The collected human waste is commonly referred to as humanure and ecological fertiliser, the report said. His book, the humanure handbook a guide to composting human manure is filled with research and bibliographies that teach us step by step, what we should really be doing with our sewage, rather than discharging it into the toilet. Is it safe to use compost made from treated human waste. The humanure handbook 4th edition shit in a nutshell by joseph jenkins. This was an already known fact by early chinese agricultural writers, who warned that untreated humanure could burn and kill plants, rot the shoots and harm human hands and feet. Heres a selection of our favourite books on composting, soil building and gardening. Jenkins is a humanure composting practitioner and organic gardener.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A guide to composting human manure is in its third edition and has been translated into five languages, but it has only recently begun to catch on. The first edition of the book was execrable, but it developed a. Jun 10, 2008 poo is a crappy subject, but one worth covering. Humanure the perfect shtf sanitation system survival.
It is not a waste disposal device used to dispose of waste, as is a flush toilet. The 1st edition of humanure was published in 1994 with a print run of 660 copies, which the author fully expected would last the rest of his life. Im homesteading and ive been keeping the waste in buckets till i found a good solution to deal with it. However, if you live in a cooler climate, i suggest letting it sit for a full. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts.
For these reasons, humanure should be recycled whenever possible. A subject thats been popping out more and more is can i vermicompost my poo. In order to become sustainable as a society, in the future well have to close the loops of nutrient cycling and begin doing humanure on the large infrastucture scale, redirecting human waste to fertilizing crops instead of dumping it into waterways. Composting toilets have been around for years the first commercial models were available in canada in the 80s. The authors web store where you can buy the humanure handbook 4th edition. How to safely compost human waste composting toilets. Human waste composting safe, sanitary, ecofriendly, illegal. I thought i would share the experiences of our friend, gus, in california who has been creating. In this era of environmental consciousness and sustainable living, it may seem that composting human waste, sometimes known as humanure, makes sense. Humanure composting follows the basic principles of organic composting. Detailed advice interspersed with humor paperback fourth edition by joseph jenkins 6 x 9, 302 pp. Today we know it also carries more severe health risks.
And all human waste will eventually be converted back into the earth. Human waste contains harmful microorganisms that are fatal to humans. The humanure handbook by joseph jenkins was first born as a masters thesis for his master of science degree in sustainable systems. Humanure, unlike human waste, is not waste at all it is an. Human excrement can be a major source of environmental pollution around the world. If you follow a few simple steps, you will be able to compost human waste safely and easily, with zero odor. The humanure handbook is a great how to and more importantly whyto guide to composting human manure. A great and symply way to take responsably for your own waste. Humanure 143 forest ln, grove city, pennsylvania 16127 rated 4.
Compost in a grid down situation, the ability to flush away human waste is usually gone. Composting human and food waste the method youtube. In that time ive managed numerous compost piles, scrubbed countless buckets, read the humanure handbook about five times, built a variety of structures to serve as outhouses, had numerous outhouses built by others, and created a lot of soil. There are almost seven billion defecating people on planet earth, but few who have any clue about how to constructively handle the burgeoning mountain of human crap. First, it is much easier to compost human waste waste from a urine diverting composting toilet. Human faeces and urine can only be used as a fertilizer following further treatment.
A humanure toilet collects organic materials, primarily toilet material, which includes human excrements, fecal material, urine and toilet paper. Composting toiletsso youre already a fan of composting, but are you ready to make the leap to composting human waste aka humanure more hip than hippie podcast. Sep 18, 2008 written by a humanure composting practitioner and organic gardener with over 30 years experience, this third edition provides detailed scientific information on how humanure can be hygienically recycled, without fancy technological dodads, a large bank account, toxic chemicals, or environmental pollution. From my research to date, the resulting material from proper hot composting of human waste has been tested and its safe. Humanure compost toilet system condensed instruction. However, others believe that human waste composting can be effective, but only when it is. Joe began selfpublishing when he turned his masters thesis into the nonfiction humanure handbook and published it in 1995. A guide to composting human manure by jenkins, joseph c. Placing fresh material in the center also promotes aeration, eliminating the need to turn the pile with a pitchfork, as is often suggested in composting books and classes. The stink about human poop as fertilizer modern farmer.
