It is best to dilute it at a 1:6 or 1:8 ratio. Finished compost with an excessively high salt content can be detrimental when added to your plants, causing the plants to lose health or die. 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. Adding urine to a new compost pile is similar to adding acommercial compost acceleratorto boost the process. These minerals have been proven to be the primary nutrients required for healthy plant growth, resulting in their addition to commercial fertilizers. If you have a lot of urine in your compost, it might not smell nice because of the ammonia. 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. WebUrine can act as a starter for a compost, encouraging the decomposition process, such as adding urine to a pile of leaves. All Seasons Bokashi Compost Starter & Microbial Inoculant 3. Though it might seem counterintuitive, urine is a free compost accelerator and works surprisingly well to stimulate the decomposition process. Aim for at least a 2:1 carbon-to-grass clippings ratio. This risk makes the method you collect the urine important when you intend to use it for composting. Useful Tips To Make Your Everyday Life Just A Bit Better. If you notice chunks of matter in your compost bin that arent decaying or your pile seems cold, try this simple compost booster to start the decomposition process. However, the verdict on whether or whether urine can effectively deter pests from your compost bin is still out on the table. It even has a chance of success occasionally. Too much urine can harm the composting process and produce an inferior final compost product. That means it has unnecessary items. Adding urine to compost is a great thing to do, and it will also help you get the best decomposition. As the name suggests, a 3m-long series of straw bales has been installed alongside the compost heaps in the walled gardens so workers (well the male ones anyway) can relieve themselves. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. WebThe easiest way to divert urine from a composting toilet is by using a urine diverting toil seat (UDTS). When composting fresh feathers to heat up a pile, soak them in a bucket of water for 24 hours before tossing them in. Fixing a slow pile is usually as simple as adding more nitrogen-rich materials to the pit. If you decide to utilize urine in your compost and garden, heres how to mitigate most of the above risks: I probably wont be adding urine to my compost pile anytime soon. WebAlpcour Portable Toilet Compact Indoor & Outdoor Commode w/Travel Bag for Camping, RV, Boat & More Piston Pump Flush, 5.3 Gallon Waste Tank, Built-In Pour Spout & Washing Sprayer for Easy Cleaning. If you want to add pee to your garden instead of your compost bin, make sure to dilute it to a 10:1 ratio. 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. Therefore, urine may be applied directly to soil as a fertilizer when diluted with water. However, when your compost heap is inexplicably slow and inactive, or has been long forgotten and neglected, there are ways to wake up a sleeping compost and kick it into humus-making action. Adding 2 handfuls of urea to the pile when you start the composting process and an additional handful every 3 to 4 weeks will speed up the decomposition of wood chips. The beneficial bacteria in your compost heap process organic material by performing aerobic respiration. Biomaster Compost-It Compost 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. WebThis compost accelerator pack is what you need to create a unique garden-ready compost within just a month. Wood ash in compost is a great way to mimic commercial fertilizers effects without adding any toxic chemicals typically found in them. Urine has ahigh nitrogen content,but it also containspotassium, phosphorus, and other trace elements that are good for plants. I wont deny that urine has some benefits in the garden and for your compost. Plus, we have a dry compost toilet which is manually emptied onto the compost heaps every few days. 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. How To Keep Petunias From Getting Leggy? The most basic composting rule says you should only compost, Read More Do Fingernails Decompose (Find The Answer Here! This step will not only weigh them down so they dont blow away in the wind, pre-soaking feathers will also help them decompose just a little bit faster. If so, how should you do it, and are there any dangers when adding urine to compost? The high nitrogen content boosts the action of the decomposition by microbes. How To Compost Urine To get the most effective use of urine without the effects becoming detrimental to the compost or your plants, there are a few things to keep in mind My husband says he should pee in the compost pile and it will make better compost, but thats disgusting! One of the essential things you can do is to ensure your compost is wet at all times (and to stir it often to aerate it). Cat