds chances are they were kept in good health, and not loaded with diseases and parasites. That's an assumption of course.

Any open garden can be contaminated by passing wildlife which are more likely to carry round and hook worms than cared for pets.

 

[sixdogs]

Seems we should be equally concerned about human food from China that we consume without knowing the point of origin. I believe they use human waste for fertilizers. We all are eating a lot of Chinese food (other than take out ) and don't even know it. I would guess their perception of sanitary is not the same as Western standards.

Here's a laugh...I won't even buy my dogs chicken chewies from China.

 

[corl]

I'd be more concerned about the amount of sunshine the garden will get. Most dog runs are sheltered. Do a soil test and spend a year getting it right.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Seems we should be equally concerned about human food from China that we consume without knowing the point of origin. I believe they use human waste for fertilizers. We all are eating a lot of Chinese food (other than take out ) and don't even know it. I would guess their perception of sanitary is not the same as Western standards.

Here's a laugh...I won't even buy my dogs chicken chewies from China.

Not funny; I won't buy Chinese treats for my dog either. In fact, I don't buy any food product that I know comes from China, including apple juice (China exports a zillion tons of apple juice concentrate).

 

[sixdogs]

Not funny; I won't buy Chinese treats for my dog either. In fact, I don't buy any food product that I know comes from China, including apple juice (China exports a zillion tons of apple juice concentrate).

The problem is no labelling is required when Chinese ingredients are used. I was reading an article that said you could have a product with 20 ingredients from 20 different places in China and no mention of China on the label. The article further mentioned--and I forget the exact number but was shocked--that 40% or 50% of our food comes from China. How can this be?