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Nicholls Georgia

does any one know the break down of human wast compost and is it any good a few years ago my grand farther grow a big field pumpkin on the stuff and last year my bp of 506 grew from the stuff any help would be great thanks

10/21/2007 3:42:47 PM

addison Il

There is a grower on this site by the name of Sweden-Gustavsson in his diary he talks about using human waste in his patch during the winter and such you might want to contact him since from what I have seen hes the only grower that actually admits to peein in his patch. He grows big so something must be working for him.

10/21/2007 7:12:42 PM

Farmington, Utah

I don't know how they process sewage sludge there. Her they recommend small amounts only and that is when it is mixed with yard refuge compost. They are trying how to keep the high metals out of it. As to date here the metals are still high so they recommend it in small amouts and not as much as a soil conditioner. I did use it one year, yard refuse compsot and treated sludge mix, in a large amount and it stunted my plants and the fruit that they produced. Hope this helps.

10/21/2007 8:12:03 PM

Somerset,Ky

Don't use it !

10/21/2007 8:28:09 PM

Somers, CT

If you are interested in something a little cleaner look into Miloraninte.

10/21/2007 8:54:59 PM

Somers, CT

If you are interested in something a little cleaner look into Miloraninte.

10/21/2007 8:55:00 PM

Minnesota

If you use it don't eat the pumpkin, when I was in korea for the army they said don't eat the fruit or vegetables grown by the locals they use human waste for fertilizer, it is suppose to make you sick.

10/21/2007 9:58:55 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Millorginite analysis is 6-2-0 - not a desirable ratio for pumpkins but....soil test will tell.

10/21/2007 10:41:28 PM

Wood River, IL (kennyw_49@yahoo.com)

Anybody ever heard of Montezuma's Revenge, when traveling to Mexico. That's the reason you get it! Fertilizer of choice, don't eat any fruits or vegies that can't be skinned or pealed.

10/22/2007 5:59:39 AM

Georgia

I agree with my John dont use it. Theres plenty of horse and cow waste to go around much safer and just better.

10/22/2007 9:12:55 AM

southwest MO

There are actually 2 different threads here: One deals with composting human waste and one deals with "bio-solids". 2 different things.
Bio-solids are actually dead bugs. Think of it in terms of composting in the water. There are many variables that influence the final product based on the initial product. In typical fashion there is no ressemblance of the original product (just like when you compost something). They typicly press the water out to make it easier to handle. Then they compost it, say 2 parts bio-solids to 5 parts shreaded yard waste. It is then heated to x temp. for x days to reduce vectors...
Now, depending on where you get it (municipality) it can be a great long term soil conditioning tool. It is very high in humus...It can also however be high in salts... Just ask for the analysis... Many are no higher in heavy metals than any other ammendments we use. Just like with the other ammendments we use the metals are locked up very tight and will never even become avalible to the plants. Run a total Metals analysis on cow or chicken manure and see for yourself. Better yet run a test on your native soil... You may be suprised to see whats there naturally. I know this can be a hot button issue and am just throwing this out there for thought. Like I say I'm not advocating anything here. Alot of people just seem to be in the dark on this issue. Feel free to cream the use of biosolids... There are as many against it as for it. Just know what it is your creaming.

10/22/2007 10:33:05 AM

Ohio

In Ohio, sewage sludge is used for reclaiming coal mine land by several companies; and with good results.

10/22/2007 2:32:52 PM

Ohio

Let me add that these sites are in very isolated areas.

10/22/2007 2:33:54 PM

North Smithfield, RI USA

You are what you eat but the by-product may be less than what comes from farm animals !!! If P in the patch is your thing then try to miss the leaves!

10/22/2007 6:06:59 PM

Southern Sweden

I have followed your discussion, and unfortunately most people use biological human urin and feces in the wrong way when fertilizer vegetables. Most people water with human urine directly on the top of the soil and the vegetables and sometimes also on the leaves, which is wrong. No wonder they have a great risk of getting sick when eating vegetables fertilized this way! But in my case I put the urine and feces deep in the soil during fall, winter and early spring. Note that I never put it on the top of the soil! If I use urine and feces in the growing season, I use it to deep water with, in tubes put in drilled holes in the soil. The tubes are placed to the outer parts of the root systems (not too close to the roots). This way, thee roots can choose just how much nutrience they want; roots can ”smell” the nutrience, and entice the roots to find it. When I use kitchen and garden garbage waste I always put it into drilled holes (soilization) mixed whith soil and water or urine, and become like nutrinece pillars. On the top I put soil only. These nutrient pillars are also water-keeping and give away the nutrience during a long time. The diameter of the drill I use is 9” or 11”. You could call my pumpkin patch a chess board, since my patch is divided into modules (about 1x1 foot)just like a big chess board. In every second module I place a nutrience pillar, and in every other second module I just loosen up the soil with my soildrill. The corners of the modules I loosen with a spade. I drill about 3 feet deep in the center of the patch where the stump is and also along the main vine. At the side vines I drill them about 1-2 feet deep. Under the stump only good loose topsoil. Every year I try to drill a little deeper.

10/24/2007 6:22:30 AM

Southern Sweden

It is remarkable what a misconception is spread about the use of human urine and feces; a lot of people seem to think that it is unhealthy to use human urine and feces as fertilizers. Do we eat food of lesser quality than animals, or what?? Are the digestive and break down processes in humans stomach so much worse than in animals? I seldom get sick, but if I would be, and if I would have to use antibiotics, then i would of course not use the urine and feces to fertilize with during that time. And by the way, I don’t eat much salt, I try to avoid it both for my own sake and for my plants. I have used my urine in my garden as long as can remeber.

10/24/2007 9:13:51 AM

Dillsburg, PA

I saw a guy squating in his patch the other day. Couldn't figure out what he was doing. After a few minutes he started to pick flowers and tear them up. Very weird.

10/24/2007 11:59:32 AM