A guide to composting human manure 3rd revised edition by joseph c. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Learn how to safely recycle human excrement humanure without chemicals, technology or environmental pollution. Without proper treatment it can quickly become a hazard to your familys health. This 5x15 bin was built for nothing out of old boards and salvaged nails and screws. If you cant flush it or dont want to, what can you do with it. The collected human waste is commonly referred to as humanure and ecological fertiliser, the report said anc daily news briefing. Written by a humanure composting practitioner and organic gardener with over 30 years experience, this third edition provides detailed scientific information on how humanure can be hygienically recycled, without fancy technological dodads, a large bank account, toxic chemicals, or environmental pollution. There are so many good books out there and this is by no means a complete list. This short video clip shows a humanure compost pile on its first day. It is used, for example, in gardens, landscaping, horticulture, urban agriculture and organic farming. Jan 12, 2018 composted human waste is excellent fertilizer for nonedible plants. Mar 29, 2017 when composting human waste, it is important to use the finished compost on nonedible plants only, and not place it directly on something you will consume. Used in many commercial, industrial and household applications, activated charcoal is charcoal that has been treated with oxygen, which creates a fine, porous material.
Its clear, informative, scientific, interesting and at times even humorous. Please let us know your favourite books and we will add them to our list. The waste of humans must be properly recycled, or composted, to eliminate any potential health risks and the contamination of water sources the raw sewage can leach into. Humanure is a portmanteau of human and manure, designating human excrement feces and urine that is recycled via composting for agricultural purposes. Humanure handbook free download the permaculture research. The term was first used in 1994 in a book by joseph jenkins that advocates the use of this organic soil amendment. Jenkins is a great writer with a passion and knowledge of nature and ecology is quite thorough, making this work popular for very good reason.
Joseph jenkins, a 20year veteran of using a 5gallon bucket sawdusttoilet, begins by challenging our common practice of defecating in drinkingquality water. Recently i came across a spate of comments about humanure, or the composting of human waste. The empty bin bottom is dished out, the biological sponge is added, and toilet materials are. This is because there is a very small chance that dangerous bacteria or viruses are still alive in the compost. Also collected in the toilet are toilet paper as well as paper tubes from the center of the toilet paper rolls. The fecal and urine of people that is recycled for agricultural purposes is the semiofficial definition of humanure. More and more people are discovering the water and moneysaving benefits of fertilizing our gardens with human waste. The humanure handbook, newly released in a revised, expanded, and updated edition, is a delightful treatise on composting human waste. Nov 29, 2011 compost in a grid down situation, the ability to flush away human waste is usually gone. Compost toilets produce no waste, no sewage, no wastewater, no odor and no.
Mar 07, 2017 placing fresh material in the center also promotes aeration, eliminating the need to turn the pile with a pitchfork, as is often suggested in composting books and classes. Joe jenkins has written a book for the really passionate doityourself composting enthusiast. No respectable publisher would touch it with a ten foot shovel. With a nonurine diverting toilet, the contents will be too wet for efficient composting, and the combination of urine and feces creates an anaerobic environment that allows very stinky bacteria to flourish think outhouse or portable toilet at large public event. To further the conversation about human waste, in 2010, robinson coordinated a conference in colorado, called exit strategiesmanaging human waste in the wild conference. When discarded into the environment as a waste material human waste, it creates pollution and threatens public health. Aug 24, 2017 showing you our composting set up for all our food and human waste. Treated human waste has been used on farmland for decades, but the ick factor has not entirely faded. Most people would find some parts of this book a bit disgusting but thats all because we are all so used to flush toilets which not only waste water but pollute the. All urine is collected in the humanure toilet no urine separation is required or recommended. A easy way to avoid having septic and waste, and put nutrients back into the soil. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the humanure handbook. A large outdoor compost bin is key in recycling all your waste into highquality fertilizer.
