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  • From: Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Soil remineralization beyond NPK
  • Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:05:04 -0700


On Jan 27, 2008, at 6:48 PM, Gene GeRue wrote:

There has been a concern about pathogens, even before Mad Cow Disease
came to notice. That is also the strongest--beyond the "eeooo" factor--
admonition against using humanure. So I put my humanure into little
fence circles next to fruit trees.

Tom, I forgot to say welcome to the list. There are lots of fine homestead types here but they are almost all fecophobes. So it's nice to meet another soul who pushes against the insanity of putting the most perfect fertilizer into a septic tank and keeping it sequestered there, safe from doing what it should naturally be doing, fertilizing food crops.

I can't find Jenkins book on Humanure; it must be at the farm. I did a search and found he put a lot of his info on a Web site. Here is a quote:

"If the organic material is available only on a continuous basis, and turning the pile, therefore, is counterproductive, an additional year- long curing period is recommended. This will require one more composting bin in addition to the two already in use. After the first is filled (presumably for a year), it is left to rest for two years. The second is filled during the second year, then it is left to rest for two years. The third is filled during the third year. By the time the third is filled, the first has aged for two years and should be pathogen-free and ready for agricultural use. This system will create an initial lag-time of three years before compost is available for agricultural purposes (one year to build the first pile, and two more years retention time), but the extra year's retention time will provide added insurance against lingering pathogens. After the third year, finished compost will be available on a yearly basis. Again, if in doubt, either test the compost for pathogens in a laboratory, or use it agriculturally where it will not come in contact with food crops."

The whole page is worth reading. It is found at:
http://weblife.org/humanure/chapter8_5.html




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