Winter Humanure Composting

[2012lavender]

Hey, Im around pa and I don't know where to get straw. Can you tell me who to call for delivery?

[jcjenkins01]

@2012lavender local farmers or ask Agway

[2012lavender]

@jcjenkins01 thanks

[PrinceChrisCharming]

this offers many possibilities for the future of agriculture

[YiuTeub]

Do I need to add anything for a 1 pint flusher to a compost bin on the outside of the house? Do I need a vent stack for drying or excess water drainage to a recycling bed?

It gets to -35 or so where I live but I can enclose the Bin so it stays active. Wife likes traditional water flush and this was my comprimise.

[YiuTeub]

do you put screens over it to avoid flies?

[jcjenkins01]

The cover material blocks all flies.

[clockbuilderhg]

Beautiful winter landscape! Looks a lot like northern Michigan where I live. Do you get much lake effect snow there in Pennsylvania?

[matt357]

how can i make my mom agree to this , she called the police on me cause i do it they put me in jail for 5 days

[zulubakery]

seriously though, and be honest, does it really smell bad?? like, thoughout the house, or outside, or anythwere? i think thats what scares most people is the smell, not the work

[jcjenkins01]

No it does not.

[Gunnarsguns]

facinating how you can take an age old problem of human waste disposal and simplify it and turn it into an emminently useful process.. Ive read your book ....great stuff here. I hope to copy your efforts.Thank you

[Littleone89]

I've heard that composts with kitchen scraps like veggies and things like that don't smell bad as long as there's not too much water, but if you're adding toilet waste, does it smell like the waste then?

[jcjenkins01]

There is no odor when adequate and appropriate cover materials are used.

[MessFamily]

you mentioned the fact that it might freeze. can i ask what would happen if it did freeze? does it effect the viability of the compost at all?

[jcjenkins01]

You should read the book. When it thaws, it returns to normalcy. Freezing does not affect the viability other than to render it dormant until it thaws.

[jcjenkins01]

No, it doesn't become waterlogged. Active compost is a thirsty thing - it likes water.

[Nilyentaraka]

Mr.Jenkins, when the snow melts, would you have to worry about the compost, whether active or aging, becoming waterlogged?

[FLATCY]

thank you

[jcjenkins01]

The wire is there to keep dogs and chickens out, maybe raccoons. It's rarely needed, but it's easy enough to keep it on there, just in case.

[caveatemp]

What a beautiful place you have. I miss the snow. Sort of.

What's the wire for? It can't be for critters as they would crawl right through.