The link below is to the online version of "The Humanure Handbook". You can also more than likely get a copy at the library.
This book is a MUST READ for anyone who composts, whether you use humaure or not. But if you are not convinced of the common sense of using humanure after reading this, nothing will convince you!! LOL.
There is information in here that I never knew. I mean I knew that only 2% of the water on this planet is drinkable. But I had no idea just HOW MUCH water we are contaminating/wasting, etc just by use of toilets. The whole "water treatment" idea is really a very large and unnecessary (and really inefficient) method of disposing of human excrement. And its really very silly when you consider how the top 6 inches of soil is the most important, and using composted humanure can really speed the process of re-invigorating the soil.
Anyway, one of the other things I've learned so far is that you do not have to turn a compost pile, and in fact, turning a pile can backfire on you. Instead you should layer so that oxygen is trapped in the layers. For example, put kitchen scraps in, then cover it with course textured stuff like sawdust, wood shavings, grass clippings, weeds, etc. Then add a layer of scraps, and layer again with the more coarse stuff. Very very easy. I can attest to that because I've been turning mine with a shovel, and the dirt sometimes gets compacted and very heavy to move around. With my back and neck in such bad shape, its much better if I don't have to turn it at all. I'm so glad to find out that I don't!!
http://jenkinspublishing.com/downloads/PDF_all%20chapters/Humanure_Handbook3_all_chapters.pdf
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2 comments:
Any suggestions on composting on a small lot in a nice neighborhood where neighbors would be upset by any odors coming from compost?
Thank you so much for your emails to the PA unschoolers, which is where I found out about this blog. I have been inspired by your example to do things differently.
My husband has been talking about composting toilets for years and I wish we could accomplish that, but we don't have the space where we are. I'm starting with what I can manage and will work gradually towards doing more.
Thanks.
Mary
Our first compost bin was a 32gal trash can with 1 inch holes drilled all over it. If you paint it black, it might look less conspicuous (and heat up better too). So, for looks, that might be the way to go.
Compost shouldn't have any odor to it except to smell like wet earth. If it smells bad, you probably need to add more "brown" material, like dried grass clippings, leaves, things like that.
You also want to make sure you layer your compost pile so that air is trapped in the layers. You can do this by using coarse type "brown" material that is a bit larger and thus circulates air better. Then when you cover it with the next layer of "green" material, it will trap the oxygen in the brown layer underneath. As long as it gets enough air circulation, the compost will breakdown aerobically. When it starts to smell, that means there might be too much anaerobic breakdown going on.
I strongly recommend The Humanure Handbook. They have tons of information in there that is very helpful, easy to read, and easy to implement.
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