Table Of Content363.7288 352h
Jenkins, Joseph C.
The humanure handbook : a
guide to composting human
8
33293006046736
HUMANUKE
HANDBOOK
A GUIDE TO COMPOSTING HUMAN MANURE
(Emphasizing Minimum Technology and Maximum Hygienic Safety}
Copyright 1994 by Josaph C. Jenkins
All Rights Reserved
Third Printing
ne author permits the use ol susstanual excerpts fram thisbeok, providing that dhe use of
such excerpi is ot fr the porpose of financiol protic, aad thatthe source of tbe inarna
UUon, including ttle ofthis book. and the publite:’sahdress,isacknowledged onthe copied.
ton, This cease ts granted forthe purpose of making informatie on the subject of
‘ounposting humanure svalable to thse people whe rannct afford to porchase the entire
Took,
Correspondences andor book orders may be addressed te:
Jeakins Publishing, PO Box G07, Grove City. PA 16127 USA
ISBN 0-9644258-4-X
| ibrary of Congress Catalog Card Number: 95-94239
The Tlumanure Handbook
Copyright 1994 by Joseph C. Jenkins
All Fights reserved excep! as outlined on previous paye.
Printed in che United States of America ~ Published in the United States by
Jenkins Publishing ~ PO Box 607 + Grove City, PA 16127 USA.
Acknowledgements
Editorial assistance fiom the following persons is gratefully acknowledged:
Jeenine Jenkins, Joseph J Jenkins, Mickael Crews, Barty Smith, and Stephen
Brown
‘Thanks also to Tom Renvanco for the information on the Guatemalan moulder-
ing collet and for affowing me t photograph him next toa Clivus Multrum; to Pam
‘Owens for allowing me io photograph her with cedar posts in hand: to Jeanine for
arscing the payes of this hack with phatas of her working with humanure compost,
and to all the neighbors and fricnds who helped in the creation of this book by loan
ing the author reference materials, by suggesting sources of information, and for
allowing the author to photograph their sawdust toilets, which was done in some
cases (quite hy accident) when they weren't home, allowing for candid photos of
sawdust toilets as they look everyday.
‘A word of appreciation is in order for the Slippery Rock Universily Master of
Science in Sustainable Systeins program, Slippery Rock, PA 16057 USA, which
played » significant rote in encouraging the author to focus his attention on the sub-
ject at hand.
A note of appreciation must be added for the international permaculture, organ
ic agriculture, and sustainable gardening communities, whose existence and support
tas been inspirational
Finally, « special aote of recognition must be added in behalf of the author's
wife, Jeanine, whose assistance at every stage in the oration of this work was
tremendously henefical
Photographs, des.gn and graphics are by the author unless otherwise indicated
Some of the uraphics include clip art, or modified clip art, and any advertisements ot
segments of advertisements came from very old magazines found in a bam,
Cartoon arrwork on payes 28, 49, 64, 84, 108, 139, 184, 188, and back caver by
‘Tom Griffin, Our Creek, Mercer, PA 16137 USA.
Front cover artwork by Joana and Chris Ithen, fen Printing Services, Grove City,
PA 16127 USA
“Tae anc Heltah
Third Printing Notes from the Author
When first published, 1 wondered whether this book would sink or swim,
suspecting that not many people would want to read about "/emanure”. But 1
should have known - this book neither sinks nor swims, It/foats. And like a turd
that won't flush, the Humanure Handbook keeps coming back. This is surprising,
considering she humor throughout this book is exeerable, and there is plenty 10 be
offended or annoyed by if you have a mind for it. Worse, there are two prerequisites
to reading this book: you must be able to read, and you must be able to defecate
Apparently there are still some people who fit into this category, and for the most
part, their comments have been encouraging. Here’s a sampling:
“Your discovery of the proper smalt scale of the operation is world shaking.”
