urine and poop

Sometimes its just easier to ask straight up, the amount of time it takes to investigate google and then see 18 different points of view is overwhelming.

When we were kids my dad would empty out septic tank and put it on the garden, I do not know the results and back then I didnt care to ask, a few years ago I installed a long stand of bamboo, I used a root rocket and on top of that I scooped out my own septic tank and flooded the area with that waste just cause I remembered my father doing it and he did it multiple times so I thought it must have worked.

Is this a good thing or not?

Ive read both ways such as dont put human waste on vegetables ............but as far as I know my dad did it and Im still alive. Also dilute the urine........my dad didnt do it and neither did I when I did do it.

My wife complained that I was gonna get badly sick the time I did it cause of germs and whatever but as far as I know Im still healthy.

So whats the real scoop on the poop!

Jason,

What your father pumped out of the septic tank was no doubt aged human waste—probably aged several years.  Fresh human solid waste is dangerous as it probably contains human pathogens or worse, human parasites.  Those parasites would love nothing more than to eaten again very quickly so they can reproduce quickly.  But they have a lifespan and most/all probably died sitting in a septic tank for years.

But if you want to use solid human waste, some embrace the idea of humanure where the wast is collected separately from urine, gathered together and composted—sometimes for upwards of 2 years.  Done properly, humanure can be a very useful soil amendment.

Urine is different.  Fresh urine is perfectly safe so long as you are safe.  I have occasionally collected my urine in a 2.5 gallon cat litter container for up to 2 days.  Typically I fill the container 1/3-1/2 full of urine, dilute with water and apply as necessary.  Honestly, I dilute in order to spread better.  Some say use straight up and some say dilute 10:1.  You will have to experiment to see what works best for you.  But generally, if you do use urine you will likely want to make sure the plants have adequate moisture to utilize as they enter a growth spurt.

BTW, urine is an excellent source of the big 3 nutrients NPK.  Some can’t get past the ick factor, but if you can, you can really address your soil nutrient issues.  As you have 3 years before planting crops, I would say that Urine can go a very long ways towards helping out a cover crop, especially Nitrogen hungry grasses.

I hope this helps,

Eric

Eric Hanson wrote:Jason,

What your father pumped out of the septic tank was no doubt aged human waste—probably aged several years.  Fresh human solid waste is dangerous as it probably contains human pathogens or worse, human parasites.  Those parasites would love nothing more than to eaten again very quickly so they can reproduce quickly.  But they have a lifespan and most/all probably died sitting in a septic tank for years.

But if you want to use solid human waste, some embrace the idea of humanure where the wast is collected separately from urine, gathered together and composted—sometimes for upwards of 2 years.  Done properly, humanure can be a very useful soil amendment.

Urine is different.  Fresh urine is perfectly safe so long as you are safe.  I have occasionally collected my urine in a 2.5 gallon cat litter container for up to 2 days.  Typically I fill the container 1/3-1/2 full of urine, dilute with water and apply as necessary.  Honestly, I dilute in order to spread better.  Some say use straight up and some say dilute 10:1.  You will have to experiment to see what works best for you.  But generally, if you do use urine you will likely want to make sure the plants have adequate moisture to utilize as they enter a growth spurt.

BTW, urine is an excellent source of the big 3 nutrients NPK.  Some can’t get past the ick factor, but if you can, you can really address your soil nutrient issues.  As you have 3 years before planting crops, I would say that Urine can go a very long ways towards helping out a cover crop, especially Nitrogen hungry grasses.

I hope this helps,

Eric

Walking into the shop now but ill add my father used fresh waste direct from our tank. I remember the hole and watching him drop and pull the bucket.

Back in early/ mid 70s. Maybe it was more acceptable back then

I did same

Eric Hanson wrote:Jason,

What your father pumped out of the septic tank was no doubt aged human waste—probably aged several years.  Fresh human solid waste is dangerous as it probably contains human pathogens or worse, human parasites.  Those parasites would love nothing more than to eaten again very quickly so they can reproduce quickly.  But they have a lifespan and most/all probably died sitting in a septic tank for years.

But if you want to use solid human waste, some embrace the idea of humanure where the wast is collected separately from urine, gathered together and composted—sometimes for upwards of 2 years.  Done properly, humanure can be a very useful soil amendment.

Urine is different.  Fresh urine is perfectly safe so long as you are safe.  I have occasionally collected my urine in a 2.5 gallon cat litter container for up to 2 days.  Typically I fill the container 1/3-1/2 full of urine, dilute with water and apply as necessary.  Honestly, I dilute in order to spread better.  Some say use straight up and some say dilute 10:1.  You will have to experiment to see what works best for you.  But generally, if you do use urine you will likely want to make sure the plants have adequate moisture to utilize as they enter a growth spurt.

BTW, urine is an excellent source of the big 3 nutrients NPK.  Some can’t get past the ick factor, but if you can, you can really address your soil nutrient issues.  As you have 3 years before planting crops, I would say that Urine can go a very long ways towards helping out a cover crop, especially Nitrogen hungry grasses.

I hope this helps,

Eric

Ok very helpful. Thanks