I have a question for you all. Why is a diluted solution of human urine, used to kickstart a compost heap, known in some quarters as "Chairman Mao's"?
Answers on an (electronic) postcard please ... this isn't a test, by the way, I really don't know the answer either.
I can't remember exactly why (so I'm not much use!) but my gardening tutor at evening classes always said get the men to pee on your compost heap on their way back from the pub! Urine seems to be a good compost accelerator and apparently provides good nutrients.
Posted by: Lisa | September 11, 2005 at 11:02 AM
I think it's the nitrogen.
There's actually a book on the subject: http://www.liquidgoldbook.com/
Posted by: Muppet | September 12, 2005 at 09:50 AM
Erm, I'm not sure about this, but I think I read somewhere that the Mao bit refers to Mineral Augmented Organic - or is that something completely unrelated?
I feel sure that I'd also read that only male urine will work as an accelerator...
Posted by: Clare | September 12, 2005 at 04:56 PM
1) Urine, from animals or people of either sex, contains a lot of Nitrogen (primarily urea), and so is useful for speeding the decomposition of "brown" (high-Carbon) waste.
2) Urine also has a fair amount of salts, and too much can be toxic to plants.
3) China is unusual in that people commonly fertilize with human waste (urine and deces, aka "night earth"). This is one reason the Chinese generally avoid raw food such as salads (and sushi); they would suffer epidemics if marketed products were eaten raw.
4) Chairman Mao was dictator of China. He was very interested in agricultural and industrial production. (Perhaps too interested, as his schemes lead to tens of millions of deaths from famine.) It would not surprise me if he on occasion exhorted the people to make more use of free sources of fertilizer such as urine.
Posted by: DWPittelli | September 13, 2005 at 03:38 AM
Oops, that's "feces" not "deces"!
Posted by: d | September 13, 2005 at 03:39 AM
Here's one use of the phrase:
http://www.blacklakeorganic.com/newsletters/2003_BLO_Winter_Newsletter.pdf
See p. 29.
Posted by: Amy Stewart | September 13, 2005 at 08:20 PM
Well this has prompted an interesting discussion - it seems the Mineral Augmented Organic solution is the most likely as amy and clare point out.
Cheers to all for the suggestions!
Posted by: Jane Perrone | September 14, 2005 at 02:06 AM