FA, Delaware
“F enjoyed the book immensely, but my mother is appalled. Pleasing me and
levitating my mother - you score big in my two favorite categories.” K. L., Indiana
“Your book is pure gold, just what } needed 10 give to my County Health
Department.” Mt, Missouri
“Your book was carefully handed to me in a brown paper bag at church last
Spring. Great reseurch, clear writng and terrific humor” L. U., West Virginia
“I showed a review of your Bonk to my dad and he almost gagged! Would
you mail me one uw a plain wrapper? { ive with my parems.” M,C, Colorada
“If you could claim credit for engineering the thermophilic decomposers,
you would probably win the Nobel Peace Price.” T.C., Arizona
“We started using our ‘system’ the day after receiving the book, It taok about
two itows to put together. wish more problems that al first seemed complicated and
expensive could be solved as simply as this.” J. E., New York
“E've been composting and using my own waste for the past 20 years. Mast
of my friends think il odd. 2 counter that not even barburians piss and shit in their
drinking water!” E. S., Washington
“Fascinating! We are indebted to you for your book Humanure Handbook.”
R.L., New York
“Tm sure you've probably heard ic all before, but 1 really appreciate the fact
that someone finally did their research and put 1 together in a pleasant readable
form." 8, C., Wisconsin
“For 22 years I have used scarab beetledarvae ... they eat my shit in five
minutes flat." C. M., South Carolina
“1 live and work in an international youth hostel and we're using your saw~
dust toilets." B.S., Georgia
“This wonderful bovk fits right into my compost = redemption religious phi-
fosophy: You have answered questions I have held open since childhood.” R.,
Massachusetts
“Just finished reading your book and I'm glad, Sceing Mr Tundly dancing
aroundd the compost pile wasn't my ideal dream.” #. $,, Washington
“F'm wracking my brain, irying to find a compelling way to tell yore how
great I hink your book is.” K, W., Wisconsin
“T've spent my whole life recycling, reducing, reusing everything but my own
shit and I'm gestatically erateful to have your directions reach my lap.” W., Maine
“4 found your book entertaining, informative, and a great motivating force
compelling us to start recycling our “kumanure” immediarely.”” B. W., Texas
“tis the shittiest book I've ever read, but it's great!” D.H., Wyoming
“I liked your book, Putting back nutrients after taking them awey makes
sense as well as the image of dropping a turd in a 5 gallon woitet filled with pure
drinking water seems crazy.” 't.Q., New Hampshite
“As parasites attached to the earth, i would seem that the only conscious
thing we do thal isn't killing the host, ts manuring in the woods, fields or a compost
toilet.” D. G., Minnesota
“Two things You might be interested in: A more natural wey to eliminate is in
the squatting position, fand] Urine is not a waste product, Taking urine internally
has been guing on for some time (1000 of years} and by many is considered a wore
derful medicine, I take my first urine deuly: Also, urine 1s used today in ear wo
removal, hand creams, and other. Now is that full of crap... or is i?” W. B., Ohio
“Your book (Elumanure} saved my butt at a town council meeting yesterday,
Thank you for writing it.” D. W,, Colorado
“My 74 year old farher thinks haeman waste should not be used in a garden,
andl I want to prove him wrong.” A, M., Wasbington
“T had to call my dear heart tong distance immediately to read her what mcry
be the most hopeful environmental news I've read in my 35 years, that something
Can transmute horrible toxins. Why aren all the environmentalists raving about
dns?" C., Vermont
‘There have been enough written comments about the Humanure Mandbook
to fill an entire book. ‘The first two printings have been read in every state in the
USA including Puerto Rico, and ia at least nine other countries (Canada, Australia,
Japan, England, Mexico, Guatemala, Spain, Wales, and Malaysia), by people of all
ages (teens to nonagenatians), Pethaps the time has come to make humanure
household word. And with enough brown paper bags, pethaps the book will even get
passed around a bit! SCI - Spring, 1996
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION
Page7
Chapter 1
CRAP HAPPENS
Page 13
Soiled Water; Waste Reduction-Resource Recovery; Waste vs. Manure; Experience
Helps
Chapter 2
MICROHUSBANDRY
Page 29
Naturalehemy: Gomer the Pile: The Carbon’Nitrogen Ratio; Misinformation; Have a
Good Blend; Newspaper: Lime.
