The Nutrient-Rich World of Bone Meal

Creating bone meal at home is a simple process that involves a few key steps:

1. Cleaning and Cooking:
   • Remove any residual meat or cartilage from the bones through boiling. Thinner bones, such as those from chickens, can be boiled for several hours, while thicker bones, like those from cows, benefit from the efficiency of a pressure cooker or instant pot. Cook the bones until they become brittle.
2. Pulverizing and Dehydrating:
   • After cooking, the bones can be pulverized into smaller pieces and then dehydrated, or vice versa. Both methods are effective. If you choose to pulverize first, use a sturdy blender to grind the bones into smaller fragments. Spread these on a tray for dehydration. Alternatively, if dehydrating first, place the bone pieces in a dehydrator at the highest setting for approximately 12 hours.
3. Final Grinding:
   • Post-dehydration, grind the bones into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle or a blender (with caution to prevent blade dulling). Aim for a consistency similar to commercial bone meal.

Application in Gardening: