## Does Manure Get into the Garden Vegetables?
Fresh manure is a great way to add nutrients to your garden soil. However, it can also contain harmful bacteria that can contaminate your vegetables. If you’re not careful, you could end up with vegetables that are unsafe to eat.
### How Can Manure Get into Garden Vegetables?
There are a few ways that manure can get into garden vegetables:
Through the soil: When manure is applied to the soil, it can come into contact with the roots of your vegetables. This can allow bacteria from the manure to enter the vegetables and contaminate them.
Through irrigation water: If you use manure-contaminated water to irrigate your vegetables, the bacteria can splash onto the leaves and stems of the vegetables. This can also contaminate the vegetables and make them unsafe to eat.
Through animals: Animals that come into contact with manure can spread the bacteria to your vegetables. This can happen if the animals walk through your garden or if they eat manure-contaminated vegetables and then defecate in your garden.
### What are the Risks of Eating Manure-Contaminated Vegetables?
Eating manure-contaminated vegetables can pose a number of health risks, including:
Food poisoning: The bacteria in manure can cause food poisoning, which can lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.
E. coli infection: E. coli is a type of bacteria that can cause serious infections, including kidney failure and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS is a life-threatening condition that can cause anemia, kidney failure, and seizures.
Salmonella infection: Salmonella is another type of bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal cramps.
Campylobacter infection: Campylobacter is a type of bacteria that can cause diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal cramps.
### How to Prevent Manure from Getting into Garden Vegetables
There are a few things you can do to prevent manure from getting into your garden vegetables:
Compost manure before using it in your garden. Composting manure kills the harmful bacteria that can contaminate vegetables. To compost manure, simply pile it up in a corner of your garden and turn it regularly. The manure will be ready to use in about 6 months to a year.
Use manure-free compost or potting mix. If you don’t want to compost manure, you can use manure-free compost or potting mix. These products are made from plant materials that have been composted without the use of manure.
Wash vegetables thoroughly before eating them. If you’re not sure whether your vegetables have been contaminated with manure, wash them thoroughly before eating them. This will help to remove any bacteria that may be present.
### Conclusion
Manure can be a great way to add nutrients to your garden soil. However, it’s important to take steps to prevent manure from getting into your garden vegetables. By following the tips in this article, you can help to keep your vegetables safe to eat.
### Additional Resources
[Composting Manure](https://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/organic-farming/composting-manure)
[Using Manure-Free Compost or Potting Mix](https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/manure-free-compost/7192.html)
[Washing Vegetables Thoroughly](https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/keep-food-safe/wash-fruits-vegetables.html)