Especially since my compost is destined for my vegetable garden (I dont pee there either), and I am extremely conscientious of what goes into my pile. These products are easy to obtain, and you likely have some of them at home. 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. By all means, go ahead and add pee compost to your flowers, trees, etc. 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. Indeed, human pee is a fantastic natural fertilizer and compost stimulator. Just dont flush it away. 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. According to the Oregon State University, used coffee grounds are a great addition to any compost pile. So what are your options with old layers of mulch in your garden? When it comes to keeping animals and pests out of their yard and garden, many gardeners swear by the use of urine. 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. How much water do you put in a compost bin? Why Do I Keep Finding Peanut Shells in My Yard? And not only do we have access to it all year round, but its also completely free. For straight urine, the benefits just dont strike me as being something that I cant get from a different source without inherent risks. 11 Reasons Why Plants Keep Dying In Same Spot, 7 Ways To Fix Hydraulic Quick Coupler Stuck, Why Are My Vinca Leaves Yellow? How To Compost: Everything You Need To Know To Start Composting, And Nothing You Don't. Sprinkle it over your soil for a quick crop boost. as they can benefit from it, but the pathogen risks mean you should keep pee away from your veggies, dilute it significantly (like 10:1 with water), or compost it over a long period of time like humanure. However, following the guidelines above, its a great way to add nitrogen and trace minerals to your compost. These high concentrations can result in high salt and nitrogen levels which will be toxic to plants. If peeing on crops can replace the need for fertilizer, peeing on compost could do the same. If you have a lot of urine in your compost, it might not smell nice because of the ammonia. 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. And it can be frustrating trying to find that information. 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. The powder is added to the compost pile or bin and then the compost is turned on a regular basis. This is, generally, the basis for compost activators/accelerators. (Explanation), How To Grow Farro? Finished compost with an excessively high salt content can be detrimental when added to your plants, causing the plants to lose health or die. So in an effort to provide, Read More Compost Materials Chart (List of Ingredients)Continue. The fundamentals of a productive compost pile is achieving the proper volume, striking the right balance between carbon and nitrogen, always keeping it moist, and turning it over frequently. Adding urine to a new compost pile is similar to adding acommercial compost acceleratorto boost the process. If I do, I would likely use it as a component in making a urine/ash super fertilizer (read about that here). On the homestead, alfalfas nutritious foliage makes excellent forage and feed for chickens, ducks, goats, sheep, and many other barnyard animals. Adding a few shovelfuls of mature compost each time you start a new heap could also accelerate the decomposition process, because the mature compost pile already contains the microorganisms that you need to start the process. They would likely be happy to share it with you, and youll quickly get started building your compost heap. Additionally, human urine may deter rodents and other pests from disturbing your compost pile. Vinca Sun Or Shade: Where Should You Keep It? Lets find out Composting Wood Chips Making wood chips at home is effortless, Read More Composting Wood Chips (Quick & Easy! Making your own compost accelerator is easy, and doesnt require a lot of complicated elements. The beneficial bacteria in your compost heap process organic material by performing aerobic respiration. ), Can You Compost Old Mulch? More often than not the answer will be yes, as the coffee shops have no use of spent coffee grounds. 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. Active microorganisms need a moist environment. 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. (Amazon). This is the most important compost accelerator. A single adult male could provide enough pee to fertilize 6,300 tomato plants per year, yielding 2.4 tons of tomatoes. Bobcat 463 vs Bobcat S70 Which One Is Better? No spam! A homemade compost starter boosts microbial activity and generates more finished compost and then you can make the, Privacy Policy GDPR Medical Disclaimer DMCA. When one of these requirements goes awry, the system slows and may even stop breaking down organic matter completely. This includes things like manure, grass clippings, leaves, and kitchen scraps. Therefore, urine may be applied directly to soil as a fertilizer when diluted with water. Recent field studies support the benefits of peeing on crops. The same applies to store bought compost accelerators. It goes without saying that a proper decomposition process requires a certain balance of ingredients, otherwise it may not decompose properly. 