17d • Family Permaculture
Organic Fertilizer, Manure, or Cover Crops? Here’s How I Think About It. 🌱
I don’t think it’s about choosing one over the others. They all solve different problems.
🌿 Cover crops build soil over time by adding roots, feeding biology, protecting the surface, and producing biomass.
🐄 Manures and compost add organic matter, biology, and nutrients, but their nutrient content can vary quite a bit.
🪴 Organic fertilizers are the precision tools. They help correct specific deficiencies when your soil doesn’t have enough of a particular nutrient.
The biggest mistake I see is applying products before knowing what the soil actually needs. That’s why I believe a soil test should come first. It’s much easier to make informed decisions when you know your pH, organic matter, and nutrient levels.
My goal isn’t to replace biology with fertilizer. It’s to build a healthy soil system first, then use amendments only where they make sense. Over time, a biologically active soil can cycle nutrients more efficiently, reducing the need for constant inputs.
Healthy soil isn’t built with a single product—it’s built by understanding what your soil needs and giving it the right tools at the right time.
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Organic Fertilizer, Manure, or Cover Crops? Here’s How I Think About It. 🌱
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