Chapter 3
TYREP SHIT
Page 51
Haste vs, Manure, Again; The Advances of Science; Holy Sheesh; When the Crap Hit
the Fan
Chapter 4
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A TURD
Page 65
Mexican Biological Digester; The Old Fashioned Outhouse: Septic Systems; Sand
Mounds; Ground Water Pollution from Septic Systems; Wastewater Treatment Plants;
Chlorine; Aiternative Wastewater Treatment Systems; Agricultural Use of Sewage
Sludge: Global Sewers and Pet Turds.
Chapter 5
COMPOSTING TOILETS AND SYSTEMS
Page 85
The Non-Commercial (Homemade) Mouldering Toilet; Commercial Mouldering (or
Multrum) Toilets; More Commercial Composting Toitets; Asian Composting; Simple,
Low-Tech Humaratre Composting.
Chapter 6
WORMS AND DISEASE
Page 109
The Hunzas; Pathogens; Initicatur Pathogens; Persistence of Pathogens on Soil,
Crops, Manure and Sludge; Eliminating Pathogens From Humanure: More on
Parasitic Worms; Summary of Conditions Needed to Kill Pathogens; Conclusions.
Chapter 7
THE TAO OF COMPOST
Page 137
Primal Compost; The Evolution of Compost; Thermophilic Microorganisms; Four
Necessities for Good Compost; Doing it; The Sawiust Toilet: Analyses; Low-Impact
‘Composting: Monitoring Compost Temperature; Legalities
Chapter 8
‘THE END IS NEAR
Page 175
APPENDICES
Page 185
1) Sources of compost thermometers; 2) Metric conversions; 3)
Centigrace/ Fahrenheit conversions; +) Sawdust toilet temperature curve,
GLOSSARY
Page 189
INDEX
Page 193
‘TABLES AND FIGURES.
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"CHAPTER FOUR
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aie
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CHAPTER FIVE
Fie $1: Mou nl cle stevens
Fae 12 Mwering hile enon co)
Pogue 2-Unratan moslng ee.
Ragas 4 Mulan ol
Fee 1% Vitam dub sit
‘Bie 63: Patuyens buen
“abl 62: Vil page cen
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“abi 65: Wormgedngenin ee
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‘gto 60; Tnnamisin of pulegens gh pase, bw eopense
‘ceryesing takis wale ile
Figs: Tanmasumt pene REG erg
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Pim 66: Suniel umes ese orm ald
‘CHAPTER SE¥EN
Figure 7: Tou Tas fie cat kt
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gure 7: Grating gp campos blo
Figs 74: To ses eect pegs
ipun 741 Aowemy of aur componttn
Fig 7: Tempe cars of fen Mara rp
rn
gum 77 Cane somporer
Huw 75: Carp couse aban
6
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SUDLBARS
‘CHAPTER ONE
Pus Fete Bie ot nates
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Fin Fees Cutealgen io
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‘CHAPTER SENEN
nent Resting fr lwsnoinc:TeraopSeaicmotpas
‘AT fom Me tere: Sort
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“YecAcote Uptinm Me. Tey: Pur ead hat cl vet
tse or comating compe ba
oso Duats fa Turse Hest Competing Sin...
pMorocnacn:
‘CHAPTER ONE
aman conpea vig whetoarenet a gen
imma conpes syndy hand w psn eae
HAPTER Twa,
Huanur-compsst bing mayo: Gra ike aber in
haem crete pio ted ec eng
‘tin eeompostpte wih compost hwmamee.
CHAPTERFIVE
‘A Gi Matvun era Sippy Hack Unvesiy
‘Thecomont ofa ClnsMairon be ity temas sh
raze fore .
‘A yen Tasting cot os rs soap i
‘Abend eto
santa ik shoving moral of ame
‘Aste shed st sve
‘CHAPTER SEVEN
Ina stu wie a ne
Sana cte ia ene ponte scaler
Bevo eet. alas
Sevestodetmade of ween
Stetaatniet wots hone
‘Guetta he
Sindiae det arbou
CBArTER EGR
“The autwratthc caf elon day
‘The Humanure Maedbook,
INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION
“It is more important to tell the simple, blunt truth than it
is fo say things that sound good.”