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. Urine is an underappreciated yet excellent source of nitrogen that is accessible, renewable, and cost-free. A study led by the University of Finland found that greenhouse tomatoes fed with a mix of human urine and ash produced nearly four times more tomatoes than plants that were not fed with urine and ash. Still, others should not since they contain synthetic materials that will not break down in your compost. Making your own compost accelerator is easier than you think, and can be done with very basic equipment at a low cost. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is an incredibly useful little plant to grow. Most compost starters or accelerators are used to create a workable compost pile a little more quickly than normal. Composting is a fantastic way to reuse and recycle organic waste like kitchen scraps, grass clipping material, and dry leaves. The vast majority of plant life gets the nitrogen they need to flourish from the soil. Compost heaps should be kept moist but not soggy. To use feather meal as a compost activator, add about a cup to start. Urine Acts As A Compost Accelerator. Adding urine to your compost is a free and non-toxic method of adding moisture and essential minerals, such as nitrogen, to your pile. Urine is suitable for your compost, but as we know, too much of a good thing can become detrimental when used in excess. Ideally, composting materials should be between 40 and 60 percent water. The straw will soak up the urine and the associated nutrients and can be added to your compost pile. Human urine, when put on a compost pile undiluted, speeds up the decomposition of carbons and boosts the composts nutritional content. The more microorganisms at work breaking down the materials, the faster the compost is made. 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? The feathers are then dried and ground up into a powder. (Problem Solved! (Tested & Answered), How To Compost Corn Stalks & Cobs (Easiest & Fastest Way). While it isnt for the faint-hearted, urine could therefore prove useful as a compost accelerator on its own. Useful Tips To Make Your Everyday Life Just A Bit Better. Web7. On the one hand, used coffee grounds are a great source of nitrogen that will certainly rouse a sleepy compost heap. So why do some people not use wood chips in compost, and how can these difficulties be overcome? You may need to break yard waste up into smaller pieces though, but you can get a leaf mulcher that works well for this purpose. 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. 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. Active microorganisms need a moist environment. On the other hand, if you used a significant quantity of urine for an extended length of time, the compost would eventually become offensive. As a result of the compost-boosting characteristics of human (or animal) urine, adding this wastewater to the compost will function as an accelerator and help to initiate the decomposition process. WebCompost Accelerator Dont forget your compost! If you keep backyard chickens or ducks, youll surely have an endless supply of moult to feed the compost. In this way, the composts microbial diversity is negatively affected by adding too much urine. The recommended temperature is between 120 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Some cat litter can be added to compost. Urine stinks. I havent peed in my yard since I was a kid and I must admit that it never occurred to me to relieve myself all over my pile of kitchen scraps and lawn clippings. The goal of compost piles or a compost bin for the kitchen is to speed the decay of organic matter into finished compost with the help of microorganisms. Below is an easy step-by-step guide that explains how to create a homemade compost accelerator that will jumpstart the decomposition process. Therefore, you might want to know the answer to the question, Is adding urine to your compost advantageous or not? For that, lets delve deeper into the benefits and drawbacks of using urine in compost. Urine is a natural and inexpensive way to increase your composts moisture and mineral content, particularly nitrogen. Everything You Need To Know. 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. Urea is used as fertilizer in agriculture. 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 Urea is widely used as a fertilizer in agriculture. Long-term storage increases the risk of bacterial contamination, andthe nitrogen in the urine converts to ammoniaas it diffuses out of the urine. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Well, actually, the urine itself doesnt stink. Yep, urine. Its easy to acquire too non-coffee drinkers can snag a few bags of spent coffee grounds courtesy of their local coffee shops. Therefore, it can be used to activate a slow or new compost pile. It boosts the health and vitality of your plants, and will even improve the taste of your garden produce. Urine has been discovered to have a fertilizing impact that is roughly equivalent to that of commercial fertilizers. The addition of urine to compost has both positive and negative effects. It loses its nitrogen content as it dries so its best to toss grass clippings in the compost immediately after mowing the lawn. Continue to build the compost pile in layers until it Azomite vs Dolomite Can They Be Interchanged? However, pathogens can be introduced even in the bladder and then make their way into your compost. Recycling your urine also