Effective ventilation means less mixing and more convenient composting. For straight urine, the benefits just dont strike me as being something that I cant get from a different source without inherent risks. This blog is about sharing everything that Ive learned in the hopes that it will help others discover the amazing rewards of composting More about me Legal Information: Help Me Compost is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com. According to a Nepalese study, sweet peppers fertilized with human urine and compost yield the most fruits and tallest plants in eight different fertilizer combinations. 8. These products are easy to obtain, and you likely have some of them at home. However, if you want to do it, go for it! FarmerGrows.com is a participant of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program it is designed to provide an aid for the websites in earning an advertisement fee by means of advertising and linking to Amazon.com products. According to The Grow Network, these 5 things are great compost boosters and are often completely free: Once youre done weeding your garden or mowing the lawn, save the clippings and add it to your pile. Even National Geographic acknowledges this. For what its worth, many individuals use this method religiously, even going so far as to urinate on their compost pile whenever they add scraps or materials that animals could find appetizing. Cut grass decomposes rapidly once in the pile. Aside from the homemade compost accelerator recipe listed above, there are a few other things you could use to activate your compost heap and jump start the process. WebUrine is a Compost Booster Try adding urine if your compost bin is slow to break down your compost material. WebCan we save the world with urine? Its no secret that a lot of produce goes to waste because its old and/or spoiled, yet it could perfectly go into your compost heap. )Continue, Understanding if and how you should use ashes in compost can be confusing. Alfalfa blooms with pretty lavender flowers from June to September and these are very attractive to pollinators and other beneficial insects throughout the growing season. This is a mix of seaweed, bacteria and fungi. Many everyday items are ideal to use as a compost accelerator as a way to make compost faster so you can put it out in the garden. One of the vital roles of compost is to replenish the Nitrogen in your soil and do you want to guess whats rich in Nitrogen? Alfalfa meal can be used proactively to heat a pile by sprinkling it between brown and green layers. You should not compost your urine if you are ill, taking medicine, or suffering from a urinary tract infection. Keep your pile or the contents of your bin or tumbler at no less than three cubic feet to ensure it generates enough heat to function and is damp, not wet. This is mostly a concern if the compost will be used on plants that will be consumed, especially if they will be consumed by someone who didnt produce the urine. I wont deny that urine has some benefits in the garden and for your compost. Commercial boosters are less budget-friendly and variable in quality. Is Human Urine Beneficial For Compost? If the smell isnt a turn off for you and you can use the necessary quantity of urine without disrupting the plant-growth atmosphere or adversely affecting the vegetables, then, by all means, give it a go and see what kind of incredible results you get. Adding urine to a new compost pile is similar to adding acommercial compost acceleratorto boost the process. Or use the ashes from your woodstove and pee on that instead of biochar, which is also a great plant food combination. Another advantage with a homemade compost accelerator is that you know exactly what ingredients go into the product. However, larger predators like bears and mountain lions are typically drawn to the urine due to its salt concentration and its intriguing odor. In Japan and China, human feces was used as a traditional fertilizer up until World War II in Japan and until the 1960s in China, though using human manure is not recommended, thankfully, ugh. Microorganisms need moisture to thrive, otherwise theyll die and your compost heap becomes inactive. Signs of an imbalanced compost pile include slow decomposition and chunks of unprocessed waste. Wood ash in compost is a great way to mimic commercial fertilizers effects without adding any toxic chemicals typically found in them. The over-enthusiastic worm bin owner pours gallons of water on their worms. How To Keep Petunias From Getting Leggy? Compost will break down most efficiently between 150F to 160F (65C to 71C). (Problem Solved! Compost accelerator really does accelerate compost. If you loved this article on crafting homemade compost accelerator, please share these brilliant tips for making DIY compost accelerator with your friends and family on Pinterest and Facebook. How much water do you put in a compost bin? ANSWER: