How to Get Free or Low Cost Manure For Your Garden

Warm weather is finally upon us, and any gardener is dreaming of seeing green again over the brown and mud that's covering the earth at the moment, at least here in the north!

It's the hardest time of year for those itching to plant and play in the dirt, so close, and yet so far away!

If you're on a budget, or your compost pile wasn't quite up to par this past year- there are cheap and easy ways to get plenty of manure for your garden to be.

It will be a little easier for you if you're near the city, but rural-livers can do this too, maybe at a slight cost. For horse owners that are in towns that require manure removal, they need to have dumpsters or other means to have their manure hauled away. What horse barn owner wouldn't love to save a few bucks and have it taken away for free?

First off, check with town requirements near you, to see which towns might have this law. If there is a farm near any kind of reservoir, chances are they'll need to have their "pile" trucked off.

Approach the owner of the farm, either in person or by phone. Remember to ask politely! Chances are, you'll have an agreement for free manure if you come haul it away yourself. This saves both you and the farmer money. If there is a slight charge, don't pass up the opportunity to do some bartering! Maybe you can exchange some of your freshly grown vegetables? This can be worked also, if you have no way to pick up your newly found manure, and can request it be dumped in your yard.

If you can, but it's not always possible, look for aged manure. If you're picking up from a farm that is trucking away, chances are it will be fresh. Do not use this in your garden! You want to let it sit ideally for at least a year, preferably two to get it to age correctly. The acid in the new manure will burn your seeds. It's a great starter for your compost piles to follow!

Don't be afraid of rejection. If you're in a rural area, many horse and cow farmers will use their manure for their own gardens, if they have the space. However, most of the people I know will give it away and more than happily! Anyone that might have large animals as pets, such as horses or cows, know there are new shipments arriving daily to add to the "pile!" There is always enough manure to go around.

Beware of any commercial farms that might have additives to their animals feed, you will want steer clear of those. Otherwise, it's a great way to build up your gardens naturally!