Fish Liquid Fertilizers: How are they Made?

By Tina Hull

Fish emulsion is a type of organic liquid fertilizer made from fish waste. While fish emulsion can be produced from many different types of fish (including wild caught salmon), a small fish called Menhaden is the most common source of this liquid fertilizer. An oily, bony fish with little edible meat, Menhaden comes from the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

How are liquid organic fertilizers made? The fish is steam-heated and then transferred to a large pressing equipment where the liquids and precious fish oil is rendered. All the solid substances are made into animal feed, while the oil is further refined into fish oil. As for the remaining liquids, it is simmered until it is transformed into a thickened fish emulsion.

To hinder fermentation and extend its shelf-life, phosphoric acid is added to the emulsion. The percentage of phosphoric acid in the solution should be under 1% to meet the USDA criteria for organic products.

Standard composition of organic fish emulsion fertilizers is about 5% Nitrogen, 2% Phosphorous, and 2% Potassium. It also contains micronutrients that are vital for promoting plant growth.

Adventurous gardeners make their own liquid fertilizer from fish. It's a smelly, messy process, but it could be economical for gardeners with a ready supply of fish waste.

Many organic fertilizers are slow acting. Not fish emulsion. The nutrients in fish emulsion are released almost immediately. That's why it is particularly good for seedlings and transplants--it gives them a jumpstart. Gardeners either water the diluted liquid fertilizer into the soil or spray their plants for a foliar feed.

Instructions must be followed in using fish emulsions as fertilizers because over-application can burn the roots of the plant. And be prepared for the strong odor but it wanes in a day or so. Since it is organic, the fertilizer must be used at once it has been diluted and it cannot be exposed to heat.

Once again, we need to repeat that organic growers need not worry that fish emulsion fertilizer is depleting our oceans of the important Menhaden fish or other fish that people need for food. Fish emulsion if primarily made from fish waste of the established animal feed and fish oil industries, which would have been dumped in landfills if not used. The organic label in fish emulsion fertilizers not only means natural, it also means environmentally safe. - 32395

About the Author:

Tina Hull is a respected authority in liquid organic fertilizer. To learn more, check out her website about liquid organic fertilizer.

Riding And Work Saddles For Sale: English or Western?

By Jodie Daisy

There are two main types of saddles for sale, english and western saddles. With so many different saddles for sale, it is helpful to know a quick way to distinguish between english and western saddles, the horn that is found on western saddles. Another easily noticeable and distinguishing feature is that western saddles are usually more robust and rugged than english saddles.

What type of saddle is ideal for riding?

Western saddles are built to be comfortable for the horse and its owner. Western saddles are built bigger to spread the weight more evenly across the animal's back. These saddles are usually constructed out of rawhide to ensure longer-lasting comfort on long and arduous cattle drives. Although many modern saddles for sale are built from synthetic and lighter materials other than leather, sheepskin and wool.

There is also a difference between trail or pleasure and work or ranch saddles for sale on the market. Different tasks or uses require different balancing and component design such as horn shaping. Barrel saddles provide closer contact. English Saddles sit higher to give the rider better positioning than a western saddle would for that sort of riding.

The distinctions between the two main types of saddles for sale

English saddles are generally not as heavy or bulky as western saddles. Their stirrups are usually bare of leather. English saddles are also designed to expand for the horse to breathe better during vigorous aerobic activities. Furthermore, they do not come with fenders. Riding boots are used instead to protect the rider from injury in this case.

Western saddles do have fenders however due to a greater demand for functional sturdiness and less of a demand for streamlined design. Also the stirrups are wrapped in rawhide or leather to catch on the sole of the boot. Scurrying also trims a western saddle. Be sure when you are looking at any western saddles for sale that this scurrying is not warped or damaged or turned up on any of the edges.

Show saddles are different from pleasure or trail saddles.

English saddles for sale, in general, are not meant for rugged use. You can purchase an all purpose western saddle if you engage in multiple riding styles. Be sure that you know well what you are using your saddle for before you spend a lot of money of new saddle.

Trail saddles and show saddles also have different constructions. Wooden trees covered in fiberglass or ralide are generally used for western saddles. These may also be crafted with rawhide. Synthetic lighter saddles are covered in leather or other skin. Show saddles also come with detailed embellishments including silver and other precious metal lacing.

English saddles have steel or man-made trees that are also wrapped in leather and stuffed with foam. Usually english saddles are less detailed and decorative than most western saddles for sale.

Finding and purchasing saddles for sale

Buying a cheap saddle is not usually a great idea. Remember that you get what you pay for. And you may have to replace a cheaper saddle as many times as it would have cost to buy a better one. Cheaper saddles can also fit your horse improperly and sour its attitude during performance. If you save money on the saddle but irritate your horse, you haven't done yourself any favors.

