Chapter 3: Microhusbandry – Harnessing the power of microorganisms
Generally speaking, there are four ways to deal with humanure: 1) Treat it as waste and “dispose” of it, 2) Apply it raw onto fields as a fertilizer, 3) slowly compost it over an extended period of time, 4) Thermophilic (high heat) composting, which is more rapid and helps ensure an environment in which pathogens cannot survive.
As mentioned before, some Asian societies have used raw humanure (called night soil) on their fields, and it causes the crops to flourish, but also leads to human health problems. He quotes a Dr. Scharf, public health officer in Singapore, to this extent, and also quotes him as saying that a water borne sewage system is the ideal goal. I imagine Jenkins rolling up his sleeves here and getting ready to clock the good doctor! The World Health Organization also discourages the use of raw night soil.
This reminds me of a conversation I had at work a while ago…a few coworkers were talking about composting, and I mentioned humanure composting (of course) and one of them got completely grossed out, flustered, and even upset. She travels a lot in Southeast Asia for her work, and sees (and smells!) places where people are playing in or drinking from places contaminated with human waste. So from that side of it she was super passionate about how disgusting human excrement is, and she certainly has good reason to. But she didn’t know about how it can be properly maintained (and rather simply, as well.)
So Jenkins reminds his readers that this book is about composting humanure, so they don’t have to worry about this night soil business. Now, he mentions composting at relatively low temperatures, at or below that of the human body (98.6 F). Given enough time, this should be safe, but he somewhat timidly recommends that if anyone is concerned they could use such compost for trees and flowers and things, instead of food.
“ Thermophilic composting is the fourth way to deal with human excrement. This type of composting involves the cultivation of heat-loving, or thermophilic, microorganisms in the composting
process. Thermophilic microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, can create an environment in the compost which destroys disease organisms that can exist in humanure, converting humanure into a
friendly, pleasant-smelling humus safe for food gardens. Thermophilically composted humanure is entirely different from night soil. ” (p. 26)
I think it is a bit awkward to say that the environment destroys pathogens that can exist in the pile…I would say that a minimally managed compost pile cultivates an environment where pathogens cannot survive. It’s not likely that these things are being added to an individual family’s pile if the family members aren’t sick!
Here’s a few definitions of compost that he puts forward:
The On-Farm Composting Handbook says that compost is “a group of organic residues or a mixture of organic residues and soil that have been piled, moistened, and allowed to undergo aerobic biological decomposition.”
The Compost Council adds their two-cents worth in defining compost: “Compost is the stabilized and sanitized product of composting; compost is largely decomposed material and is in the process of humification (curing, turning into humus). Compost has little resemblance in physical form to the original material from which it is made.” That last sentence should be particularly reassuring to the humanure composter.
J. I. Rodale states it a bit more eloquently: “Compost is more than a fertilizer or a healing agent for the soil’s wounds. It is a symbol of continuing life . . . The compost heap is to the organic gardener what the typewriter is to the writer, what the shovel is to the laborer, and what the truck is to the truckdriver.” 4
I think this Rodale quote is a good one. He is a famous name in composting, with his book “FILL THIS IN” but he does not address the humanure concept, and also incorrectly says that a number of types of foods (oils, fat, meat) should not be composted. He did not really go into the thermophilic concept, which handles all of these things just fine. If a pile is kept in decent condition, thermophilic bacteria will thrive, the pile will get hot, and once that period is over, all the other fun bugs and bacteria will take over! He says it’s almost miraculous how it works, and I agree that it’s pretty darn amazing!
He follows this by a great little section putting all this in historical perspective. Thousands of years ago our ancestors stared up at the sky and were amazed at what they saw and did not understand it. Just as the universe is an amazing thing, so is the microscopic world which is like another complete universe we are largely unaware of! “Our ancestors had little understanding of the vast, invisible world which surrounded them, a world of countless creatures so small as to be quite beyond the range of human sight” (27). He points out that yeasts have been used for several centuries, but that the intentional use of bacteria by humans is relatively new (I might add that fermentation to produce alcohol is probably one bacterial use that humans have used for awhile.) Bu it really is neat how this whole world of microscopic organisms keeps our planet going and are the “worker bees” of recycling for our planet! (Hmm, makes me wonder if nanotechnology could ever do something like this, or even if people would bother since microorganisms already do such a great job)
I like the next little section, “Solar Power in a Banana Peel” – He points out that every scrap of food and agricultural products contain solar energy in a way, since the sun allows things to grow in conjunction with photosynthesis in plants. So that banana peel that we throw away (I use “we” to mean “not me” in this case, haha) still contains useful energy created from photosynthesis and the sun! Anything that was once living or was made from something that was once living, can compost! Another way of putting it is that anything that can rot can compost. So manure, plants, leaves, sawdust, peat, straw,
grass clippings, food scraps, urine, cotton clothing, wool rugs, rags, paper, animal carcasses, junk mail and cardboard.
Apparently, Jenkins named his compost pile “Gomer.” This next part will cover what it takes to keep Gomer happy, and why he is made up of layers of different material. A pile is useful for many reasons, including water retention (will absorb water and not leach it), will hold in heat, looks neat and tidy, and is easy to cover with fresh organic cover material that will prevent odors. Moisture is important because the various bacteria and fungi need the water to survive, and (this is super cool) actually use moisture to travel! Turns out that the moisture forms a thin layer on the various materials in the pile and they can swim along it using their little flagella things! You can also put up wood or straw bales around your bin to further insulate for winter time (so you can build it within a wooden structure to begin with, or insulate it somehow during winter, or just not worry about it at all). The point is that piles are simple and easy to manage and look wonderful. (I will attach pics of my two piles! I fill one up until I feel like it’s enough then I start the other pile going and let the first pile sit for an extra period of time).
That wraps it up for now…this is a long chapter so I will continue with the rest next time. Coming up next is a more detailed discssion about the needs of the pile: moisture, oxygen, temperature, and a balanced diet (food for the microorganisms).
) [the bit on ILSR was just from me, not in the humanure book]
