Real Organic Agriculture: Using Human Waste As Fertilizer

[lvhongyu]

The other day, I got some funny looks from a journalist who was interviewing me for an upcoming series on World Food Day. She asked me to list some of the ways I thought world hunger could be reduced. In addition to pointing to the need for better distribution of food and other resources, I gave my standard spiel about growing more food in cities. About half of the world's population now lives in cities, which makes growing food there not just a hobby for wealthy urbanites, but an essential step in improving the health of the urban poor. But what made the journalist look askance was my description of how exactly urban farmers in some parts of the world are fertilizing their crops: with human manure and urine is irrigated with waste water. According to the International Water Management Institute, the reason is very simple—water from sewage systems is a low-cost, nutrient-rich source of irrigation for the urban poor. As a result, worldwide, 3.5 to 4.5 million hectares of land are irrigated with poop and pee. And while this sort of "waste" water can contain a whole range of pathogens, farmers can learn to use it safely. In fact, a Finnish studyreleased earlier this week found that using human urine for irrigation can slightly increase plant growth (they used cabbages) and does not affect the nutritional value of the crop. In other words, urine can replace costly store-bought fertilizers and produce nutritious, organically grown food. Although farmers have used human waste as fertilizer for centuries, cities and governments have more recently looked down on the practice. But in countries like Ghana, officials do not have the money or infrastructure to provide alternatives. In Accra, for example, 200,000 people a day eat salad from land irrigated with urine and human manure. But while this helps provide these folks a diversified diet, it also gives a sense of how many people may be at risk from polluted water. Educating farmers on how to grow, wash, and prepare urban food safely and educating policymakers about the agricultural and economic benefits of human waste will help ensure that millions of urban dwellers don't go hungry.

[Meridian007]

Speaking as someone from Southern Ontario, where they spread liquid cow and pig feces on the fields each spring, you don't want it here. There is a reason it isn't accepted in the cities, the smell. There's already another post on the general forum about the lovely smells coming from the sewers here, this would just add to that "fragrance"!

[garyh]

While I agree with most of what you say, what about the parasites etc that are going straight back into the peoples mouths?

[Kanlayanee]

i have been using my waste (both kinds) for years and years in my garden with no problems

i am proud of doing this and look forward to mixing it with my kitchen wastes and some water at high pressure for a few secs

this slurry is so perfect for my papayas! they absolutely love it

this is a great solution for everyone really and the planet no doubt

time to get back into the circle and heal ourselves and the world

this is gold really (black gold) but people dont know it

one day this will be normal and I wont sound like some crazy freak

[kloghead]

Hey Kanyalanee

Are you shlttlng me?

[Pond Life]

Here's a website with info.

A little bit of searching for "Humanure Handbook" on the web will find you a free download.

http://humanurehandbook.com/index.html