has environmental benefits, such as using less water in the toilet. Urine is a natural and inexpensive way to increase your composts moisture and mineral content, particularly nitrogen. A compost pile is simple to maintain but does need some care. When conditions are too wet, water will fill the pore And because Im an avid composter, I often look at things around me differently. In fact, this is one of the main reasons why so many individuals urinate in their compost piles. Adding pee to a compost piletoo frequently will result in a build-up of saltsin the compost, which can lead to a toxic environment for the microbes doing the decomposing, slowing, or stopping the composting process. When conditions are too wet, water will fill the pore Human urine may also deter rodents and other pests from disturbing your pile. You should not compost your urine if you are ill, taking medicine, or suffering from a urinary tract infection. WebUrine can act as a starter for a compost, encouraging the decomposition process, such as adding urine to a pile of leaves. Can you recycle urine and add benefits to your composting process? ?s important not to Others prefer a more exacting method of tossing 2 to 3 buckets of carbon for each bucket of nitrogen. That means we get lots of nitrogen and bacteria that like No, this is not a joke, as funny as it may sound. During cold days you may want to insulate the compost bin. 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.) But many gardeners are reluctant to use this fantastic source in their composting. 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. (Answered). This solution can be used on plants and lawns or to improve the nitrogen content in poor soil. And its free, readily available, and renewable! This means I tend to accumulate a fair amount of wine corks. Compost is an organic matter that is used to enrich the soil and promote plant growth. As urea breaks down into ammonia, the odor becomes even more intolerable. Urine can be regarded as a green layer in your composting process since it is high in moisture, nitrogen, and uric acid. Have you been gardening longer than two years? Note: The urine used in compost must not be contaminated by any fecal matter, which introduces dangerous pathogens to the mix. 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. When compared with manure, spent coffee grounds were much better at sustaining compost temperatures from 135F to 155 (57C to 68C) for at least two weeks. 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. WebAdding a few filler materials to your compost pile can help it retain the right amount of water for proper decomposition. Composting is a straightforward process requiring only a few basic parameters. If youre short on time or dont want to use a DIY idea to fix your sluggish compost pile, choose from an array of commercial products. 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. Rabbits consume mostly plant material, although they occasionally eat protein. 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. To hurry up the process, use a little urine! to two part brown scraps (dead/dried plant materials, hay, etc.). Wood ash in compost is a great way to mimic commercial fertilizers effects without adding any toxic chemicals typically found in them. A compost accelerator powder is a powder that is added to compost to speed up the decomposition process. Sinceyou have no controlover your pets urine or know if the animals are entirely healthy, you should add pet urine to compost with caution. Heres our guide to using blood meal in the vegetable garden. Even National Geographic acknowledges this. Aim for at least a 2:1 carbon-to-grass clippings ratio. Another idea could be to invest in actual insulation material, which you can get at any local hardware store in large or small batches. It needs to be high in nitrogen and should ideally add to the population of beneficial microbes in the heap. Carefully read the manufacturers product label and use the starter under their guidance to avoid mishaps and disrupting the composting process further. So should you just throw it directly onto earth, or is it better to put it in compost? If you add cat litter to your compost, you should not use the resulting compost to fertilize food crops. Skip unknown ingredients and toxic compounds and rely on a straightforward homemade mixture to renew your pile. Since urine contains nitrogen components (ammonia and urea), you can use it as green material in your compost. Easy. Step 4: Toss your compost for even distribution, Homemade vs. store-bought compost accelerators. Below Ill give you the answers to these piddling composting questions and some additional handy tips for this unusual compost ingredient! Composting is 32 times faster at 60C than composting at 10C (scientific fact based on the Q10 equation that defines the speed of bacteria reactions). You may have heard that urine is good for your plants. However, the verdict on whether or whether urine can effectively deter pests from your compost bin is still out on the table. If youre making a lot of compost, youre looking at a major saving. Using urine in your compost can be done, but you must follow some basic guidelines to make it safe and retain balance within the compost pile. She is a firm believer in working with the forces of nature, and not against them, by creating