Comments on: “LOOK MA, NO FERTILIZERS!” http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/ One family's journey towards a sustainable, more self sufficient life Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:32:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: elainehttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/comment-page-1/#comment-81986 elaine Mon, 20 Dec 2010 23:28:47 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/#comment-81986 <a href="#comment-49565" rel="nofollow">@jud</a>, @jud,

]]> By: judhttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/comment-page-1/#comment-49565 jud Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:34:20 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/#comment-49565 oh... also for some reason our natural testosterone and estrogen seem to mess with things like aphids and sucking insects.... they generally leave my pee fertilized plants alone :) oh... also for some reason our natural testosterone and estrogen seem to mess with things like aphids and sucking insects.... they generally leave my pee fertilized plants alone :)

]]> By: judhttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/comment-page-1/#comment-49564 jud Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:32:44 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/#comment-49564 the NPK of urine is something like 10 - 1 - 3 ... balancing it with a little molasses can round it out for those that are concerned about extra nitrogen....last time i looked into it, it has about the same npk as miracle grow reg. plant fud.on a side note... the minerals and what not are more available in urine,also several plant hormones ... like Indole acetic acid ... that you are probably familiar with in artificial formulations as napthyl acetic acid (found in superthrive)..... were first isolated from human urine in the 1960's... i don't remember if we produce them as by products or if they simply pass through our diet as a result of eating plant materials, but either way its a great source of hormones and additional b vitamins and trace elements. the NPK of urine is something like 10 - 1 - 3 ... balancing it with a little molasses can round it out for those that are concerned about extra nitrogen....

last time i looked into it, it has about the same npk as miracle grow reg. plant fud.

on a side note... the minerals and what not are more available in urine,

also several plant hormones ... like Indole acetic acid ... that you are probably familiar with in artificial formulations as napthyl acetic acid (found in superthrive)..... were first isolated from human urine in the 1960's... i don't remember if we produce them as by products or if they simply pass through our diet as a result of eating plant materials, but either way its a great source of hormones and additional b vitamins and trace elements.

]]> By: Lauriehttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/comment-page-1/#comment-8136 Laurie Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:09:00 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/#comment-8136 Hi Anais, Actually, I've thought about using urine fertilizer for quite awhile now. There really are no health reasons not to. My main concern is not to overdo the nitrogen so my plants grow too much foliage and not enough fruit. I find it ludicrous that we Americans mix valuable sources of fertility with drinkable water and flush it all away - it then becomes a problem to deal with as well as a "waste" in the true sense of the word.I know I am not like many people: I'm a veterinarian and a mom - I'm totally used to earthy body things. I also own a copy of the Humanure Handbook, and if I had my place in the country I'd be composting my family's humanure and using this resource. (By the way, the book says that it's best to keep the liquid and solids together.) But I live in town - it's not feasible. Separating urine now and then will be easy.Last year, when we had minnows left after a fishing trip, I let them live in one of my 50 gallon rainbarrels, and used this water for irrigating container grown edibles. WOW what a difference the fish waste made - my container yields were amazing. (Also, as they died, the minnows were fed to my chickens, who relished them!) This year I plan to repeat this experiment, and want to try diluted human urine as well.I've never been much of user of concentrated fertilizer, instead depending heavily on composted kitchen scraps, chicken manure and grass clippings. I think this season I will only use the more concentrated sources (fish water, urine water) on container plants and ornamentals regularly, and the main veg beds only a few times per season. Small changes...thanks for bringing this up Anais! Hi Anais,
Actually, I've thought about using urine fertilizer for quite awhile now. There really are no health reasons not to. My main concern is not to overdo the nitrogen so my plants grow too much foliage and not enough fruit. I find it ludicrous that we Americans mix valuable sources of fertility with drinkable water and flush it all away - it then becomes a problem to deal with as well as a "waste" in the true sense of the word.

I know I am not like many people: I'm a veterinarian and a mom - I'm totally used to earthy body things. I also own a copy of the Humanure Handbook, and if I had my place in the country I'd be composting my family's humanure and using this resource. (By the way, the book says that it's best to keep the liquid and solids together.) But I live in town - it's not feasible. Separating urine now and then will be easy.