John Heider
SPRITE ERE
material which would prove very valuable if we would recycle it for
agricultural purposes. That organic material includes food wastes,
municipal leaves and other yard wastes, agricultural residues, and human waste in the
form of digestive refuse material, otherwise known as fecal material and urine. The
simple blunt truth is that we shit every day and we should be returning that organic
material back to the soil.
Each of us is responsible for the byproducts of our digestive systems, namely
feces and urine, Feces and urine are not waste. They are natural, organic refuse mate-
rials discarded by our bodies after completing the digestive processes. We choose to
make these organic materials either waste materials or resource materials depending,
‘on what we do with them, When we discard them, we waste them, When we recycle
them, we recover a natural resource,
Recycled refuse is not waste. It isa common misuse of semantics to say that
waste is, can be, or stiould be recycled. Resource materials arc recycled. Refuse is
recycled. But waste is never recycled. That's why it's called “waste”. This may seem
like a trifling point to some, however it’s actually quite important. Those of you who
take the responsibility for recycling your refuse materials are not creating waste, and
the term “waste” should not be associated with you. If you ure composting all of your
body’s onganic refuse and returning it to the soil and someone asks you, “What do
you do with your human waste?” the correct response would be, “Whar waste?”
So let’s define some terms. Feces and urine are byproducts of the human
digestive system. They are refuse materia's. When discarded, they're known as
human waste, When recycled for agricultural purposes they're known by various
names, including night soil (in Asia) and human manure or humanure. Himanure is
not hunian waste, Thumanure is not waste - it is an agricultural resource.
A merica is a land of waste. Much of what we waste consists of organic
‘Humanure is a valuable organic resource materi, in contrast to human waste,
which is a dangerous pollutant. Humanure originated from the soil and can be quite
readily returned to the soil, especially if properly composted. Human waste (discard-
ed feces and urine), on the other hand, creates signiticant environmental problems,
provides a route of transmission for disease, and deprives humanity of important soil
nutrients. I’s also one of the primary ingredients in sewage, and is largely responsi-
ble for much of the world’s water pollution.
‘When crops of any sort are produced from soil, it is imperative that the organ-
ic residues - the refuse materials resulting from those crops, including animal excre-
‘ments - are returned to the soil from which the crops originated. This recycling of all
organic residues for agricultural purposes should be axiomatic to sustainable agri-
culture. Yet, spokespersons for the sustainable agriculture movement in the West
remain silent about using hu manure for agricultural purposes. Why?
In the 1970's I played around with the idea of composting my own manure for
a few years, bat I didn’t get into it seriously until I settled down on my own home-
stead in 1979, At that time, I began composting humanure, praceeding through the
process instinctively, altering my provedures when necessary, but always maintaining
an emphasis on simplicity. Now, fifteen years later, I've decided to write about my
experiences for the sake of those who are interested.
In the process of creating this book, I engaged in an extensive review of the
literature related to the lopiv of composting humanure. I have carefully listed all of
my references at the end of each chapter, and ] encourage the reader to look to those
references for verification or for additional information. ln that review, I was sur-
prised and even shocked to find that a) there is very little in print on the subject of
composting humanure, and b) the information that is available is inconsistent with
and sometimes diametrically opposed to the information which I gleaned from my
own experiences, For example, current literature still lists humanure as a taboo and
dangerous compost ingredient. (I don’t. In fact, | would describe it more as an essen
‘ial compost ingredient.) It recommends turning compost piles. (I don’t. In fact, tum-
ing compost piles can do more harm than good.) It recommends liming compost,
using other rock dusts in compost, or covering if with wood ashes (I don’t, Rock
dusts have no place in a compost pile.) It recommends segregating urine from feces
‘when humanure is composted (I don’t, and [ can’t imagine anything more undesirable
than segregating urine from fecal material.) And the list goes on
Before ] continue, I want to make it perfectly clear that I do not consider
myself an agricultural or scientific expert in any professional sense of the word. I am
simply a layperson with twenty years of gardening experience who has done research