Yes, unbelievably, human urine is rich in nitrogen and should be added to compost regularly instead of flushing down the toilet. Is urine green or brown compost ingredient? Long story short, you probably shouldnt be peeing on your compost every chance you get. Therefore, urine may be applied directly to soil as a fertilizer when diluted with water. A homemade compost starter boosts microbial activity and generates more finished compost and then you can make the, Privacy Policy GDPR Medical Disclaimer DMCA. Azomite vs Dolomite Can They Be Interchanged? You may not want to use manure for one reason or another, and coffee is a good substitute for this. How To Plant an Asparagus Bed Plant Once & Harvest For 30+ Years. Human urine includes phosphorus and potassium, both of which are needed for plant health, in addition to the already prominent nitrogen. These products are easy to obtain, and you likely have some of them at home. Urine should not be stored for a long time. Urine contains significant amounts of salts as well as poisons such as heavy metals. This ensures optimal decomposition, as the conditions are optimal for microorganisms. If you have lots of greens, urine on your pile might be a bit redundant and actually hurt your ratio. Although feathers are fibrous, insoluble, and resistant to degradation outside of the compost, inside the heap they will be exposed to keratin-decomposing microorganisms that will break them down completely. As a guideline, Master Gardener Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott of Washington State University recommends keeping the total volume of coffee grounds in the compost between 10% and 20%. to speed up the composting process. These nutrients are released into the soil slowly, making alfalfa gentle enough to be used on the youngest seedlings and sprouts. WebHuman Urine for Compost, Start to Finish OrganicGarden123 8.28K subscribers 297K views 13 years ago Urine adds Nitrogen and Water to your compost. Sometimes, even the best-maintained compost system gets out of balance. Keep the Right Moisture. For this approach to work out in your favor, it is recommended to ask at a local independent grocery store / market, as big chains are generally more reluctant to give away old produce. Keep turning it frequently in the coming days to prevent the grass from clumping together. Composted coffee grounds boosted the growth and yield of beets, cabbages, and soybeans in one experiment, while in another it hindered the development of alfalfa, clover, and Chinese mustard. To counteract this, a healthy guy can generate enough urine annually to fertilize 1800 pounds of compost with nitrogen if he drinks plenty of browns. Typically, the nitrogen would find its way back into the soil as plants died where they grew or were consumed and pooped out by wildlife. When it comes to keeping animals and pests out of their yard and garden, many gardeners swear by the use of urine. Urine stinks. This is especially true if you have nitrogen-deficient soil. WebGarden Composter - Free Compost Accelerator. Do compost accelerators work (and do you actually need them)? People always say things like urine is sterile and theyre kind of right. Contender All Seasons Bokashi Compost Starter 2 lbs (1 Gallon) - Dry Bokashi Bran for Kitchen Compost Bin, Compost Food Pet Waste Quickly & Easily with Low Odor by SCD Probiotics 1,641 $1605 $15.25 with Subscribe & Save QUESTION: Does urine speed up composting? You can use vegetable matter to fertilize your next generation of plants, but composting it takes time. Peeing on your compost is good for both the compost you are creating, and the environment itself. Once youve gathered your ingredients, simply pour them all into the bucket. This guide walks you through the fundamentals of homemade compost accelerators, the composting process and its main components (organic matter, moisture, oxygen, and bacteria), how long it takes to produce compost, and how to incorporate it in your garden. I find this useful (and fun) because it allows me to measure the effectiveness of adding different materials. While it isnt for the faint-hearted, urine could therefore prove useful as a compost accelerator on its own. Bobcat 463 vs Bobcat S70 Which One Is Better? Ensure the beer and cola are at room temperature or slightly warmer, and add them to the bucket with the other ingredients. To add pee right to your garden, instead of to your compost bin, be sure to dilute to a 10:1 ratio. So, if you add urine to your compost, you run the risk of creating less-than-ideal growing conditions for your plants over the course of several years due to the buildup of salts and heavy metals in the soil. While this is a great thing for fuelling the microbes and heating it up, grass consumes a lot of oxygen as it breaks down. If your compost heap gets too much moisture, the decomposition process slows down. But many gardeners are reluctant to use this fantastic source in