08/13/2026
When it comes to manure for fertilizing your garden, there's nothing quite like alpaca poo -- or alpaca beans, if you're in the know. Depending on the source, alpaca beans can be an organic, nutrient-rich "cool" manure fertilizer.
Lori Lenhart at Serendipity Ranch and Cathy Kelekian both raise alpacas here in Montrose, and both have recently donated some of those magic beans to the Botanic Gardens' composting operation -- thank you so much! Our Compost Master, Art Clifford, along with Laulii and Mark Hillier, visited the ranch this past weekend, met the "bean-makers" in person, and then hauled a load to the Gardens.
We're confident that, unlike cow or horse manure, this high quality alpaca manure would not need to be composted or aged before being applied in the garden. Alpaca beans are known for having almost no odor, and for being devoid of viable w**d seeds as a result of the animal's efficient digestion.
Art will be incorporating these alpaca beans into the compost operation, however, to increase beneficial organisms and carbon content. He's also trying his hand at brewing some nutrient-rich alpaca bean tea for use in the gardens, which may steep for 24-48 hours depending on the recipe.
If you're interested in learning more about composting, stop by the Botanic Gardens on some Wednesday morning before 11:00 and ask for Art. He's happy to share! You can also read his in-depth article on composting at https://www.montrosegardens.org/compost
