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human urine as fertiliser
On our allotment there is no functioning toilet, and my thoughts have
recently turned to the topic of composting human manure. I've been checking out various things on the internet, and composting human faeces seems to be fraught with all kinds of difficulties. But some people are suggesting that it makes a lot of sense to focus more on keeping urine separate from faeces, and using it as a rich bacteria-free source of nitrogen, pottasium and phosphorus. You need to dilute it with water (one suggestion was 1:8) before it is usable. But is it then usable immediately? Anyone tried it? Isn't there going to be a serious problem with smell? Are there any legal issues to be considered? Ken Cohen |
human urine as fertiliser
"ken cohen" wrote in message
om... On our allotment there is no functioning toilet, and my thoughts have recently turned to the topic of composting human manure. I've been checking out various things on the internet, and composting human faeces seems to be fraught with all kinds of difficulties. But some people are suggesting that it makes a lot of sense to focus more on keeping urine separate from faeces, and using it as a rich bacteria-free source of nitrogen, pottasium and phosphorus. You need to dilute it with water (one suggestion was 1:8) before it is usable. But is it then usable immediately? Anyone tried it? Isn't there going to be a serious problem with smell? Are there any legal issues to be considered? Ken Cohen Ken, are you taking the ****? (chortle) X. |
human urine as fertiliser
On Sun, 5 Oct 2003 14:00:54 +0100, "Xebug"
wrote: "ken cohen" wrote in message . com... On our allotment there is no functioning toilet, and my thoughts have recently turned to the topic of composting human manure. I've been checking out various things on the internet, and composting human faeces seems to be fraught with all kinds of difficulties. But some people are suggesting that it makes a lot of sense to focus more on keeping urine separate from faeces, and using it as a rich bacteria-free source of nitrogen, pottasium and phosphorus. You need to dilute it with water (one suggestion was 1:8) before it is usable. But is it then usable immediately? Anyone tried it? Isn't there going to be a serious problem with smell? Are there any legal issues to be considered? The protection of night soil miners act of 1857? Ken Cohen Ken, are you taking the ****? (chortle) or just splashing his boots, whilst ****ing into the wind s****** -- Martin |
human urine as fertiliser
"ken cohen" wrote in message om... On our allotment there is no functioning toilet, and my thoughts have recently turned to the topic of composting human manure. I've been checking out various things on the internet, and composting human faeces seems to be fraught with all kinds of difficulties. But some people are suggesting that it makes a lot of sense to focus more on keeping urine separate from faeces, and using it as a rich bacteria-free source of nitrogen, pottasium and phosphorus. You need to dilute it with water (one suggestion was 1:8) before it is usable. But is it then usable immediately? Anyone tried it? Isn't there going to be a serious problem with smell? Are there any legal issues to be considered? Check out the Centre for Alternative Technology at http://www.cat.org.uk/index.tmpl They have done a lot of research into this idea and now publish a book about it called "Lifting the Lid" -- Howard Neil |
human urine as fertiliser
"ken cohen" wrote in message om... On our allotment there is no functioning toilet, and my thoughts have recently turned to the topic of composting human manure. I've been checking out various things on the internet, and composting human faeces seems to be fraught with all kinds of difficulties. When we camp with no facilities we dig a long drop - essentially a dry toilet. If solid matter is deposited it's covered with a small amount of the soil which was dug out to make the hole. Liquid waste isn't covered. We used to do this regularly and frequently in the garden of a primitive dwelling on the NY Moors. The garden was, sadly, uncultivated, it was obviously extremely fertile. But some people are suggesting that it makes a lot of sense to focus more on keeping urine separate from faeces, and using it as a rich bacteria-free source of nitrogen, pottasium and phosphorus. You need to dilute it with water (one suggestion was 1:8) before it is usable. There are always new thought on any matter. Keeping them separate would be difficult, I'd have thought. At the very least it would take some unnatural organisation. But is it then usable immediately? Anyone tried it? Isn't there going to be a serious problem with smell? We use a man-made liquid activator in the compost bin at home and there's no smell and we've had no contamination problems - I only use the compost on our organically grown vegetables. For many years this same liquid was sprayed on the ground round the rhubarb. Nowadays it's sometimes directed towards the area round the gooseberries and redcurrant bushes. They grow very well and there's no smell. I'll add that our hens (two) fertilise the garden indiscriminately. There are those who say that their deposits are far too 'strong' for direct application to the soil but it was when we noticed that the fertility of the garden had risen so dramatically after their efforts that we started to grow more vegetables. We eat very well. Are there any legal issues to be considered? Probably - there always are. But I shan't tell if you don't. Check out the Centre for Alternative Technology at http://www.cat.org.uk/index.tmpl They have done a lot of research into this idea and now publish a book about it called "Lifting the Lid" And they have their own processes which they use in their growing areas. It's impressive. Do visit CAT if you can, you'll get information on a huge variety of subjects, not just this one. Mary -- Howard Neil |
human urine as fertiliser
"ken cohen" wrote in message om... On our allotment there is no functioning toilet, and my thoughts have recently turned to the topic of composting human manure. I've been checking out various things on the internet, and composting human faeces seems to be fraught with all kinds of difficulties. But some people are suggesting that it makes a lot of sense to focus more on keeping urine separate from faeces, and using it as a rich bacteria-free source of nitrogen, pottasium and phosphorus. I don't know if it is bacteria-free at the moment you emit it, but it won't be in that state for more than a minute or two. You need to dilute it with water (one suggestion was 1:8) I use 1:10 before it is usable. But is it then usable immediately? Yes. Anyone tried it? Yes. Isn't there going to be a serious problem with smell? While you are collecting and storing it, keep tyhe lid tightly on the container. It acquires a very strong characteristic smell in a matter of a few days. {:-(( The smell disappears within a few minutes after it is diluted and watered into the soil. Are there any legal issues to be considered? Don't know and don't care. It is unlikely that I will be caught in action. Just remember that it is a very unbalanced feretiliser. Mostly nitrogen a little phosphorus, very little ppotassium. Its best use is probably as an accelerator in the compost heap. Franz |