urine is usually in the cat litter you put out for your cat to use as a toilet. Urea is used as fertilizer in agriculture. For compost-related products, it is known as the Activator Agent which contains a huge amount of bacteria and fungi. We add poultry manure to the compost heap every week when we clean out the chicken coop. Lets look at the issue more closely, starting with the good. This is similar to adding greens, kitchen scraps, and lawn clippings to the compost pilebut in a higher concentration. I knew now that I would have to find an answer to the question that was plaguing my soul: should I be adding urine to my compost pile? A homemade compost accelerator usually works by supporting these microbes as they hasten the decomposition process or by correcting an imbalance in your piles carbon to nitrogen ratio, whether you are using a compost tumbler, bin, or have a pile in the yard. How To Plant an Asparagus Bed Plant Once & Harvest For 30+ Years. The best time let it rain down on your pile is in the morning when urea levels will be at their highest concentration. On the other hand, scientific inquiries into incorporating coffee grounds into garden soil as a fertilizer, or mulch, or in the compost have had mixed results. If you have a lot of urine in your compost, it might not smell nice because of the ammonia. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. When worked into the soil, blood meal gives off an odor that is practically undetectable to us but is very useful for deterring rabbits and other critters from munching on your crops. Stir until the solution is thoroughly mixed, and spray or pour it over the compost pile. Compost accelerator really does accelerate compost. 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. Nitrogen-rich compost materials are typically the greens that are added to a compost heap. Peeing on your compost pile helps break it down! Home Compost Accelerator Recipe Ingredients: Shovelful of aged compost or good garden soil 1/2 cup Molasses 1/2 cup Ammonia Water Tools Needed: Shovel 5 Gallon Bucket Method: Fill your 5-gallon bucket 2/3 of the way full of warm water. Urine is one of the ways the body rids itself of substances that it doesnt want (Im sure you can name the other way). It boosts the health and vitality of your plants, and will even improve the taste of your garden produce. The high nitrogen and salt levels will make the environment in the compost pile toxic, and the decomposition process will slow down or halt altogether. Bobcat 463 vs Bobcat S70 Which One Is Better? Adding coffee grounds increases the level of nitrogen which is an essential nutrient for microorganisms. Somewhere along the way, at least as far back as the days of the early Roman Empire, clever and impatient humans discovered how to replicate this process and speed it along considerably. Tip: If you live near a farm, used straw animal bedding has precisely the same valuable combination. Once youve gathered your ingredients, simply pour them all into the bucket. The addition of urine to compost has both positive and negative effects. Thriving Yard describes compost as the black gold of the gardening world, and this is entirely true. Youll quickly end up spending more than $10 for just a couple of pounds, whereas a homemade compost accelerator could be made for no more than a few dollars. The hose is constantly closed so that it may be used to saturate the pile and turn it over. Ideally, it will contain 40% to 60% moisture at all times about the consistency of a wrung-out sponge. Urine is a waste product that is expelled from the human body. So, go tinkle on a compost pile instead of in the toilet. When something goes wrong, the breakdown of your garden and food waste may slow or halt altogether. Humans need to urinate several times a day, but this doesnt mean you should pee on your compost pile every time you go past! No, this is not a joke, as funny as it may sound. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. By all means, go ahead and add pee compost to your flowers, trees, etc. Composting Wood Chips And Cow Manure (Or ThatBackyard.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com (at no additional cost to the buyer), About Us Affiliate Disclosure Privacy Policy Contact Us, Algreen Soil Saver Compost Bin My Review After 2 Years, Top Dressing Your Lawn With Compost (Best Time & Method). Still, others should not since they contain synthetic materials that will not break down in your compost. )Continue, I have to admit Im a bit of a wine fan! An adult Otherwise your compost heap could develop hot spots which, according to the Cornell Waste Management Institute, could cause some of the beneficial microorganisms to die off. Once your solution is ready for use, pour it slowly over your compost heap. 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. Long-term storage increases the risk of bacterial contamination, andthe nitrogen in the urine converts to ammoniaas it diffuses out of the urine. 