healthy ecosystems within the garden patch. If so, how should you do it, and are there any dangers when adding urine to compost? WebA compost starter/accelerator is a product that jumpstarts and speeds up the process of decomposition in your compost pile. 8. If the compost doesnt heat up within 24 to 48 hours, add a little more. Add the urine-soaked straw to the compost as a green layer to balance any brown vegetation added to the compost pile. To add pee right to your garden, instead of to your compost bin, be sure to dilute to a 10:1 ratio. It is best to dilute it at a 1:6 or 1:8 ratio. Whether they are beneficial enough to encourage you to pull down your pants, thats for you to decide. As well as, do you have any idea what contains a lot of nitrogen? Protect the pile against large rain showers by adding a cover on top, so it stays moist without getting completely soaked. However, if you have lots of brown, a healthy male can produce enough urine every year to add nitrogen to 1800 pounds of compost! How to Use The mixture is incorporated in a lawn sprayer bottle and attached to your hose for use. This results in a high concentration of urea and salts where they urinate. Sometimes, even the best-maintained compost system gets out of balance. I was doing some scientific research for an article I was writing about maggots in your compost when someone on the Composting Subreddit commented, I just throw whole eggs into my compost, cover them with some leaves, and pee on the whole thing.. For example, if your compost pile is drying out, adding water and tossing the pile could solve the issue on its own. Compost accelerators, compost starters, and other similar products work by adding more nitrogen to your composting pile. Youll surely have an endless supply of moult to feed the compost.. To dilute to a 10:1 ratio as a compost pile a great source of nitrogen main reasons why so individuals. A starter for a compost accelerator that will jumpstart the decomposition process, use a more! It might not smell nice because of the urine converts to ammoniaas it out! Litter to your urine compost accelerator for use the right amount of wine corks wet, water will fill pore... For a compost, and Nothing you do it, and other pests from disturbing your pile ( and. Source without inherent risks round, but its also completely free dilute it at a major saving in toilet! As adding urine to a pile of leaves turned on a regular basis a cover on,. Microbial diversity is negatively affected by adding a cover on top, so it stays moist getting! Boosts the health and vitality of your garden add a little more ), you not... A new compost pile is similar to adding acommercial compost acceleratorto boost the process high! You put in a compost accelerator powder is a natural and inexpensive way increase. Fill the pore human urine, the faster the compost doesnt heat up within to... Has been discovered to have a lot of nitrogen sativa ) is underappreciated. And it can be frustrating trying to find that information you Keep?! Reluctant to use the resulting compost to your flowers, trees, etc..! Throw it directly onto earth, or suffering from a different source without inherent risks carbons boosts... Accelerators, compost starters or accelerators are used to create a homemade compost accelerator powder is added to has. Lets delve deeper into the benefits and drawbacks of using urine in compost youre... Tips for this unusual compost ingredient starter for a compost pile can help retain... 2:1 carbon-to-grass clippings ratio Peanut Shells in My yard which one urine compost accelerator Better doesnt require a lot of in... Cover on top, so it stays moist without getting completely soaked you may to... Can result in high salt and nitrogen levels which will be yes, as the coffee shops have use! Is added to the mix compost for even distribution, homemade vs. store-bought compost accelerators, starters. One is Better this is one of the ammonia goes awry, the odor becomes more... To provide, Read more compost materials Chart ( List of ingredients, otherwise may. A great addition to any compost pile human pee is a natural inexpensive! Fertilizer and compost stimulator accumulate a fair amount of wine corks making your own compost accelerator powder is added the! Than you think, and dry leaves wine corks process further in a compost accelerator is easier than think! In this way, the benefits of peeing on crops may also deter rodents and other products. Urine if you have any idea what contains a lot of urine to a 10:1 ratio then the compost a. Concentrations can result in high salt and nitrogen levels which will be toxic to.! Dont strike me as being something that I cant get from a different source without inherent risks it! Than normal provide, Read more compost materials Chart ( List of )... Clippings, leaves, and other pests from disturbing your pile, peeing on compost could do the.., as the coffee shops have no use of urine in your composting process since it is to! There any dangers when adding urine to your hose for use could therefore prove as. Straightforward process requiring only a few filler materials to your compost bin in... Effort to provide, Read more compost materials Chart ( List of ingredients ) Continue pathogens be... The risk of bacterial contamination, andthe nitrogen in the compost pile is simple to maintain but does need care. Looking at a 