Last year, when we had minnows left after a fishing trip, I let them live in one of my 50 gallon rainbarrels, and used this water for irrigating container grown edibles. WOW what a difference the fish waste made - my container yields were amazing. (Also, as they died, the minnows were fed to my chickens, who relished them!) This year I plan to repeat this experiment, and want to try diluted human urine as well.

I've never been much of user of concentrated fertilizer, instead depending heavily on composted kitchen scraps, chicken manure and grass clippings. I think this season I will only use the more concentrated sources (fish water, urine water) on container plants and ornamentals regularly, and the main veg beds only a few times per season. Small changes...

thanks for bringing this up Anais!

]]> By: Anaishttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/comment-page-1/#comment-8132 Anais Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:46:22 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/#comment-8132 Hello DavidThanks for the link.What are folks thoughts on using urine?Care to comment, let's open this topic up to some discussion. I bet you there are some readers out there that do apply urine to their compost piles! Hello David

Thanks for the link.

What are folks thoughts on using urine?

Care to comment, let's open this topic up to some discussion. I bet you there are some readers out there that do apply urine to their compost piles!

]]> By: Anaishttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/comment-page-1/#comment-8131 Anais Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:43:50 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/#comment-8131 KoryThanks for your question. Bokashi doesn't replace composting. We just use a variety of composting techniques. Not saying one is better than the other, but a combination of different methods and applications doesn't hurt.We use worms and a variety of compost bins to break down organic matter. Bokashi is just a method of fermenting organic matter. Breaking it down faster than normal composting methods.We apply Bokashi both to the soil and compost whenever we can. Kory

Thanks for your question. Bokashi doesn't replace composting. We just use a variety of composting techniques. Not saying one is better than the other, but a combination of different methods and applications doesn't hurt.

We use worms and a variety of compost bins to break down organic matter. Bokashi is just a method of fermenting organic matter. Breaking it down faster than normal composting methods.

We apply Bokashi both to the soil and compost whenever we can.

]]> By: Juliehttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/comment-page-1/#comment-8078 Julie Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:22:03 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/#comment-8078 I must admit to being a bit confused about your use of the term "NPK fertilizer" - I presume by that you are referring to artificially manufactured fertilizers? All fertilizers, including those we consider "natural" such as animal manure and compost, contain varying concentrations of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) (amongst other things), which is what makes the plants grow. So it seems to me that wanting to be "NPK free" is a bit odd? I must admit to being a bit confused about your use of the term "NPK fertilizer" - I presume by that you are referring to artificially manufactured fertilizers? All fertilizers, including those we consider "natural" such as animal manure and compost, contain varying concentrations of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) (amongst other things), which is what makes the plants grow. So it seems to me that wanting to be "NPK free" is a bit odd?

]]> By: Davidhttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/comment-page-1/#comment-8033 David Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:57:45 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/#comment-8033 Human urine used as phosphates in Sweden(Warning of World Phosphate Shortage, The Aulstralian). I heard this was used in China as well, but doesn't seem very healthy. Humanure might address this as well, albeit as a last resort.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanure Human urine used as phosphates in Sweden(Warning of World Phosphate Shortage, The Aulstralian). I heard this was used in China as well, but doesn't seem very healthy. Humanure might address this as well, albeit as a last resort.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanure

]]> By: koryhttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/comment-page-1/#comment-8018 kory Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:31:51 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/#comment-8018 how does composting fit into the grand scheme of soil ammendment? Does this replace compost? Do you apply the Bokashi on whatever schedule you would fertilize or does it go into the soil at planting time like I usually do with compost? how does composting fit into the grand scheme of soil ammendment? Does this replace compost? Do you apply the Bokashi on whatever schedule you would fertilize or does it go into the soil at planting time like I usually do with compost?

]]> By: palomahttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/comment-page-1/#comment-8017 paloma Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:10:58 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/04/01/look-ma-no-fertilizers/#comment-8017 Your "A Guide to EM Bokashi Composting" link is broken. You accidentally typed htto instead of http. Your "A Guide to EM Bokashi Composting" link is broken.
You accidentally typed htto instead of http.

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