What is Green Manure?

The soil fertility on our farm comes from three main sources:

1. Composted horse manure that we get from a neighbor's farm
2. Green manure
3. Fish emulsion as foliar spray to keep plants healthy throughout their lifespan

So, if you are wondering, green manure has nothing to do with animal waste.  

Green manure crops are planted for the purpose of adding nutrients (legumes fix nitrogen in the soil) and/or organic matter (after getting plowed down in the early spring, like rye for example) which helps the overall structure of the soil.   We do not harvest these crops, so they are one of our farm's expenses.  Some cover crop comes up perennially, such as alfalfa, others get replanted in strategic ways every season.
It's a complicated matter.  Todd could talk your ear off about this subject if you were really interested.

Above is a picture of hairy vetch coming back from a planting last fall (in old carrot beds).  It is a nitrogen-fixing legume.  The grass is actually what will become a path between rows, the lighter colored stuff is the vetch, coming in strong.  And below are newly plowed beds for all kinds of vegetables.  We are lucky in Illinois to have such dark loamy soil.

All for now!  -Julia