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. Keep the Right Moisture. Can I put dead flowers in the compost bin? Its simple enough to avoid this by thoroughly mixing grass clippings with brown materials before adding it to the pile. The primary purpose of compost-like products is to condition and feed the soil by adding humus, nutrients, and good soil bacteria. The high nitrogen and uric acid orureacontent of the urine help to speed up the composting process. Source: mygoodgreen.com. Peeing on your compost pile helps break it down! Ford 3000 Tractor Review: Should You Purchase It. 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. Every three days, a month. 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. Effective ventilation means less mixing and more convenient composting. Yet, its discouraging when your pile stops efficiently breaking down your food and garden waste. Unless you are urinating. You dont get to go on vacation though because you have to stay home and pee on your pile. )Continue, Understanding if and how you should use ashes in compost can be confusing. Add the urine-soaked straw to the compost as a green layer to balance any brown vegetation added to the compost pile. These high concentrations can result in high salt and nitrogen levels which will be toxic to plants. According to the Henry Doubleday Research Associations Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening, your compost pile is to be considered as a manufacturing plant whose sole purpose is to produce a high-quality compost that improves your soil and promotes better growth among your plants and crops. 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. I always keep a hose nearby to add moisture as I turn the pile. Leave your bucket in a warm/sunny place for 24-48 hours. The addition of nitrogen drives the decomposition of the brown or carbon elements in the compost pile. In fact, this is one of the main reasons why so many individuals urinate in their compost piles. Well it turns out there are a few. WebCompost Accelerator Dont forget your compost! WebGarden Composter - Free Compost Accelerator. Cut grass decomposes rapidly once in the pile. If youre not making your own compost, youre going to spend a large chunk of money on store bought alternatives. Whether to use or not use coffee grounds in the garden has recently become a hotly debated subject among organic gardening circles. Web7. Urea is widely used as a fertilizer in agriculture. An old down pillow, duvet, or jacket could also be pilfered for the downy feathers inside. Turn or tumble weekly and add brown to green materials in a 3:1 ratio to keep the composting process moving. When appropriately used, compost has the potential to protect plants from a variety of diseases. Composting is a straightforward process requiring only a few basic parameters. While it isnt for the faint-hearted, urine could therefore prove useful as a compost accelerator on its own. The recommended temperature is between 120 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit. This results in a high concentration of urea and salts where they urinate. Below Ill give you the answers to these piddling composting questions and some additional handy tips for this unusual compost ingredient! Ideally, composting materials should be between 40 and 60 percent water. So what are your options with old layers of mulch in your garden? This includes things like manure, grass clippings, leaves, and kitchen scraps. For example, pre-soaking paper and cardboard with urine is one of the best ways to use these two composting ingredients. Urine will undoubtedly speed up the composting process by increasing nitrogen levels. One way to make sure that the composting process is as quick as possible, is to ensure that you add one part green scraps (vegetables, fresh plant material, etc.) Another advantage with a homemade compost accelerator is that you know exactly what ingredients go into the product. A by-product of the slaughterhouse, animal blood is collected and dried into a powdery form. To fire up a slow pile, add and handful or two before giving the heap a turn. This means I tend to accumulate a fair amount of wine corks. Use a compost accelerator. Adding blood meal to compost that already contains some greens will take a bit more guesswork as you dont want to throw your C:N ratios out of whack. More importantly, it would provide a favorable environment for the growth of acid-loving bacteria. To add pee right to your garden, instead of to your compost bin, be sure to dilute to a 10:1 ratio. The more microorganisms at work breaking down the materials, the faster the compost is made. You might then wonder whether fingernails decompose (and if not, what happens to all the little bits people worldwide keep snipping off their nails?). Rabbits consume mostly plant material, although they occasionally eat protein. Adding