| Author |
HomeSafeHome:  Store bought compost-beware  |
|
|
nampafarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
494 Posts
Kim
Nampa
ID
USA
494 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 21 2008 : 07:02:57 AM
|
| Most of you probably make your own compost, but sometimes may have to buy matter. I recently found out that there is human waste, recycled of course, in some bags you may buy at the store. I have found some bags that say 'contains no waste matter' but you do have to look hard. I have found the bags at Home Depot. |
|
|
paintnpencils
Farmgirl in Training
31 Posts
jessica
glen rock
pa
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - Jun 13 2009 : 8:43:19 PM
|
wow that is really disgusting but good to know! I would hate to get my hands in that!
each day is a new oportunity to create,improve, expand, and share. |
 |
|
|
Tapestry
True Blue Farmgirl
1223 Posts
Cheryl
Wisconsin
USA
1223 Posts |
|
|
MuslinBunnies
True Blue Farmgirl
113 Posts
Tina
Franklin
NH
USA
113 Posts |
Posted - Jun 15 2009 : 12:43:53 PM
|
My first response to this was also "Gross!"
Then I got to thinking. There are an estimated 306 million people living in the USA. The world population is nearing 7 billion people. That is a lot of waste material to have to put somewhere.
We have no problem composting cow manure, horse manure, pig, goat, or llama manure. Almost any barnyard animal gets it's wastes put in a compost heap to be reused for the nutrients that they contain. I know I wouldn't stick my hands into a pile of fresh cow dung and start gardening with it!
Let's face it, we are dumping dirt created from poop on our gardens every year. And we are not worried about any pathogens that may be spread that way. That's because we know that any pathogens are killed by the heat created in the middle of the compost pile in the process of making the dirt.
Human wastes are full of unused nutrients. The human body is not good at breaking down vegetable matter. Many of those nutrients pass straight through our digestive systems. At the moment, most communities flush those wastes into waste water management systems that use a lot of water and chemicals to treat them. Many of the nutrients get flushed into the waterways and oceans causing nutrient overloads and pollution. Think about it. If there was a way to harvest all of the waste matter and recycle it, improving the soil instead of poisoning our water with it, wouldn't that be a better solution?
My Website: http://muslinbunnies.tripod.com/
My Etsy: http://FelineFeathers.etsy.com
My Button Quail Site: http://groups.google.com/group/button-quail-planet |
|
|
|
Tapestry
True Blue Farmgirl
1223 Posts
Cheryl
Wisconsin
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - Jun 16 2009 : 12:17:28 AM
|
Actually Tina, you're probably right. In all honesty human manure probably isn't any different from any other kind of manure except that psychologically for us it is distasteful. I wonder sometimes if all pathogens are actually killed during composting. If so, why do we still hear of numerous cases of ecoli contamination in our produce? Ecoli bacteria is found in fecal matter. I still have concerns even with cow manure. So far my compost pile is mainly made up of leaves and organic matter. I think I might keep it that way. Somehow it feels safer to me.
Happy farmgirl sister #353
Look for rainbows instead of mud puddles 
http://fantasm01.imagekind.com/
http://tapestrysimaginings.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
laurzgot
True Blue Farmgirl
1672 Posts
Laurie
Alvin
Texas
USA
1672 Posts |
Posted - Jun 16 2009 : 12:47:01 PM
|
Hey, Tina and Cheryl---- I agree with both of you gals. My compost is basically leaves and grass clippings and other organic material. Ecoli is spooky to think about but natural is good. I think we all need to try and do our part for a greener planet. I think it was on the discovery channel awhile back on how some company used unwanted old food and such to make compost matter. Just a few thoughts.
Laurie
suburban countrygirl at heart |
|
|
|
Betty J.
True Blue Farmgirl
1403 Posts
Betty
Pasco
WA
USA
1403 Posts |
Posted - Jun 16 2009 : 1:03:44 PM
|
My sentiments: "GROSS"
We can usually control what the animals eat, but what about stuff humans dine on? I think I'll stick with the animals--besides if I know where it comes from and it's sterilized, that's a bit different. Even though I use steer manure, I would not like to stick my uncovered hands into a bag of manure.
Betty in Pasco |
|
|
|
brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
|
|
TurkeyGirl
Farmgirl in Training
12 Posts
Carrie
Wellington
OH
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2009 : 7:28:26 PM
|
This is my first time posting, but I just couldn't pass this topic up! Think about all the human waste that is 'treated' and then released into the same water where we source our drinking water. Somehow I think a country home's well-functioning septic system where some bacteria and microbes help break down the waste is better than urban sewer systems that outlet into waterways around here.
A long time ago, my grandfather had a load of sludge from a treatment plant that he plowed under in a field waaay back on his farm. He said it was OK, except that certain items (ahem, think birth control) didn't break down too quick and resurfaced. I don't think he ever did that more than once! I have seen ads for composting toilets too. But I think I'm going to read those bags more closely...!
Carrie
Northcoast of Ohio
Opportunity is often missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work. Thomas Edison |
|
|
|
peapicker
True Blue Farmgirl
716 Posts
texas
USA
716 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2009 : 8:11:42 PM
|
| All I can say is I am going to work on my compost pile double time. No wonder we all have so many health problems. I know the experts say we are cleaner and safer now more than ever but I'm sure if I believe that most of the time. |
|
|
| |
HomeSafeHome: Store bought compost-beware |
|
Store bought compost-beware
