The Humanure Handbook: A Guide to Composting Human Manure

Written by a humanure composting practitioner and organic gardener with over 20 years experience, this third edition provides detailed scientific information on... how humanure can be hygienically recycled, without fancy technological do-dads, a large bank account, toxic chemicals, or environmental pollution. This unique handbook provides information on composting, soil fertility and microorganisms, alternative graywater systems and much more. It also gives detailed instructions on how you can build your own sawdust toilet and compost bins for only a few dollars. The Humanure Handbook lists sources of composting toilets worldwide, includes a review of U.S. state regulations, is richly illustrated with both technical drawings as well as humorous cartoons, and is full of reader feedback from the first edition.Defecating in our drinking water is perhaps one of our culture's most curious, but least talked about, habits. This book gives compelling and detailed testimony as to why humanure should be constructively recycled:to prevent water pollution (almost 4 trillion gallons of sewage effluent are dumped into our coastal waterways each year);to fertilize the soil (rich in soil nutrients, humanure can be safely recycled by thermophilic composting);to protect our dwindling drinking water supplies (nearly 1/3 of all household drinking water is used to flush toilets); andto enhance our health. Fertile soil not only grows great veggies, but nourishes our health and community's well-being.Detailed info »« Brief info