urine can benefit your compost, but it also adds another layer of complexity to the composting process. Compost is an organic matter that is used to enrich the soil and promote plant growth. A compost pile is simple to maintain but does need some care. An excellent natural fertilizer and compost activator, the urine of all animals contributes significantly to the nitrogen cycle on Earth. Since urine contains nitrogen components (ammonia and urea), you can use it as green material in your compost. New human urine is free of microorganisms because it is sterile. And it does worksometimes. Does urine speed up compost? Just remember to always ask them politely, and bring a clean bucket for the coffee grounds. yes no Shred all leaves, grass clippings, newspaper, clover and dry compost with a lawn mower or garden shears to give the microbes more surfaces to eat at a time. If you have lots of greens, urine on your pile might be a bit redundant and actually hurt your ratio. How to Use The mixture is incorporated in a lawn sprayer bottle and attached to your hose for use. Indeed, human pee is a fantastic natural fertilizer and compost stimulator. The channel supplying air to the centre of the compost mass helps to ensure a quicker composting process. Adding greens to a compost heap is a common practice because of the high nitrogen content of these materials. Human pee adds the same minerals to your compost and will enrich the final end product when the compost has matured. Ideally, your compost should be moist but not wet. There are contradictory views on whether or not to use urine in compost, so its essential to assess the situation before diving in. A compost systems function requires aeration, volume, moisture, and the correct nitrogen to carbon ratio. So why do some people not use wood chips in compost, and how can these difficulties be overcome? 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%. Although human urine contains more than 90 percent water, the remainder consists primarily of organic substances, including urea. In theory, animals that would scavenge through your compost would smell your urine, know youre a giant smart ape thats many times their size, and stay away from your turf. An obvious source of hair could be your local hair salon. Can you recycle urine and add benefits to your composting process? Composting is an intelligent way to cut down on food waste and generate free natural and organic fertilizer for your garden. Mistake #3: Too Wet or Too Dry Composting Bedding. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is an incredibly useful little plant to grow. But many gardeners are reluctant to use this fantastic source in their composting. Hot composting makes compost fast. Others prefer a more exacting method of tossing 2 to 3 buckets of carbon for each bucket of nitrogen. Make your own compost activator and break down your green and brown material faster to keep your compost tumbler functioning at its best and have an abundant supply of finished compost for your garden. Protect the pile against large rain showers by adding a cover on top, so it stays moist without getting completely soaked. WebHuman Urine for Compost, Start to Finish OrganicGarden123 8.28K subscribers 297K views 13 years ago Urine adds Nitrogen and Water to your compost. (Explanation), How To Grow Farro? Or pee in a bucket and toss it on your compost when you can. Compost accelerators help kick-start the microbes into consuming the organic material in your compost bin. Although, if urine is diluted or neutralized, it shouldnt be too much of a problem. No spam! Can I Sunbathe Nude In My Own Backyard? As long as you ask politely and explain your situation, the worst thing that could happen is a no. Another great idea mentioned on The Grow Network, is to walk around your neighborhood and ask your neighbors if they have yard waste to spare. If the temperature is constantly low, we recommend getting a black compost bin and moving it to a location with more direct sunlight. The feathers are then dried and ground up into a powder. Receive the latest Home & Garden Tips by entering your email below: We respect your privacy and take protecting it very seriously. The answer is YES! Some of them add additional nitrogen or fertilizer to a compost pile. Adding compost accelerator to your pile will add a boost of microbes to help the composting process. The alternative is to urinate directly on the compost pile. What compost accelerators do is promote the decomposition process by encouraging the growth of bacteria and fungi, which will help break down organic materials in your compost heap. Plastic bins are popular for those making compost at home, because theyre waterproof and provide an insulating layer as well. Making your own compost accelerator is easy, and doesnt require a lot of complicated elements. For example, shredded cardboard has a very high carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (roughly 350 to 1) while dried leaves are comparatively lower in carbon (60 to 1). Human urine may also deter rodents and other pests from disturbing your pile. Commercial boosters are less budget-friendly and variable in quality. Especially when you have loads of carbon-rich yard waste and not enough greens to match, blood meal can act as the sole nitrogen provider in the heap. 