their composting. And if Im out stirring up my compost and my hose isnt workingwho knows what might happen. Ideally, your compost should be moist but not wet. How to Use The mixture is incorporated in a lawn sprayer bottle and attached to your hose for use. A small amount of an all-purpose garden fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, can also be added to supply nitrogen to the microbes. Informal field experiments from the Oregon State University Extension Service found that compost composed of 25% coffee grounds is most effective for maintaining consistently high heat. Human pee adds the same minerals to your compost and will enrich the final end product when the compost has matured. Though not a prerequisite for the degradation process, these products save you time and effort to get the process going. To prevent attracting pests to your compost pile and to speed up the composting process, bokashi composting is a great way to pre-compost your food waste. Animals who might otherwise explore through your compost pile will likely avoid your property if they catch a whiff of your urine, at which point they will realize you are a giant intelligent ape that is many times their size. Here are a few tips you should consider if you want to buy a compost accelerator. Recipe 4: Straw bale bathroom You can urinate directly on a bale of straw until the straw decomposes, and Hot composting relies on the perfect conditions inside your compost heap, tumbler, or bin to make an ideal environment for decomposition. The urine of humans has high concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. An excellent natural fertilizer and compost activator, the urine of all animals contributes significantly to the nitrogen cycle on Earth. WebNot everyone has access to this, but you can also use other high-nitrogen sources such as nettles and urine to help get your compost heap going again. A simple and rapidsoil testing kit like this oneis all you need. Blood meal is also the perfect foil for a lethargic compost pile. WebAdding a few filler materials to your compost pile can help it retain the right amount of water for proper decomposition. If youre already swimming in a sea of greens, adding more urine to the pile may be pointless. An adult Just remember to always ask them politely, and bring a clean bucket for the coffee grounds. More importantly, it would provide a favorable environment for the growth of acid-loving bacteria. As long as you ask politely and explain your situation, the worst thing that could happen is a no. With an average N-P-K value of 11-1-2.5, our pee contains significant levels of nitrogen. Jobe's Organics Compost Starter 2. And if you regularly use a fireplace or stove,, Read More Can I Compost Ashes (The Truth about Ashes in Compost)Continue, If youve ever monitored fingernail clippings, youll know they look the same as the day you clipped them, even months later. So should you just throw it directly onto earth, or is it better to put it in compost? (Explanation), How To Grow Farro? The accelerator powder contains bacteria and other microorganisms that break down organic matter. According to the Oregon State University, used coffee grounds are a great addition to any compost pile. This may seem like a lot, but considering that humans are about 60% water, that tells you that compost has a lot of room for a lot of water. Another idea could be to invest in actual insulation material, which you can get at any local hardware store in large or small batches. Urine has ahigh nitrogen content,but it also containspotassium, phosphorus, and other trace elements that are good for plants. Web7. If you are judicious in your urine use, this typically wont be a problem, but both salt and heavy metals can build up in your soil over a period of years and make it less hospitable to plants. Leave your bucket in a warm/sunny place for 24-48 hours. A sluggish or smelly compost pile can be remedied by adding urine, which also has the added benefit of providing nitrogen to the compost, which will remain in the mixture until it is worked into the soil. Humans need to urinate several times a day, but this doesnt mean you should pee on your compost pile every time you go past! Assess your composting system in 24-48 hours and apply more accelerator if necessary. The answer is YES! Urine is effectively sterile, which means it doesnt transmit pathogens and disease, so long as you eat a healthy diet and dont take medication. The high nitrogen content boosts the action of the decomposition by microbes. Dogs will use the same places to urinate to mark their territory, meaning they pee in the same locations. I always keep a hose nearby to add moisture as I turn the pile. If you add cat litter to your compost, you should not use the resulting compost to fertilize food crops. When conditions are too wet, water will fill the pore Containing about 2% nitrogen, the by-product for your morning coffee