Taking the piss .. ..

.. .. out to the garden.

Urine has all the hallmarks of a great fertilizer. It is rich in nitrogen as well as having reasonable amounts of phosphates and potassium. Indeed, fertilizers are rated by the NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) system and in this regard the potency of urine is similar to that of proprietary fertilizers but with the advantage of being free. Research from the Stockholm Environmental Institute suggests that one person's urine can anually fertilize about 500 square meters.

Urine is probably too concentrated, when it is produced, to be used directly on plants. It should be diluted 8:1 with water, although other sources suggest stronger concentrations can be used. However, direct from the source, and undilutted, it can be added to the compost heap as an activator and as a useful way of adding nitrogen to a carbon heavy heap.

As there can be other salts in your urine it should be used around the garden. Apply at different sites each time and avoid always using the one site. When using the fertilizer it should be delivered to the plants roots not the leaves to avoid the risk of scorching.

As part of the drive to self-reliance we have decided that this is the next stage and will reduce our need for fertilizers. This, plus composting, should meet our needs. For reasons of practicality this will mainly be a male chore. I feel that we can probably allow visitors to skip this.

This is job number 1. However, there is an obvious job number 2, though this step is perhaps one too far at present. For those wishing more information about human manure I'd suggest The Humanure Handbook which can be downloaded here (or as kindle file here.)