Ever hear someone say you can skip compost and just use manure when planting? In a recent conversation with fellow farmers, we did and it made us do some research to confirm what we’d believed as long as we’ve been farming sustainably.
Not quite, it turns out.
While aged manure can be a powerful fertilizer, it doesn’t replace compost when it comes to soil structure, microbial life, or balanced nutrition. Compost feeds the soil. Manure (when properly aged) feeds the plant.
At Mayani Farms, we use compost as the foundation—and aged manure as a boost. It’s about balance, timing, and healthy roots from day one. For the right ratio of compost to manure, it will depend on the manure source. You can go higher with sheep, for example, than goat manure, which is more acidic.
Want help figuring out the best soil mix for your crops or trees? We’ve been trialing it all in the mountains of Utuado for 15+ years.
