Maintaining Soil Fertility After a Successful First Year

Sheep manure gave you a great harvest. To sustain it, replenish organic matter annually—nutrients are consumed and leached each season.

Annual Amendment Routine

• Add 2–3 inches of compost, aged manure, leaf mold, or peat each spring.
• Rotate manure sources (cow, horse, poultry) to diversify nutrient profile.
• Age fresh manure 3+ months to avoid root burn.

Build a Compost System

Recycle kitchen scraps, grass clippings, and shredded leaves. A 3-bin system yields finished compost by fall for bed preparation.

Healthy soil = healthy plants with fewer pests and diseases. Feed the soil, not just the plants.