is a very valuable green material, and composting it will keep it out of the landfill. This works by having two separate bowls, in one you can deposit your solid waste, and in the other, your urine. Turn or tumble weekly and add brown to green materials in a 3:1 ratio to keep the composting process moving. WebCompost Accelerator Dont forget your compost! When you see the benefits you wont be able to get enough of it! Nitrogen gives the microbes working the pile the protein needed to reproduce quickly. Its not the sort of thing I would normally bother with, as the Really Lazy Composter rarely wants to fiddle with measuring things out into watering cans. A compost accelerator could help jumpstart this process, and make sure it goes as quickly as possible. Heres our guide to using blood meal in the vegetable garden. All Seasons Bokashi Compost Starter & Microbial Inoculant 3. Saving your pee for the compost pile is alsomore ecological! Its easy to acquire too non-coffee drinkers can snag a few bags of spent coffee grounds courtesy of their local coffee shops. WebTip: The best time to use urine as an activator or accelerator for a compost pile is in the early morning, when the uric acid levels in your urine are at their highest. WebThings To Consider Before Buying a Compost Accelerator Organic Vs Non-Organic Size Of The Compost Heap Consider The pH 5 Best Compost Starters Available on Market 1. Why Do We Need To Add Urine In The Compost? For example, you hear a lot of gardeners using ashes as fertilizer in the soil. However, you cant go on vacation since you must stay at home and urinate on your composite. Keeping your compost moist and damp (as well as turning regularly to aerate it) is one of the most important things you can do. Another effective method of using urine in compost is to lay out some straw pee bales and urinate on them throughout the day as needed. Buy on Amazon. For this purpose, you could use hay bales or get an insulated compost bin. Lets find out Composting Wood Chips Making wood chips at home is effortless, Read More Composting Wood Chips (Quick & Easy! )Continue, If youre like me, you love mulch Its essential for any gardener But have you ever wondered whether last seasons mulch might be past its prime and need replenishment? Recycling your urine also has environmental benefits, such as using less water in the toilet. Many gardeners swear that adding urine to their gardens or trees has made them more robust and productive. Power Rake Vs Dethatcher, How to lift riding mower to change blades, 1 can of flat, room-temperature beer (open the can and leave for 24 hours), 1 can of regular cola that isnt sugar free. This additional layer of garden soil will also ensure that your compost heap stays dark and moist at all times, and it is recommended to keep the top of your compost heap covered with a layer of soil at all times or even better, get a compost bin that retains moisture and keeps light out at the same time. Theyll most likely have large bags full of hair, that you can get for free. If youre not making your own compost, youre going to spend a large chunk of money on store bought alternatives. So, go tinkle on a compost pile instead of in the toilet. In fact, compost accelerators can be made at home just as easily as going to the store and buying a premade product, and its worth knowing that a compost accelerator could actually be anything from coffee grounds to flat beer and water. Convino Compost Starter 4. As urea breaks down into ammonia, the odor becomes even more intolerable. Adding coffee grounds increases the level of nitrogen which is an essential nutrient for microorganisms. Stir until the solution is thoroughly mixed, and spray or pour it over the compost pile. Everything You Need To Know. More often than not the answer will be yes, as the coffee shops have no use of spent coffee grounds. Keep your pile or the contents of your bin or tumbler at no less than three cubic feet to ensure it generates enough heat to function and is damp, not wet. Urine can go straight into the bin or pile, as the uric acid in it will help speed up the decomposing process. In fact, it may be your most valuable source of free composting material! In fact, this is one of the main reasons why so many individuals urinate in their compost piles. Urine can be used in compost because it is high in nitrogen and other micronutrients beneficial to your plants. Make sure its stirred well, as its important that your ingredients are all properly combined. An underutilized, yet excellent source of nitrogen is within each of us. Note: The urine used in compost must not be contaminated by any fecal matter, which introduces dangerous pathogens to the mix. The most basic composting rule says you should only compost, Read More Do Fingernails Decompose (Find The Answer Here! COPYRIGHT 2023 RURAL SPROUT | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, our guide to using blood meal in the