Stinky steer manure has no place in urban gardens

Today’s question: The other day we parked near an outside display at a home-improvement center. It included a big sign saying that “deodorized steer manure” was available. I’m from Nebraska, and I guess the farmers and ranchers there weren’t that particular about that type of product. How do they deodorize steer manure? And what is the job title for the person that does it?

Nebraska farmers and ranchers may not be especially picky about how steer manure smells, but here in the big city it kind of becomes a matter of neighborhood tranquility.

A lot of people spread manure on their flowerbeds or winter lawns. Why anybody would want a winter lawn in the first place has always been a great mystery to me, but there you have it.

If you’re using the real thing, your neighbors might well object, which is why the deodorized stuff is more popular.

If you had stopped to smell and examine the bags of the deodorized manure you saw, you might have noticed a sort of good, earthy smell but also that the bag probably also was labeled “composted.”

Composting stuff, whether it’s old leaves or last night’s zucchini casserole, tends to take away any smell it might have acquired in the rotting process. It sort of bakes it away. Actually, if you ask me, placing the zucchini casserole directly on the compost heap without bothering people by trying to serve it might be the wisest step.

As for the job title for the person in charge of deodorizing manure, I would suggest worm wrangler since composting works best with the help of some earthworms.