Free/Cheap ways to improving soil quality quickly. Free horse manure, what else?

[Samuel1988]

Afternoon All,

I have been given a chance to grow my own produce on half my neighbours allotment (6m wide, 9 metres long) and round my cousins garden (5 metres wide by 7 metres long).

I was just wondering of some cheap ways I can improve my soil quickly as the compost my worms have produced will not get anywhere near covering the total area of both sites combined. My cousin volunteers at a horses stable so I can get my hands on lots of manure but I was just wondering if there is anything else I can go out and collect and use to improve the soil in the two growing areas or to add to my composter to increase the amount of compost produced? Unfortunately I don't have the funds available to cover the cost of buying the amount of compost needed for both sites.

If I can recall I came across reading someone who went round Starbucks to collect used coffee grounds/grinds(?). Has anyone done this before? I would be keen to learn ways and things I can do & collect for free to be used to help improve the quality of my soil for vegetable growing.

Thank you for your time,

Samuel

[taff]

there are never any left when i go in to get them
nettles, grow some sterile comfrey, any weeds that aren't in seed or will grow from root, any leaves etc.

Or mulch....with old hay etc.

[rustylady]

Firstly Samuel what is the soil like at the moment?

Secondly, you don't need to add manure to every bit of your land. In fact, if you intend to grow root crops (carrots, parsnips etc) then definitely do not add manure where they are going to grow.

[VirginVegGrower]

there are never any left when i go in to get them
nettles, grow some sterile comfrey, any weeds that aren't in seed or will grow from root, any leaves etc.

Or mulch....with old hay etc.

Check out the motorway ones Taff - they have loads

[Potstubsdustbins]

Word of warning on the horse poo, check what if anything as been sprayed on their fodder/meadow.

Some of a certain type of weed killer can transfer to your plot which would spell disaster. I don't know the full story but a member will be along to explain in detail.

Potty

[Linnea]

Yes potty. the weedkiller you you mention is called aminopyralid and is sprayed on fields to reduced weeds poisonous to horses however whilst no effect on the horse is noticed the weedkiller can still be active when it exits the horse and so can make it into manure heaps. it can remain active for a couple or years(ish). the best way the check for effects is to take a pot of manure (mixed with your usual potting media) and sow a few beans or peas. if they come up with stunted or unusual growth don't put the manure on your growing space.
The product was removed from sale but has, I believe, been re-introduced along with a stewardship scheme to prevent it getting into the manure chain but I'm not currently sure how effective that is

[zazen999]

Not effective at all.

You don't need to add manure. Just lay some cardboard down and plant through.

[Two_Sheds]

cheap ways I can improve my soil quickly

Why do you think it needs improving? Is nothing at all able to grow, not even weeds? If weeds can grow, so will veggies.

Improvement is an ongoing thing, it isn't done "all at once".

- green manures
- mulching with chopped weeds & green manures
- composting kitchen scraps (beg scraps from markets, grocers etc)
- autumn leaves to make leafmould

[Samuel1988]

Thanks for the replies

Firstly apologies for a bit of confusion - the soil has a considerable amount of stones with alot of rubble underneath (I know soil contains stones what I am trying to get across I believe a small thin layer of excess dirt has been used to cover up an area where rubble has been dumped). I will be making raised beds so what I should have made clearer (apologies once again) is how I can fill them up to get over this problem in a cost free way. So for example, if I can get my hands on lots of horse manure and other items this could be composted and then the finished produce could be used to fill the raised beds and get over this rubble issue. I hope this makes it clearer (it was a late web surfing session!)

Apologies,

Samuel

[rustylady]

You need to make lasagna beds, there's a thread on here somewhere but I can't find it at the moment. Link here from Google though How to Create a Lasagna Garden - Urban Farm Online

[rustylady]

Have a look through these threads Samuel http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...?searchid=3899

[Two_Sheds]

Ah, now I understand: you're building raised beds on rubble. Yes, I would (I did!)

lasagne bed 1 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

how I can fill them up ... in a cost free way.

Horse manure may be contaminated with aminopyralid, and if it is, all your plants will die. I don't use it: you don't need it.