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I contacted a local mulch and soil company to inquire about manure. They sold a product called either technigrow or technagrow. They stated that it was processed human waste and that they delivered it regularly to customers for their gardens. I believe I've seen and smelled this before, and it looks like manure. Does anyone know the value or the dangers of using this in my patch?

3/31/2004 6:07:07 PM

Massillon, Ohio

we call it 'techni people poop' at work ..LOL ...but that is all i know about it

3/31/2004 9:01:32 PM

Montoursville, PA

I suspect I will get poo pawed for saying this but....I do not like the idea of trusting the "corporate" or "public servents" sincerity, of exactness, to the absolute proper handling, of human wastes. I would not take it if you hauled it and applied it to my patch for free.

3/31/2004 9:47:54 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

I would first check to see it they have a website & gather as much info as possible. Processing info & analysis of the finsihed product. If it's done right there is nothing wrong with using this.

Depending on how it is made, Tagro is a similar product used in the greater Seattle / Tacoma area. Stan uses this in his patch to cover his vines has had good results.

3/31/2004 10:28:06 PM

the thought of that makes my stomach turn. humans eat everything. the idea of grass and grain produced cow poop is a lot more appealing to me.

3/31/2004 10:36:43 PM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

guys the biggest tomatoes i ever say grown were grown in human poop at a local waste treatment plant they grow them there each year nice big red healthy looking i guess though this could be why i dont eat tomatoes just the thought of using human poop is to weird ill stay in surch of the golden cow poop or horse poop myself!!!!!!!!!!!!burrhead

4/1/2004 12:46:16 AM

Norton, MA

I used a similar product last year. The guy at Home Depot gave it to me when I asked for very high nitrogen fertilizer. He said "all it is is poop from Michigan". DON'T USE IT UNLESS YOU ARE TILLING IT IN. Mine came in granular form all dried about a quarter inch long. EVERY leaf that I somehow put one pellet on burned from where I had dropped the pellet and extended all the way out. Mine was 0-60-0. Alex.

4/1/2004 6:23:54 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Alex, 0-60-0? That's 60% Phosphorus. No Nitrogen at all.
Straight poop without any other compost is usually 6-2-0.
Watch those Depot guys. Last week they were baggers at the grocery store.

Processed human tankage is very controversial. Not so much because of what we eat. But rather the metals & other stuff that ends up in most municipal sewers. Big cities have manufacturing. They sometimes have "escapes". Have you ever washed a paint brush in the sink? Nuff said.

All that aside, there are some processors who are doing a very good job creating quality materials. Some are much better than even a good backyard composter. Profits drive technology & these folks lives depend on getting their "poop" together & delivering quality ot no one will buy.

Request a written purity report from a third party independant testing lab. They all have them. Then obtain a sample & have it tested on your own. Compare the results. If all goes well then we're on our way.

I did this with the contractor who serves SE New York. The material they produce is awesome in nutrition & very very clean. But they have no one stocking their material in this area & won't ship me less than 18 tons unless I find a home for the other half. Even then the freight company will impose a split drop surcharge.

Steve

4/1/2004 8:02:20 AM

Indiana

They call it envirosoil here, you can get as much as you want for free and i think they will deliver it for free. The thought of using it has crossed my mind. If i had a separate patch from the garden that i also grow my veggies in i would try it. It is not really human waste anymore it is primarily the biomass of the bacteria that broke down the waste. Still might be some nasty stuff in it????
Steve

4/1/2004 8:44:17 AM

Puyallup, WA

Check this out: http://www.ci.tacoma.wa.us/tagro/

4/3/2004 8:48:28 AM

Thanks for the link Stan. It looks like a very similar product. I have not been able to find any info on technigrow anywhere. The best that I could come up with was what little info the landscape suppliers had. I was told not to use it due to the lead, and other trace elements found in it. Like tagro it comes from a waste water treatment plant in Akron. I think I'll stick to horse manure and other organics!

4/3/2004 5:48:41 PM

Kenyon, Mn.

Sounds Like CRAP to me! I'm with Doc, better yet, I wouldn't even want it at my closet neighbors garden(1/2 mile away)
Years ago, in the back to nature movement, I had a composting toilet, the results were "supposed" to be usuable , It looked like real good S%&@, but If I wouldn't use my waste, why would YOU or anyone use the waste from an entire city filled with junkies,whores, aids,etc., not to name a whole S^*#load of unknown chemicals

4/5/2004 7:14:55 AM

Well Mr. Bumpy sure paints a vivid picture in my head. Interesting perspective, but I do agree. Thanks, Tony

4/5/2004 8:28:51 PM