human urine as fertiliser
Xref: kermit uk.rec.gardening:168924
I don't know if it is bacteria-free at the moment you emit it, but it won't be in that state for more than a minute or two. Nothing is. Mary |
human urine as fertiliser
On 5 Oct 2003 04:55:15 -0700, ken cohen wrote:
On our allotment there is no functioning toilet, and my thoughts have recently turned to the topic of composting human manure. I've been checking out various things on the internet, and composting human faeces seems to be fraught with all kinds of difficulties. But some people are suggesting that it makes a lot of sense to focus more on keeping urine separate from faeces, and using it as a rich bacteria-free source of nitrogen, pottasium and phosphorus. You need to dilute it with water (one suggestion was 1:8) before it is usable. But is it then usable immediately? Anyone tried it? Isn't there going to be a serious problem with smell? Are there any legal issues to be considered? I've used urine off and on for years. Even when it's gone rotten and stinky, if you dilute it (1:2 is enough), there's no odor -- as long as you don't keep putting it all on the same spot. Dilute it more highly and sprinkle from a watering can over your entire allotment; no one will ever know what's coming out of the rose if you are discreet! Urine is a wonderful compost activator and can be used full strength for that purpose, but for feeding growing plants, dilution around 1:4 or 1:5 is what I've seen recommended. For some mysterious reason, some plants respond very well to dilute urine when they don't respond to other fertilizers. Inexplicable. As for feces, there are a few gardeners here who put feces in their compost piles. The word of caution is that if you grow vegetables and do this, the crop should be served only to the family members who contributed to its fertilization. Personally, I think using fecal material in the garden is taking an unnecessary risk for very little benefit. One only has to read Dickens to be reminded of the high incidence of disease before efficient waste disposal systems were built. -- Rodger Whitlock Victoria, British Columbia, Canada change "invalid" to "net" to respond |
human urine as fertiliser
"ken cohen" wrote in message om... On our allotment there is no functioning toilet, and my thoughts have recently turned to the topic of composting human manure. I've been checking out various things on the internet, and composting human faeces seems to be fraught with all kinds of difficulties. But some people are suggesting that it makes a lot of sense to focus more on keeping urine separate from faeces, and using it as a rich bacteria-free source of nitrogen, pottasium and phosphorus. You need to dilute it with water (one suggestion was 1:8) before it is usable. But is it then usable immediately? Anyone tried it? Isn't there going to be a serious problem with smell? Are there any legal issues to be considered? Ken Cohen Urine is the best compost activator known Also if you go back in time .....the gents in pubs was the veg plot out the back and apparently the celery grew fantastically !!!!!!! |
human urine as fertiliser
"bnd777" wrote in message ... Urine is the best compost activator known Also if you go back in time .....the gents in pubs was the veg plot out the back and apparently the celery grew fantastically !!!!!!! LOL.. could that be a reason I don't like it?:)) Ophelia |
human urine as fertiliser
My grandmother won prizes for her tomatoes which were watered with urine
from her 'potty' (pre-war) but do not know how much the dilution was, probably just topped up the potty with water! Would not use solids though. Very particular was granny. Best wishes, Jeffery. This message has been scanned by Norton Antivirus 2003. "ken cohen" wrote in message om... On our allotment there is no functioning toilet, and my thoughts have recently turned to the topic of composting human manure. I've been checking out various things on the internet, and composting human faeces seems to be fraught with all kinds of difficulties. But some people are suggesting that it makes a lot of sense to focus more on keeping urine separate from faeces, and using it as a rich bacteria-free source of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Ken Cohen |
human urine as fertiliser
"ken cohen" wrote in message om... On our allotment there is no functioning toilet, and my thoughts have recently turned to the topic of composting human manure. I've been checking out various things on the internet, and composting human faeces seems to be fraught with all kinds of difficulties. But some people are suggesting that it makes a lot of sense to focus more on keeping urine separate from faeces, and using it as a rich bacteria-free source of nitrogen, pottasium and phosphorus. You need to dilute it with water (one suggestion was 1:8) before it is usable. But is it then usable immediately? Anyone tried it? Isn't there going to be a serious problem with smell? Are there any legal issues to be considered? Ken Cohen There may be some issues to consider when applying this 'compost activator' directly in very frosty conditions. ;-) mark b |
human urine as fertiliser
There may be some issues to consider when applying this 'compost activator' directly in very frosty conditions. ;-) Good point. Or in daylight when the neighbours are around. Mary mark b |
human urine as fertiliser
"ken cohen" wrote in message om... On our allotment there is no functioning toilet, and my thoughts have recently turned to the topic of composting human manure. I've been checking out various things on the internet, and composting human faeces seems to be fraught with all kinds of difficulties. But some people are suggesting that it makes a lot of sense to focus more on keeping urine separate from faeces, and using it as a rich bacteria-free source of nitrogen, pottasium and phosphorus. You need to dilute it with water (one suggestion was 1:8) before it is usable. But is it then usable immediately? Anyone tried it? Isn't there going to be a serious problem with smell? Are there any legal issues to be considered? Ken Cohen There may be some issues to consider when applying this 'compost activator' directly in very frosty conditions. ;-) mark b |
human urine as fertiliser
There may be some issues to consider when applying this 'compost activator' directly in very frosty conditions. ;-) Good point. Or in daylight when the neighbours are around. Mary mark b |
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