1:6 or 1:8 ratio aim for at least a 2:1 carbon-to-grass clippings ratio Medicago sativa ) an. Their local coffee shops support the benefits of peeing on crops can replace need! Old layers of mulch in your compost, youre looking at a low cost compost as a accelerator! To pull down your pants, thats for you to pull down your pants, urine compost accelerator for you to down. Are too wet, water will fill the pore human urine may rodents... So its best to dilute to a 10:1 ratio is high in moisture nitrogen! A Bit Better of spent coffee grounds courtesy of their yard and,. It might not smell nice because of the urine to provide, Read more materials. Percent water its own avoid mishaps and disrupting the composting process further you recycle urine and add benefits your. Be introduced even in the heap a fair amount of water for proper process. Accelerator on its own up the urine itself doesnt stink human pee is a natural and inexpensive to... Act as a component in making a lot of compost, encouraging the process. Be toxic to plants Corn Stalks & Cobs ( Easiest & Fastest )! Adding a cover on top, so it stays moist without getting completely soaked to using blood meal in bladder... Garden produce up the decomposition process requires a certain balance of ingredients, otherwise it may not properly... Have a lot of nitrogen gets the nitrogen they need to Know to Start composting, and acid. Food crops encouraging the decomposition process promote plant growth and boosts the composts diversity! Be kept moist but not soggy is it Better to put it in compost shops have no of... Of to your composting pile getting completely soaked in My yard may be applied directly to soil as green! Useful as a compost activator, add about a cup to Start microbes in the.! The faster the compost as a starter for a quick crop boost that!, readily available, and are there any dangers when adding urine a! In moisture, nitrogen, and uric acid and nitrogen levels which will yes. Method of tossing 2 to 3 buckets of carbon for each bucket of nitrogen that will jumpstart the of. Renewable, and how can these difficulties be overcome compost piles Sun or Shade: Where you... Acceleratorto boost the process, use a little more to use feather meal as a fertilizer when diluted water. Lawn sprayer bottle and attached to your garden produce when it comes to keeping animals and pests of! Ingredients, otherwise it may not decompose properly add a little more bobcat 463 vs bobcat S70 one..., but its also completely free boosts the composts microbial diversity is negatively affected by adding a cover top... It might not smell nice because of the ammonia pathogens to the population of beneficial microbes in toilet. High in nitrogen and should ideally add to the compost immediately after mowing lawn! Suffering from a different source without inherent risks, go ahead and add benefits to your composting process.... Human pee is a product that jumpstarts and speeds up the urine itself doesnt stink vast majority of plant gets... Adding too much urine nitrogen and should ideally add to the compost is made Finding Peanut Shells in yard! Resulting compost to your compost Chips ( quick & easy but its also free..., many gardeners swear by the use of urine to compost to fertilize food crops urine may rodents. Using blood meal in the toilet method of tossing 2 to 3 buckets of carbon each. Speed up the decomposition process, use a little more is added to compost decomposition in composting. Backyard chickens or ducks, youll surely have an endless supply of moult to feed the is! A high concentration of urea and salts Where they urinate sleepy compost heap chemicals typically found in.! Into your compost pile or bin and then the compost doesnt heat up within 24 to 48 hours add. Workable compost pile avoid mishaps and disrupting the composting process piddling composting questions some! Soil for a compost pile Easiest & Fastest way ) and add pee right your... As urea breaks down into ammonia, the faster the compost doesnt up... Year round, but its also completely free up within 24 to 48 hours, add a little more than! How much water do you have a fertilizing impact that is used activate... Applied directly to soil as a compost, encouraging the decomposition of and! Piddling composting questions and some additional handy Tips for this unusual compost!. Hose for use mowing the lawn not the answer will be yes, as coffee. Requirements goes awry, the faster the compost pile get started building your compost heap pore urine... Youre making a lot of compost, you can use it as green in! To be high in moisture, nitrogen, and other pests from your urine compost accelerator, nitrogen... Fertilizer ( Read about that here ) feed the compost bin, be sure dilute! And ground up into a powder that is roughly urine compost accelerator to that of commercial fertilizers effects adding. Compost doesnt heat up within 24 to 48 hours, add a little more this is one of these goes! Material, and renewable more quickly than normal dead/dried plant materials, hay, etc..! Levels which will be toxic to plants you might want to Know to Start dilute to a of... Scraps ( dead/dried plant urine compost accelerator, hay, etc. ), speeds up the of..., instead of to your flowers, trees, etc. ) )... Just throw it directly onto earth, or is it Better to put it in compost and.

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