Well, I believe in the need for recycling at all levels if human society wants to sustain, so when i was offered soil from recycled human waste, I thought I'd give it a go. The problem is, nothing is growing in it. Apparently it is composted and then thoroughy heat treated and terilised, and it looks like it has a fair amount of fine wood fiber/ chip in it. One of my initial concerns wasn't the fact it is s***, in a favourable light it's called manure (admitedly mostly from herbivores). My biggest worry was all the stuff people eat that they call food, and the accumulative build up of toxins in the food chain finding it's way into my vege patch. (vegetarian corpses break down more quickly than omnivore corpses. Generally speaking, people who are veg tend to adopt other healthier lifestyle and dietary practices). But would this be enough to stop my vegies growing? I suspect what is really going on is, due to extreme soil sterilsation, there is an extreme lack of microbial activity so vital in healthy soil and hence soil biology and nutrient availability, etc is all gone awol. I had added compost on planting but because I was assured it was so rich in organic matter and nutrient, I didn't go crazy like I normally would. I'm going to write off this seasons' vegies planted in it and dig in a crapload of compost and throw some slaters and worms in after a while etc Has anyone else had any experiences with this stuff? cheers from the brombear
Hi Brombear, I remember reading somewhere that it was recommended that people growing food avoid using treated human waste due to the high levels of antibiotics and toxins contained therein. Someone else here may be able to shed some light on the matter, but I'd avoid it. Probably too late now, but the idea of adding heaps of compost and worms etc. can only help. Mulch on top would help too. Good luck, Deb
I've heard that you should never use the waste from any meat eating animal...that includes humans. Because of possible cancer causing chemicals that are in the waste and would be taken up by the plants, then you have residuals from the meds and other chemicals humans take that could be there. But then I have read that as long as it is treated much the same way a waste treatment plant does, it might be safe.
interesting subject brombear! i have been thinking about looking into this book called 'The Humanure Handbook... http://www.humanurehandbook.com/ lots of good info there. not sure why your plants aren't growing in it. like you said, it could be lack of microbial activity. have you hear about EM (effective microorganisms) and BIM (benificial indigenous microorganisms)? you can make your own and apply them to the soil to improve it. i have experimented with the EM from rice wash watr and have had great success with container plants as well aas garden plants. here's some links with info... http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/20040401/Hamilton http://www.envismadrasuniv.org/pdf/em.pdf http://www.scribd.com/doc/11062537/Indi ... -Nutrients
thanks everyone and especially bunkie- it will be very interesting to see what reseacrh is being done out there as even though it is potentially a cesspool of toxic waste (antibiotics, heavy metals etc) the current spread of the human race has to get savvy about resources and recycling. I might try growing some aquatic reeds in it for a while as they are effective detoxifiers of such stuffs. cheers! the bear, thebarebear, and nothing barethebear
I don't know about where you live, but here in the U.S. I would never use it. Here's an exert from a book that tells a lot about it. http://www.ejnet.org/sludge/sludge.html
i have read some horrid stuff, confirming the worst of my fears about biosolids. Thanks all! better knowledgable than diseased and toxic. cheers, a bear