Saddles that are poorly built can easily fall apart during regular use. Loose parts and edges can bother and injure both the horse and rider. So remember spending the extra money on a properly crafted saddle can save you a lot of grief.

Both english and western saddles for sale come in a wide spectrum of quality. It is very important not to skimp on quality. If you think of your horse saddle as a long term investment, you and your horse will have much more healthy and comfortable riding experiences together. - 32395

About the Author:

Author: Jodie Daisy is happy to share everything there is to learn about saddles for sale with anyone who has any inquiries regarding buying a new saddle.

The Make-up of Most Saddles For Sale

By Anne Katherine

When searching through saddles for sale, it is a good idea to know the parts that make up a horse saddle so that you can have a checklist for which parts you need to evaluate before making your purchase. Though they have some differences, western saddles and English saddles have many things in common.

Major Saddle Components

You'd probably be better off knowing the names for some horse saddle parts when you're shopping around. This knowledge of saddles can help your quality checking process. You don't need to be an expert, but a basic understanding about saddles for sale will lend to a more intelligent purchase.

The "tree" is the trunk of the saddle, the foundation upon which everything else is built.

The "pommel" is the raised front part of a saddle that helps to keep the rider from sliding forward. On a western saddle, this is where the horn is attached.

The "skirt" covers the area where the stirrups attach to the saddle. This keeps these parts from catching on the rider.

The "seat" is where the rider sits. You may have already guessed this. But I'm mentioning it in case you were afraid to ask.

The "cantle" is like the pommel of the saddle, except it is in the rear and is usually less padded.

The "stirrups" are usually metal hoops where the rider rest his or her feet.

The "billets" are straps on the saddle which connect to the girth that is used to essentially tie the saddle to the horse's back.

These components are found on English Saddles:

The "saddle flaps" protect the horse and rider from friction between the rider's leg and the horse's side.

These components are found on western saddles:

The "fenders" are like saddle flaps but they are usually a lot skinnier than those on English saddles.

There are many other parts of saddles when you go into further detail. And the other parts can be equally important in determining which of the many saddles for sale is right for you. But these terms should give you a basic understanding of the general layout of a saddle. - 32395

About the Author:

About the Author, Anne Katherine knows a lot regarding saddles for sale. See other blogs by her elsewhere on the internet if you like what you see here.

How To Sift Through All The Saddles For Sale

By Richard Burklin

To some, all horse saddles may have a tendency to look exactly the same. Of course, this is often the opinion of a novice, as all saddles for sale will have their unique differences. These differences are not limited to looks either.

After you take a saddle home and place it on your horse, you will notice right away that it has it's own feel to it. And again once you yourself climb into the saddle, you will discover that your own body has a lot to with with how well the saddle works out. When you test a saddle, it's a good idea to sit in it and go with your initial reaction to how you like it. But beyond that, what else should you look out for in a saddle?

All saddles for sale have some important things to think about:

The most important thing to consider is how the saddle fits your animal. The saddle's fit should trump any other aspect that may be influencing your decision to purchase. A horse can be hurt and become upset by a saddle that does not fit correctly.

This is bad for two reasons. If you're horse is angry, you're in danger. And if you're saddle is not properly snug, you're also in danger. Measuring your horse should be your first step before you go looking at any horse saddles for sale.

If you're looking to spend less on a saddle, you could go pre-owned. But don't buy a used saddles that is falling apart obviously. Even though you usually don't have to worry about deteriorating used saddles when they are from a quality manufacturer.

That is not to say that just because a used saddle is a made by known brand name that you can overlook excessive wear and tear. If someone is selling a saddle that is just torn to shreds, it is useless, regardless of the original maker.

Sometimes, even the best looking saddle can have problems. By best looking, we do not mean a saddle that looks like a visually appealing model. We mean one that might not show any obvious signs of wear and tear. In fact, it may even seem like a great fit once it is strapped to the horse.

The saddle may be a bit loose on your horse causing you to shift while you ride. It's always a good idea to do a test ride so that you can know for sure if your saddle is snug.

Also, even if the saddle rides well, it could have problems. If you notice dark black spots on the horse after riding the saddle, these are bruises that would indicate the saddle is painful for the horse. Such a saddle would have to be replaced as well since it is a problem for the horse.

Yes, it can be a little extra work to select the right saddle and sometimes your selection may not go as intended. But, when you take these extra steps, you will discover your horseback riding sessions to be a lot more fun and a whole lot safer. - 32395

About the Author:

Author Info: Rickard Burklin knows a lot about many kinds of saddles for sale. If you love learning about saddles, be sure to look out for his other articles on the internet.

