The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Growing => Gardens => Topic started by: suziequeue on April 29, 2011, 12:18:52 pm
-
I hear alot of snippets about the difference between girls' and boys' wee when it comes to composting.
Is there a definitive answer?
-
Yes ...... and er no ....
male pee is said to be less acidic than female pee , and dependent on certain things, age among them ,women have more hormones in their pee than men .
There is also the problem of drugs , whether prescribed or other varieties , the pill etc . These can cause very serious problems if not treated with care .
But all things being ok , you can use both , you may just have to adjust accordingly for each type if one predominates .
It was always said that the best pee to use was male pee , collected from pubs !!! Piss pots were always outside pubs years ago , before my time I may add , although they would have been handy at times !!, and collected and used for many different purposes .
A handy book is on the link below :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1903998484/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d1_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=19HE9C1JFKXTKDMWQF1Q&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1903998484/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d1_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=19HE9C1JFKXTKDMWQF1Q&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294)
cheers
Russ
-
FANTASTIC Rustyme
I bought a copy without a backward glance.
I can think of at least five people to give it to for CHristmas.
Thanks :-)
Fortunately I am not on any medication or contraceptives.
-
And male pee keeps the foxes away too ;)
-
no probs Suziequeue,
mind you go careful who you give a copy to , they may think you are taking the p*ss !!!
You may be interested in another book ( you may well not be too !!) .
http://humanurehandbook.com/contents.html (http://humanurehandbook.com/contents.html)
No need for explanations of the contents , but it is a very good book . It covers another part of the same thing you asked about really . The above link gives options for buying or reading online .
There is available , for free download , the 3rd edition of this book . It can be found here :
http://www.4shared.com/get/cUmoBxtU/0_The_Humanure_Handbook.html (http://www.4shared.com/get/cUmoBxtU/0_The_Humanure_Handbook.html)
You have to wait the 44 seconds before you can download it , but it downloads ok .
The first edition is available for free download also , I just can't find the link !!!
cheers
Russ
-
Thanks. I downloaded that.
It's quite long winded but good fun to read.
We are thinking of getting a composting loo so this book will be useful.
Susanna
-
OK, related question........ My compost heap is waaay closer than the inside loo when I'm out and about in the garden. The trouble is, I've been out and about in the garden an awful lot recently. Can my compost have too much of a good thing? ;D
-
Womble
We are in the same boat here ;D ;D ;D
I spent yesterday afternoon creating a sweet pea (ha ha - pea - geddit??) patch along one edge of the compost heap.
My feeling is that as long as the heap isn't smelling like a urinal then all is well.
-
it would all depend on numbers really .
If there is just a few people using it ...no problem . A working compost heap needs a lot of moisture and could easily cope with half a dozen people using it.
It must be a working compost heap though !! not one that is filed and finished working .
If there are loads of people using it ??? then just provide a straw bale , for the chaps and a bucket for the ladies ... apply as and when needed .
You can water it down too ... anything around 20-1 ratio of water to pee would be fine . This can then be used on your plants as a fertiliser , or to water the compost heap .
If you use a bucket , don't have it sitting around for too long in the summer , as you will just end up with ammonia and a bad stink !!!
Again ...an average compost heap can easily cope with a normal family using it during the day , as long as the compost heap has a good amount of material in it and is in use ... not in the standing waiting to be spread stage .
Just remember , be careful if anyone is on medication , the pill or takes drugs , family you will know about , others you may not !!
Salt may also be a problem if your family uses too much of it , or eats lots of ready meals or processed stuff in general . The reason being , the body chucks out most of the unwanted salt from the body in pee, but this would only be a problem with people on a very high salt intake .It would help keep the slugs away though !!!
cheers
Russ
-
Cheers Russ! 'Tis only me using the heap, so I shall pee freely and with a clear conscience! (unless the post-lady comes around the back again to find me for a signature like she did last week :o :dunce:)
-
:D :D :D :D
Did you sign on the BOTTOM line Womble???
-
and I bet she was saying , in her best country accent .... "will e be there I wonder " " I best have a wee look " !!!
cheers
Russ
-
Now its much easier for men, I would have to (1) climb onto the compost and (2) expose myself (3) try and avoid spillage!!! (change into wellies and not my cheap crocs otherwise, wet feet!!
An added note, people on things like Chemo or with infections, should NOT use thier pee, it is toxic!!
-
You need a shewee then -
http://www.shewee.com/newstore/ (http://www.shewee.com/newstore/)
-
Oh god - I had a shewee for mountaineering (when I used to do that sort of thing ::)).
You know - it took me AGES to train myself to pee standing up with my clothes still on :D :D
Very strange sensation.
Didn't feel comfortable at all.
Kept thinking it was going to spill over etc but - to give it its due - it never did.
-
I was thinking of getting one for when we go on long walks - the OH says I have a frogs bladder and rhinos kidneys ;D
-
Not sure why I don't go for long walks ina long skirt and wellies??? people would just think I am picking nettles like I usualy do ;)