Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[David Anderson <daveandand@cox.net>]

Im not what youd call an expert on composting but it has interested me 
recently. I wanted to make a good pile or 2 to help in the veggie garden.  Im 
away from home now in france visiting relatives.  All the farmers here with 
livestock save and compost the manure then spread it in the fields during the 
fall.  It breaks down and in spring they have great crops.  Im in normandy 
and the crops grow really well here.  They dont use raised furrows here like 
they do back home in LA but the crops grow very well indeed.  Is this 
standard practice in Europe?  It seems to be benefitting the farmers here and 
they have done it for centuries according to the locals.  I dont really know 
what kind of herbicides and fert they also use but the fields look great here 
and they are sold on the process.