Markham Farm

If you have collected a large amount of chicken manure from the chicken coop over the winter, please make sure it is composted rather than placed on beds directly. Thermophilic composting as described in our book destroys pathogens; but raw chicken manure can contain both salmonella and e. coli. Even for crops that don't directly touch the ground, splash-up from raindrops can infect food. And, of course, low-growing crops like lettuce or spinach are a particular danger. Non-composted manure is what cause the recent wave of illnesses from spinach.