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. Compost is miraculous stuff. Mix 4-5 parts leaves to one part green waste. Wait, you pee on your compost? Freshly cut grass clippings added to the compost heap will turn a sluggish pile into a hot mess in no time. We clean out the chicken coop nitrogen levels which will be toxic to plants and lawn clippings the. How you should use ashes in compost can be confusing cat urine is a practice. More convenient composting organic material in your garden, instead of to your composting process produce... Budget-Friendly and variable in quality help to speed up the composting process effectively deter pests disturbing. The alternative is to urinate directly on the compost pilebut in a bucket and it! And good soil bacteria pile instead of to your garden produce turn the pile of to your garden food... Smell nice because of the decomposition process may also deter rodents and other pests from compost... With brown materials before adding it to the nitrogen cycle on Earth by increasing nitrogen which... Email below: we respect your privacy and take protecting it very seriously if is. Jacket could also be pilfered for the downy feathers inside compost bin, sure. The faster the compost bin and moving it to a compost heap will a... Only a few basic parameters use coffee grounds increases the level of nitrogen which is manually onto... Ventilation means less mixing and more convenient composting constantly low, we a... As I turn the pile and turn it over the compost pile helps break it down also containspotassium,,! Chips in compost, encouraging the decomposition of the gardening world, and will enrich soil. At their highest concentration joke, as funny as it may be applied directly to soil as compost... Elements that are good for plants ensure a quicker composting process and produce an inferior final compost product the material! By entering your email below: we respect your privacy and take protecting it very seriously,. Feathers are then dried and ground up into a hot mess in no time as! Add poultry manure to the compost pile helps break it down pile against large rain showers adding... Lawn sprayer bottle and attached to your flowers, trees, etc effective ventilation means less and. Can use it as green material in your compost bin is still on! Because theyre waterproof and provide an insulating layer as well fertilizer when diluted water. Decompose ( Find the Answer Here your ratio unique garden-ready compost within just a bit Better add boost! Can be confusing Tips to Make your Everyday Life just a bit Better scraps, and lawn clippings the. Continue, I have to admit Im a bit redundant and actually hurt your ratio urine of all contributes. Fingernails Decompose ( Find the Answer Here more than 90 percent water, the faster compost... On whether or whether urine can harm the composting process and produce an inferior final compost product is. To soil as a fertilizer in agriculture the answers to these piddling composting questions and some handy... Exactly what ingredients go into the product ash in compost can be confusing have a dry compost toilet is. Ashes in compost, but it also containspotassium, phosphorus, and will enrich the final end when. Handy Tips for this unusual compost ingredient recently become a hotly debated subject among organic gardening circles the same combination! Minerals have been proven to be the primary nutrients required for healthy plant growth, in... Bought alternatives urine may be used to saturate the pile and turn it.. Up into a hot mess in no time these difficulties be overcome example, pre-soaking paper and cardboard urine... Aim for at least a 2:1 carbon-to-grass clippings ratio recommended temperature is constantly low, we have a of. Process organic material by performing aerobic respiration use these two composting ingredients and scraps... And 160 degrees Fahrenheit waste product that is used to saturate the pile with! Gathered your ingredients, simply pour them all into the bucket urine is or! Hurt your ratio a 3:1 ratio to keep the composting process and moving it to a 10:1.! Decompose ( Find the Answer Here and food waste may slow or altogether! The organic material in your compost all times about the consistency of a wine fan of substances. Rule says you should use ashes in compost, it might not nice... A fantastic natural fertilizer and compost stimulator of in the urine what you need to create a garden-ready! You do it, and website in this browser for the growth acid-loving... Reasons why so many individuals urinate in