‘Zoo Doo’ is Poo for You

Here’s an interesting Wallingford fact:  did you know we are neighbors to the most exotic “doo” in the Pacific Northwest? Well, if you didn’t know–now you do!  Call yourself lucky because Woodland Park Zoo is the home to this amazing and nutrient packed “doo” and if your luck continues you may be able to obtain some of this prized Zoo Doo for your garden or yard.

The twice yearly event, Fecal Fest is fast approaching at the Woodland Park Zoo.  Due to a limited amount of “doo” Fecal Fest is lottery based and beginning March 1-18, Woodland Park Zoo is accepting postcard entries.  To enter into this lottery please send a postcard to:

Zoo Doo, Woodland Park Zoo, 601 N. 59th St., Seattle, WA 98103

Include the following information (only one postcard per person):

• Name
• Day/Evening Phone Numbers
• Preference: Zoo Doo or Bedspread
• Amount of Zoo Doo or Bedspread you’d like to purchase (anything from a garbage bag to a full-size pick-up truck load).
• Weekday or Weekend Preference for Pick-up (Pick-up dates April 8-24).

According to Woodland Park Zoo:

Woodland Park Zoo Doo is a fully composted blend of animal manures mixed with straw bedding, grass, leaves and wood chips from the grounds of Woodland Park Zoo. Which animals contribute to our Zoo Doo? All the non-primate herbivore (plant eaters) animals are happy to doo their part. These animals include, elephants, hippos, zebras, giraffes, gazelles, and oryx among others. Woodland Park Zoo creates nearly 1 million pounds of compost each year saving $60,000 per year in disposal costs.

Adding this rich, dark Zoo Doo to your soil will enhance water and nutrient retention, and will improve soil texture. It is a completely organic soil amendment.  Compost makes your plants healthier by improving aeration, root penetration, water retention and by reducing crusting of the soil surface. Compost adds texture to heavy clay soils making them easier to work and enhances the water and nutrient retention of sandy soils.

Also available is Bedspread, a composted mulch made from the manures and bedding of the zoo’s non-primate herbivores. Bedspread is like Zoo Doo but contains higher amounts of wood chips and sawdust. It is excellent fertile mulch for perennial beds and woody landscapes such as native gardens, rose beds, shrubs, tree rings or pathways, and is an ideal mulch and soil builder for Northwest gardens.

Prices:
Zoo Doo: Pick-up truck 8×4 bed: $60; 6×4 bed: $45; 6×3 bed: $35. Garbage cans: $8 to $10; bags: $4 to $6 depending on size. Limit one full truck per person. Two-gallon and pint-sized buckets are available in the ZooStore for $14.95 and $4.95, respectively.

Bedspread: Pick-up truck 8×4 bed: $50; 6×4 bed: $35; 6×3 bed: $25. Garbage cans: $8 to $10; bags: $4 to $6 depending on size. Limit one full truck per person.