permaculture

[<permed@nor.com.au>]

>  Elijah wrote
>I was collecting our household urine in a simply 5 gallon bucket, for 
>distribution onto gardens, plants and compost piles.  After I mentioned to 
>a friend that we were having odor issues with the bucket, he warned me 
>that urine + plastic = nasty stuff leaching out of the plastic, and doing 
>bad things to my flora and fauna.
Hope you were diluting your urine - it's too strong to use undiluted on 
the garden...
Plastics absorb odours so after time there would naturally be a smell. I 
have a plastic bucket with sawdust for urinating and add a handful of 
lime when it's renewed - that helps keep odours down. Haven't heard about 
urine/plastic interactions but someone else might have info there. 
Re-alternatives I wouldn't recommend you use an aluminium bucket either 
as the acid in the urine would release aluminium - stainless steel would 
be the preferred option

>Now, this guy is a good friend and a great permaculturist, but I want a 
>second opinion.  He's also derisive of the idea of using cut up tires in a 
>raised-bed keyhole garden, "even though it's in the Design Manual".  So, 
>I'm wondering if anyone else has any comments on this - urine bucket ok? 
>not?  how about tires in the garden?
I know there's cadmium in tyres that will release under acidic conditions 
- the theory I was given about making tyre gardens was that if there's 
lots of humus and regular lime applications this shouldn't be a big 
problem - I've been asked about this by a few people recently and would 
like more info myself, especially researched info (not just anecdotal)
Robyn