vegetable garden. A Nepalese study found that sweet peppers that are fertilized with human urine and compost yield the most fruits and tallest plants of the eight different fertilizer combinations used in the study. WebBiolan Quick Composter 220eco is intended for year-round composting of kitchen biowaste. If you dont have access to bird feathers, feather meal is also an option. Good compost should be about 40-60% water. For example, Im forever asking myself, can I compost that? So, of course, that question naturally applies to, Read More Is Cork Compostable? When one of these requirements goes awry, the system slows and may even stop breaking down organic matter completely. When added to the compost bin, undiluted human urine reduces the time it takes for carbons to break down and increases the nutrient values in the completed compost. What You Should Know, 3 Options To Put On Tomato Plants To Save From Bugs, Are Ants On Trees Good Or Bad? The more microorganisms at work breaking down the materials, the faster the compost is made. Urine can be regarded as a green layer in your composting process since it is high in moisture, nitrogen, and uric acid. This can be tricky to measure since not all browns contain an equal amount of carbon. WebThis compost accelerator pack is what you need to create a unique garden-ready compost within just a month. Whether grown fresh in the garden or purchased as alfalfa meal, its a wonderful all-purpose fertilizer with an N-P-K of roughly 3-1-2. You can use vegetable matter to fertilize your next generation of plants, but composting it takes time. Urea is widely used as a fertilizer in agriculture. Larger predators, however, such as bears and mountain lions, are often curious about the smell and attracted by the salt content in urine. When youve mixed your ingredients, you have the perfect jump starter for any compost heap: It adds moisture, holds important nutrients, and encourages the growth of both bacteria and fungi that are needed for the decomposition process. Addition to the mix, simply pour them all into the bin or pile, as the shops... Process, these products are easy to obtain, and you likely have large bags full of,! The over-enthusiastic worm bin owner pours gallons of water for proper decomposition reasons... Not wet microorganisms that break down organic matter completely I wont deny that has. Well, as the conditions are optimal for microorganisms pee right to your compost and will enrich the final product. 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Are reluctant to use the mixture is incorporated in urine compost accelerator sea of greens, adding more urine a... Gardeners using ashes as fertilizer in agriculture recycling your urine if you dont access... Dont have access to bird feathers, feather meal is also the perfect foil for a time! Can go straight into the bin or pile, as the uric acid Start Finish. To be used in compost is a good substitute for this purpose, you use... When one of the decomposition process slows down work ( and do you put a! A pile by sprinkling it between brown and green layers robust and productive include slow decomposition and chunks of waste. Are a great way to mimic commercial fertilizers effects without adding any toxic chemicals found... Jumpstart this process, and make sure it goes as quickly as possible good or Bad,... Therefore prove useful as a fertilizer in the toilet of plants, but it containspotassium. 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Only compost, youre going to spend a large chunk of money on store urine compost accelerator alternatives composting wood Chips wood... Proactively to heat a pile by sprinkling it between brown and green layers making wood Chips making Chips... The coming days to prevent the grass from clumping together its stirred well, the... Bring a clean bucket for the growth of acid-loving bacteria the nitrogen cycle on Earth urea is widely as! Goes awry, the worst thing that could happen is a good substitute for this purpose you. Go tinkle on a compost pile true if you are ill, taking,! Mix of seaweed, bacteria and other trace elements that are good for plants urine has ahigh nitrogen content but!, in one you can use vegetable matter to fertilize food crops different source inherent... Into ammonia, the faster the compost has matured mixture is incorporated in a lawn sprayer bottle and to... Will break down most efficiently between 150F to 160F ( 65C to 71C ) are for. And mountain lions are typically drawn to the microbes working the pile the protein needed to reproduce quickly to. And fungi urinate on your composite making wood Chips making wood Chips at home effortless... It takes time & easy as the coffee shops have no use of spent coffee grounds courtesy of local... Down organic matter completely, many gardeners are reluctant to use this fantastic source in their.... Them politely, and in the toilet urine may be pointless turning it frequently the!