I like the idea of no tilling. I do have some leaves I can compost into the garden. Last year was my first year growing a garden in the yard. I'vew had some great gardens at my old house. I think the horse manure I got from my neighbor wasn't mature. All my plants were stunted. I'm hoping this year will be better. Thinking of going to the county extension and getting my soil tested.
I think the "BEST" way to comment on this post is to say,, "
The leaves and manure are
"Really Opening Up A CAN OF WORMS!!" 
First, adding any organic matter that is low in nitrogen (like fallen leaves) will DEPLETE the nitrogen in the soil.
High carbon content organic matter needs a specific amount of nitrogen to decompose.
If the leaves are on top of the soil, the nitrogen will come from the surrounding air.
If the leaves are tilled into the soil, the air sourced nitrogen now becomes the soil based nitrogen.
YEP, the leaves ROB the soil (and your plants) of nitrogen.
Some organic matter ,, like fresh grass clippings, has adequate nitrogen to decompose,,
you can till FRESH clippings into the soil.
Sticks, and ANY form of wood (especially wood chips, and sawdust) is about the worst thing you can till into the soil.
Now,, manure,,
to get horse, or cow manure,, some product must be available to go into the animal,, for the manure to come out.
Hay is a common source of this product to be processed through the animal.
The problem that occurs is "weeds",, the animals do not like to eat most weeds,, SO,,,
the farmer that produces hay for sale is less likely to sell his hay if there is weeds.
The OTHER farmer down the road, has no weeds in the hay,,
GUESS which hay the horse lover is gonna buy for their prized "pet",,?
YEP, the low weed hay is the product the horse lover wants.
Well, there are several types of herbicides that control the broadleaf weeds, while allowing the grass to thrive.
The problem is that the herbicide will transport THROUGH the animal,, and YEP,,
will "CONTROL" the next batch of broadleaf plants the herbicide come into contact with.
The NEXT plants are virtually ANY garden plant, except corn, and grass.
The grass seed that blows into your garden will thrive on your expensive 10-10-10 fertilizer,,
AND the crops (EVERYTHING you want to grow) will wither, or die.
Some herbicides can last in the soil for a DECADE,, or MORE!!
Yep, the farmer gets great control of weeds in the hay,,
BUT,, your garden is OBLITERATED,, for possibly a decade!!
Some herbicides only last a few months,, but, the farmer has a choice,,
Weed control that lasts a few months for a cost of $X per acre
or
Weed control that lasts up to a decade for about $2X.
Only double the cost, get TEN times as long control??
Let's see,, 10 times the control, for only 2 times the cost,,
if you are the farmer, which would you buy?
Some people give up waiting for the herbicide to deplete,,
they even go as far as
removing the top foot of garden, and replace the soil.
Using manure in the garden was a great way to enhance the garden,,
BEFORE the invention of modern, long lasting herbicides.
Adding manure to your prized garden is like giving a 5 year old a hand grenade.
everything may be OK,, but,, what if,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
No manure for my garden,, PERIOD.