Natural Fertilizer, Your Garden's Best Friend

By Tina Hull

When it comes to fertilizing any vegetation, natural fertilizer is the only way to go. Whoever it was that came up with putting chemicals on our plants to benefit them must've been nuts. How could this possibly help in the grand scheme of things? If a being from another planet were to come and visit us, and witnessed someone pouring chemicals onto the garden that was going to provide us with our food for the next few months to come, this being would have to wonder how smart or stupid we are. Natural fertilizer is the only way to keep our bodies and our environment safe and healthy.

Many will stand firm by their synthetic fertilizer, swearing that its the only thing that keeps their grass thick and pretty. Sure, it may look nice, but can their bare feet enjoy that lush lawn that's decorated with warning signs after fertilizer application? Not for awhile at least, and even then I'd be hesitant letting a toddler play on the lawn or my dog walk on it. Fish emulsion, as your natural fertilizer, doesn't have any of those downfalls.

Natural fertilizer saves us damage control in the future that wed inevitably have using a man-made fertilizer.

Chances are that if you cant understand or pronounce the ingredients in your fertilizer then your plants wont understand it either so why chance it? And if you cant pronounce or understand anything on the package, then you surely aren't using a natural fertilizer, like fish emulsion.

When you use a fish emulsion fertilizer, you can rest assured that you aren't using anything that is going to harm our environment. An all natural fertilizer is your best bet to keeping our food and water supply safe. They wont end up somewhere in the atmosphere turning rainbows black or our clouds green.

There is no denying the difference between plants grown with a synthetic fertilizer and plants grown with a natural fertilizer. Natural fertilizer has made a name for itself and its the only way to go for the best growing results ever.

You wont have a single worry about harming any critters that may happen to visit your yard when using a natural fertilizer. Children can run around carefree and barefoot, and no one will fret over whether or not they washed their feet before they shot through the back door.

Using a natural fertilizer is a no-brainer. Needless risks will be a thing of the past. No benefits can come from using a synthetic fertilizer, any which way you slice it. The benefits that shine from using a natural fertilizer will enhance your lawn, gardens, crops and most of all your life! - 32395

About the Author:

Learn more about natural fertilizer by visiting Tina's website about organic fertilizer.

Cleaning Horse Saddles

By Tyler Wilmas

Mantaining your horse's saddle is a top priority. Since saddles are usually made of leather, they require quite a bit of attention to make sure that they last and that you get you money's worth out of them.

A good cleaning every thirty days or so should e adequate. This will be enough to stop build up of dirt and rust on the components of your saddle. If you use your saddle more frequently you may also want to increase the frequency of your cleaning regiment to err on the safe side.

Many saddles can outlive your horses, except for horse saddles that are not cared for properly. Horse saddles need regular attention to stay in good usable condition. This includes cleaning as well as the application of some sort of leather sealant or oil.

A yard or ranch fence is a good place to perch your saddle when you are working on it. The saddle can be cleaned with a mild detergent and warm water. Do not use too much water on the leather itself or it will be destroyed. Scrub the leather lightly so as not to rip or tear the surface. This will maintain the integrity of the sealant.

Disassembling your horse saddle is also an important part of cleaning it. Certain issues can accumulate in neglected areas like fungus, mold or rust. These can ruin your saddle or cause a health risk to you or your horse. Thoroughness is a good technique to practice in order to eliminate any possibility of complications with your saddle in the future.

While you are scrubbing the main part of the saddle, soak the detached metal parts that are safe to soak. You will be finishing these later. Do not leave them soaking longer than it takes to clean the rest of the horse saddle. Do not soak any leather!

Remember that the horse is in contact with the underside of the saddle, so do not forget to clean this part as well. You will also need to clean all straps and harnesses and any metal pieces that are connected to the saddle core. Be sure these are allowed to dry before the saddle is stored to prevent rusting.

Clean parts are now ready for an application of some sort of protectant, both the leather and metal parts. When applying the oils to leather, do so evenly so that it doesn't leave strange smears and streaks and be sure to clean away any extra drips or pools of oil that accumulate.

So once the parts have all completely dried and you have begun to put it back together, assuming you remembered everything and what goes where, do not leave any parts out. Or one day soon, you will regret it because your saddle is not operating properly.

Routine upkeep of your saddle will ensure that it lasts you for many, many years. Saddle maintenance has both a visual and a practical purpose. Decay can come in the form of rust or bacteria which can ruin your saddle, your health or your horse's health. The more you care for your horse saddle, the less problems you may have while riding in the future and the longer it will last. - 32395

About the Author:

About the Author, Tyler Wilmas is a equestrian expert and has a lot of great saddles for sale in his mountain ranch store. For more info on horse tack and other horse issues, read more of his posts online.