I hate using chemicals to clean my house, I detest taking chemicals into my body unless I have no other choice and I get all itchy when I think about pouring chemicals all over my garden.

Give me some rich composted manure any day. I know complete chemical fertilisers are supposed to be balanced and provide all the nutrients your soil and plants are craving....blah, blah, blah...but you'll never convince me that they're better than the natural alternatives.

Maybe, I'm becoming a greenie? Or in this case - a brownie? (not the choc-chip variety though). I live for the earthy smell of freshly cow manured garden beds or pouring slow-release sheep's manure around my roses. What better way to tell people you live in the country?

It's cheaper too, especially if you can source it from a local farm rather than buying it by the bag full. So next time you reach for the branded chemical fertliser in your gardening shed try thinking of a natural alternative. Your plants will love you for it.