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Re: Urine in compost heaps.

Square Foot Gardening List - http://myweb.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

John Harris wrote:

>Many thanks for the detailed description of it's use.

You're most welcome.

>Without going into
>great detail on such a personal subject I reckon I produce about 2 pints per
>24 hours, can I therefore use that amount daily through the winter or can
>one overdose a compost heap which is 6 foot by 3 foot by 5 foot tall and
>absolutely packed with cardboard, kitchen waste, newspaper, horse manure and
>stable waste and garden green refuse.

That's 90 cub ft, nearly two tons, and you'd be putting maybe 30 
gallons of urine in it, albeit progressively, which is about 5% by 
volume. It depends on a lot of things - the existing moisture content 
(should be 60-70%), the existing C:N ratio (should be about 30:1), 
whether it's evenly mixed, whether it's on the ground, whether it's 
covered, what kind of winter you have (wet or freezing? - uh, Norfolk 
freezes, right?)... In other words, I dunno! But it's unlikely to 
spread evenly through the pile, even if it's all shredded and 
thoroughly mixed. Which may or may not matter. Will you be adding to 
the heap through the winter? I think I'd say, Sod the variables, just 
go ahead and do it.

>Apologies to the list if I seem to be labouring the point, but am reluctant
>to waste such a valuable commodity and gee it don't half save on fresh water
>through the closet.

I agree absolutely. Once you're composting it you'll start seeing 
anything else as plain immoral.

This is from "An Agricultural Testament" by Sir Albert Howard, the 
founder of organic farming movement: "The urine of animals. The key 
substance in the manufacture of humus from vegetable wastes is 
urine--the drainage of the active cells and glands of the animal. It 
contains in a soluble and balanced form all the nitrogen and 
minerals, and in all probability the accessory growth-substances as 
well, needed for the work of the fungi and bacteria which break down 
the various forms of cellulose--the first step in the synthesis of 
humus. It carries in all probability every raw material, known and 
unknown, discovered and undiscovered, needed in the building up of a 
fertile soil. Much of this vital substance for restoring soil 
fertility is either wasted or only imperfectly utilized. This fact 
alone would explain the disintegration of the agriculture of the 
West."

He has much more to say about it.

This might interest you:
http://journeytoforever.org//humanure.html

The most wasteful piece of equipment ever devised -- the flush toilet.

"Nearly a third of all household drinking water in the US is used to 
flush toilets" -- Joseph Jenkins, "The Humanure Handbook"

"The function of all organic matter, animal and vegetable, is to 
maintain the fertility of the soil" -- J.C. Wylie, "The Wastes of 
Civilization"

And much more...

Best wishes

Keith Addison
Journey to Forever
Handmade Projects
Tokyo
http://journeytoforever.org/


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