Question about Urine

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

I understand that it should only be men's wee that should be used on compost heaps etc. Would it lose any nitrogen value if it was transported by bottle?

Gawd that sounds mad:rotfl: Basically, my garden is a shared one, 15 minutes bus ride away. The walls are too low for my husband to pop along to spend a penny (!) and I doubt the neighbours would appreciate him lurking about at night!!

So I thought about getting hubby to collect his "liquid gold" :rotfl: in a bottle overnight or in the morning, for me to take to the garden later in the day, and I wondered how long urine can be kept for before it loses its nitrogen content? Anyone know?

Linda32

See what you mean.

No idea how long it lasts for, but I would say, just make sure hubby dose his duty when you are deffently going to the garden.

Its all very well us knowing the male urine is the thing to use, but there are things to be considered.

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

I've been doing some reading and have another question: is there any reason why a woman - who isn't on hormonal contraception/HRT etc - shouldn't use her urine?

Seems such a waste, if not...

Farway

I am male, I collect mine overnight for a few days in a 2 litre bottle, seems to do the job regardless of age

I do dilute before adding to compost dalek, but I suspect it makes no differance

Jei70

I think the only reason it's male urine is that it's easier for them to, erm, activate the compost directly!

Having said that, our compost bin is so exposed that my OH always used the bottle system. I never thought that the nitrogen could disappear - after all, urine is not in a gaseous state - but I suppose the bacteria can consume it, exactly like on the compost heap! However, it should take much longer than a day or two, as urine is effectively sterile to start with, so the bacteria would need time to colonise it in the first place.

alanobrien

Its basically ammonia/urea which breaks down into nitrite then nitrate so no it will not loose anything with temporary storage.

irishwexford

We have a shed on allotment so OH pops in there and wees into a plastic milk bottle. He has done this ever since he saw someone on Gardeners World adding wee to the plot. Glad Im not expected to do this.

elsien

Shewee anyone?
http://www.shewee.com/newstore/

valk_scot

I can be up on the allotment for several hours so I do keep a bucket in the shed as an emergency loo and yup, I empty it on the compost heap. My evil female hormones never seemed to do it any harm, not that I've noticed. I think this "male urine only" is a bit of a myth tbh.

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

Thanks so much everyone. I shall start collecting his wee imminently (well, starting next growing season, anyway). He's surprisingly delighted! Men and their little boy things, eh:rotfl:

I shall have to look into getting a bucket with loo lid for me...:o

Lotus-eater

valk_scot wrote: »

I think this "male urine only" is a bit of a myth tbh.

I believe there is science behind it, but I have a feeling it's that male urine works harder and faster, or something like that.
I'm sure someone can work some sort of sexist joke into that.