I am interested in information about using dried manure for fuel. Does anyone have any info at all on manure as fuel? (Short of methane, which is entirely too complicated for small applications) Thank you PatW

-- Pat Warden (hairles@bellsouth.net), November 19, 1999

Answers

WELL----- I've not used cow pies for fuel, but my ancestors did on the plains of Kansas. You see, Kansas, especially in early years was virtually treeless, so pies were used as fuel. I even read one book on the local area, that said they were so scarce that folks even initialed them when green and fresh to lay claim to them when dry. Kind of like in the third world countries where energy is scare. Anyway, cow chips burn very hot and fast, and produce a light weight fly ash. The slightest downdraft in the cookstove's chimney, and your food got what looked like a light coating of pepper. It worked for the pioneers, and it would work for you, but it is just that lots of WORK. Good luck.

-- greenbeanman (greenbeanman@ourtownusa.net), November 19, 1999.

Pat, where in the world do you live? Why on Earth would you want to use valuable fertilizer as fuel?

This is a totally unsustainable use of a valuable resource, to be used only in a last-ditch survival situation. Make newspaper logs, burn your junk mail, burn corn cobs, pick up twigs, but put manure on the compost pile!

In that last-ditch survival situation however, cow or buffalo chips burn just like wood (or corn cobs) with a fast, hot flame. Good for cooking, but not for keeping the house warm ovenight. No special instructions needed.Just burn it.

-- jd (belanger@midway.tds.net), November 23, 1999.

Can you burn fresh manure? I ask, because someone suggested that if I didn't want to run to the outhouse in cold weather, I could burn the "solid waste" in the woodstove. Sounds gross and messy to me, but what do I know? LOL

-- Philomena (avemaris@aol.com), December 03, 1999.

I agree with JD. There are a lot of alternative fuels, and even the "poor woods - ie softwoods" are better than burning your soil builders. If you experience an emergency need for flames to make your s'mores, burn the chips. Otherwise, I'd put them in the garden. Or do you own a beef feedlot?

-- Brad Traver (homefixer@mix-net.net), January 19, 2000.