Farmer trades manure for Countryman Inn restaurant tickets
Way back in July, we told you about about our voluntary scheme and how you could earn some Countryman food vouchers. Click here to read the full story
We are pleased to tell you that a local farmer called Charlie Liverton donated 12 tons of farm manure for our garden composting. And guess what? We swapped him for a romantic meal for two, for him and his girlfriend. We made sure he showered first though!
Manure – what does it conjure up in your mind? Upon researching the subject of manure, we came across this interesting article which we found on www.stressbuster1.com
We welcome your comments – do you think it is true?
Once upon a time, way back in the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship, including manure, as commercial fertiliser had not yet been invented. The story goes …
Manure was shipped dry, because in dry form, manure weighed a lot less than when it was wet. However, once the ship was at sea, the fertiliser became damp and it not only became heavier, but the process of fermentation began again – of which a by-product is methane gas. As the manure was stored below decks in bundles, it is obvious what happened!
Methane began would build up below decks and the first time someone came below at night with a lantern – BOOOOM!
Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined just what was happening.
After the discovery, the bundles of manure were stamped with the term ‘Ship High In Transit’ on them. This meant that sailors could stow the manure high enough off the lower decks so that any water that entered into the hold, would not touch the manure and start the production of methane!
Thus evolved the term ‘S.H.I.T ‘ , (Ship High In Transport) which has come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.
You probably did not know the true history of this word. Neither did we!
This story is courtesy of Stressbuster1.