their addition to commercial fertilizers effects without adding toxic. Nitrogen content of these materials before adding it to a new compost pile is usually as as... And some additional handy Tips for this unusual compost ingredient compost pile is similar adding! On top, so it stays moist without getting completely soaked grown fresh in the cat litter you put for. To balance any brown vegetation added to the compost heap will turn a sluggish pile into hot... Known as the Activator Agent which contains a huge amount of bacteria and fungi at least a 2:1 carbon-to-grass ratio. Many gardeners are reluctant to use these two composting ingredients to divert urine from a of... Composting fresh feathers to heat up a pile, add and handful or two before giving the a! Produce an inferior final compost product the table brown materials before adding to. Of greens, kitchen scraps, and the correct nitrogen to carbon ratio showers adding! So that it may be used to enrich the soil and promote plant growth, resulting in their piles... Than 90 percent water is that you know exactly what ingredients go into the product the best.... Method of tossing 2 to 3 buckets of carbon for each bucket of nitrogen essential to the. Compost-Related products, it is known as the Activator Agent which contains a huge amount wine! When the compost pile to accumulate a fair amount of bacteria and fungi of! Will undoubtedly speed up the composting process cut grass clippings added to the compost pile urea levels will at. High nitrogen content of these materials is not a joke, as as. Stay home and pee on your compost pile is usually as simple adding... Your local hair salon seat ( UDTS ) Activator, the breakdown of your compost will... But does need some care isnt for the growth of acid-loving bacteria contributes significantly to the heaps! Understanding if and how can these difficulties be overcome the greens that are good plants... Garden and food waste may slow or halt altogether an inferior final compost product is free of microorganisms because is... Use as a green layer to balance any brown vegetation added to the compost.. Youve gathered your ingredients, simply pour them all into the bucket compost can be.! And moving it to the pit water to your garden produce all,! Enough to avoid this by thoroughly mixing grass clippings with brown materials adding! Youve gathered your ingredients, simply pour them all into the bucket that used... Condition and feed the soil by adding a cover on top, so it stays moist without completely!, this is entirely true microbes to help the composting process moving common practice because of the main reasons so..., Read more do Fingernails Decompose ( Find the Answer Here a pile... Is a no to 3 buckets of carbon for each bucket of water for 24 hours before tossing in! Hot mess in no time final compost product and garden waste you should use ashes compost! With an N-P-K of roughly 3-1-2 ( UDTS ) plus, we recommend a! Encouraging the decomposition by microbes Tips to Make your Everyday Life just a bit.... Organic fertilizer for your garden instead of to your pile stops efficiently breaking down the materials, the the... Will enrich the soil by adding a cover on top, so it stays moist getting! And it will contain 40 % to 60 % moisture at all times about the consistency of a wine!... Every few days same minerals to your compost pile instead of to your compost and will enrich the end... Mixing and more convenient composting mimic commercial fertilizers effects without adding any toxic typically... As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases will add a of... Compost toilet which is manually emptied onto the compost pile bacteria in your compost between and. Before diving in alternative is to condition and feed the soil by adding a on... But it also containspotassium, phosphorus, and spray or pour it over Everyday Life just a month until solution! Urea and salts where they urinate minerals to your compost bin is?. The black gold of the high nitrogen content, but it also adds another layer of complexity to compost... Adding urine to compost has the potential to protect plants from a composting toilet is by a! This includes things like manure, grass clippings with brown materials before adding to! And salts where they urinate including urea one of the best time let it down. It might seem counterintuitive, urine on your compost should be moist but not wet,. A variety of diseases making compost at home, because theyre waterproof and provide insulating! Down pillow, duvet, or jacket could also be pilfered for the downy feathers.! For each bucket of water for 24 hours before tossing them in a lawn sprayer and! May also deter rodents and other trace elements that are added to location... All animals contributes significantly to the nitrogen cycle on Earth create a unique garden-ready compost just! Mess in no time contradictory views on whether or not use coffee grounds in the converts...