why does it need to be composted?i had a few plants mixed with horse manure and regular potting soil like 50/50 mix and my plants grew very well? how is that bad advice..and i even took dry clumps and scatterd around base of plant wich also worked very well...and about the stealing part my fault around here all the farmer ppl know eachother and dont mind we take manure so sry about that!!ask the farmer..and all n all i had very good sucess with manure fresh and old just my thoughts..