So ive been doing some research on different ways to compost human waste. It looks like all i need to do is provide a bin for the waste to go into and they will eat it up in no time. This book gives compelling and detailed testimony as to why humanure should be. If this process is properly controlled then the harmful microorganisms inside human waste will be destroyed and the resulting compost can be. Jul 01, 2008 joseph jenkins, author of the humanure handbook, delves into an important, if somewhat controversial subject composting human faeces. Sep 07, 2016 recently i came across a spate of comments about humanure, or the composting of human waste. Humanure compost toilet system condensed instruction manual. The material removed from a urine diverting toilet should be just slightly damp perfect for composting. There, he collaborated with geoff hill, who was pursuing his ph. The humanure residue remaining in the pod, though, i treated as humanure and it went into my long composting system i had been using for humanure before i got the bsf. Wait until after youve eaten before reading this article on lessening the impact of human waste by turning it into compost humanure. The list is meant to be a reference for a beginning or avid composter. Although some commercial composting toilets are approved by local sanitation authorities, homemade humanure systems are rarely approved. Recycling animal and human dung is the key to sustainable.
The topic is highly debatable, but most experts agree that using human waste as compost is a bad idea. Free shipping in the continental usa alaska and hawaii not included. Finally we have a comprehensive book on recycling human excrement. Books about composting this list can include books about any legitimate form of composting, and can also include books that only have a chapter or section on composting. In the video above, joseph explains how to set up a safe. Composted human waste is excellent fertilizer for nonedible plants. The humanure handbook a guide to composting human manure by joseph jenkins, 1999, 2nd edition, jenkins publishing. Joseph jenkins, author of the humanure handbook, delves into an important, if somewhat controversial subject composting human faeces. Some waste treatment plants burn it or ship it to landfills, which arent the most economically or environmentally friendly solutions. Its not difficult, but you must do it right, or people could get sick. Experts recommend that waste removed from a composting toilet or waterless toilet sit undisturbed in a compost bin outside for between 6 months and 2 years.
Its an alternative sanitation system, says jenkins, where there is no waste. Written by a humanure composting practitioner and organic gardener with over. This book tells you exactly what you need to know about how to deal with feces and urine when the toilet doesnt work. This is an article on how to safely and easily compost human waste. Composting toiletsso youre already a fan of composting, but are you ready to make the leap to composting human waste aka humanure.
From one or two people i would have to clean out this every couple of months. Some human waste ends up in forests and farm fields as the treated, humanfeces. The 1st edition of humanure was published in 1994 with a print run of 660 copies, which the author fully expected would last the rest of his life now, 11 years later, the book has sold over 25,000 copies in at least 59 countries worldwide and has been published in foreign. Using activated charcoal in compost and garden soil is an effective way. In most situations the best thing to do is to compost the waste. How to convert human waste into a safe garden compost. Fruits, nuts, berries, grains, and other crops by john jeavons. Some environmentalists think the treatment process may not get rid of all the harmful. The humanure handbook 4th edition won a gold medal in the 2019 readers favorite awards. The authors web store where you can buy the humanure handbook 4th edition free shipping and other related books and items. The humanure handbook a guide to composting human manure by joseph jenkins.
The millions of tiny pores work like a sponge that can absorb certain toxins. Using humanure in gardens is it safe to compost human waste. The humanure system is doing great things for the world. Jan 01, 2015 20 years of humanure composting 2015 marks my 20th year composting humanure, also known as human poop.
Showing you our composting set up for all our food and human waste. He translated his thesis into ordinary english for people like us. In our line of work you get a lot of poo questions, after all, we sell the stuff. The loveable loo may be the only type of toilet in the world that does not collect waste.
308 1266 339 1489 750 1407 492 60 1338 764 671 1287 582 1431 868 1265 320 1119 1384 1293 1205 809 55 878 216 107 247 329 752 1096 682 143 60 1119 79 247 274 906 1387 724 1223