As if throwing my very first zero-waste party tomorrow (Ava’s 4th birthday party which I plan to blog about it in detail another time) wasn’t enough, 
I’ve also decided to participate in Crunchy Chicken’s latest challenge. You know what one I’m talking about? No? It involves um, ah, errrr, basically watering your garden with diluted urine. Yep, you read that right. Apparently it’s really good for the plants. Something about the nitrogen. Free organic fertilizer. You can’t beat that, right? I figured I couldn’t very well call myself crunchy if I couldn’t participate in this. (The urine has to be diluted – 1 part urine to 10 parts water.)
I joked that I could ask all of the party guests to pee in a bucket and I’d haul it back to my house (gives a whole new meaning to “zero-waste”, huh?), but um, NO. I’m NOT going there. ;oP So if you are coming to the party, don’t worry. I’m NOT going to ask you for your urine. LOL You can keep your pee for your own garden. ;)
Are you up for the challenge? You know you want to. ;) (I can picture several of you squirming in your seats right now at the very thought.) Well, if urine you’re in, there’s still time to sign up over at Crunchy Chicken’s place. And let me know urine you’re in too by leaving a comment here. I’d like to know I’ll be in good company. :)
Stumble it!
Tinch says:
haha, if urine, i’m in! too funny! I’ve actually done this before. Wow how it makes the tomatoes and basil grow!!
and it is more acceptable to have my son pee outside on trees and shrubs when he was learning how to ‘go’ standing up!! we had to break him of that really quick after we caught him running outside to pee on a tree!
June 20th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Thomas says:
Or you could just apply undiluted urine to your compost pile. Less work. Some folks apply it directly!
June 20th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Jody Reale says:
What a crazy coincidence! I was just wondering this morning if something like that would work. Now, if only I had a garden worth peeing on.
Jody
Pee Ess, Announce your fertilization method of choice just AFTER everyone’s tried a slice of your strawberry rhubarb pie. (Spit take!)
June 20th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Rebecca says:
Am I totally going to gross you out if I admit that I use the water I soak my cloth menstrual pads in as fertilization/pest control? It works great, I swear!
June 20th, 2008 at 10:42 am
DesignHER Momma says:
sorry…can’t do it. My two cats piss in my garden enough for the rest of us! But you go, let me know how it works.
oh, and stumbled this for you.
June 20th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Candiandsons says:
I’ve used the gray water from my washing machine. I’ll just tell my son to water the garden for me ;o) He’d LOVE the chance.
He waters the grass and some various trees and bushes already. LOL
June 20th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Kim Priestap says:
Isn’t that too acidic? Just wondering.
June 20th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Miriam says:
No garden here (though I do have some potted tomatoes, hmmm…). I also use the water from my mama cloth soaks for the garden. Very nice.
June 20th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Sus says:
I think I might urine. Wait that’s not right. I mean I think I might be-in. Have a strawberry patch that isn’t doing as well as I’d hoped. I am totally going to get my husband to pee in a bucket for me though – more logistically do-able. :)
June 20th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
threeundertwo says:
I’m also wondering if it isn’t too acidic. I guess it’s really dilute, but hmmm.
I guess I can’t claim to be the greenest mom around. ..
June 20th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
erica says:
This is going to gross people out even more, but urine also does wonders for rashes, cuts, bruises, etc. You just pee on a cloth (sometimes I use a pantiliner!) and apply it to the itchy spot. Works like a charm, as Urea (a main component of urine) is used in most cosmetics and quite a few medications as well.
June 20th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Aimee says:
Ewww! I’m sure it’s a nice idea, but collecting it and diluting it is just a little too yucky for me. Have fun though!
June 20th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Paul WB says:
Yeah I have heard Pee is good for cuts etc, and Myth Busters did an episode where they used it to clean clothes. As for collecting it, you could get a portal toilet, that way the liquid is stored in a sealed container.
June 20th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Penny says:
LOL! I think I’ve told you already that I let Tim pee in my lemon tree pot ;) DH sometimes pees in the compost for me.
June 20th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Blessed Nest says:
Ok I’ve talked about pee way to much in one week..my nephew was watching a survival show and said that a mother saved her kids from dehydration when stuck in the desert..peed on a t-shirt and wrapped it on their heads, I guess it is very hydrating and actually sanitary…If I had a garden..which I plan too soon. ( CA we can start late) I may try it..funny..great ideas about the old wash water too..
June 20th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
A Mama's Blog (Heather) says:
i just couldn’t do that, sorry. I am wondering if you have to dilute it that much, 1 part pee to 10 parts water, is there even any nitrogen left? It seems like it would be too diluted to get a good amount of nitrogen out of it. Another concern that I have would be the smell- wouldn’t it start to stink?
Anyway, kudos to you for trying it out- you are much braver than I. :-)
June 21st, 2008 at 12:06 am
Ninotchka says:
Aren’t you supposed to wait a while before harvesting after doing this or something like that? I just heard about this from These Days in French Life. I think I would like to give it a try sometime this summer.
June 21st, 2008 at 6:53 am
Raven says:
I just started reading your blog and i love it!! Think i will join u in the ur ine party!!
June 21st, 2008 at 10:59 am
robj98168 says:
May the rivers flow free…and flow and flow and flow….
Have a great party!
June 21st, 2008 at 6:11 pm
phyllis says:
um….have fun at the party. the challenge is a little TOO crunchy for me:-)
June 21st, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Niecey Docherty says:
Ah now this is a crunchy activity my husband would love to get involved in! Peeing all over the garden. woohoo.
June 22nd, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Tara says:
Amy! I’m pretty darn crunchy – we definitely have a lot in common – but the urine thing might be a little TOO crunchy for me! I’m definitely interested in hearing how it turns out, though. There’s just something about long colorful carrots and plump red potatoes watered with urine that turns my stomach LOL But my curiosity is getting the best of me, so I’m heading to CC to read all about it.
June 22nd, 2008 at 7:46 pm
meaning of my birthday says:
[...] [...]
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:15 am
Ty Huls says:
This is very idiotic thing because you should keep in mind that you are watering them with the urine then you will also get the vegetables, fruits, or flowers from the same. So, avoid such things.
June 23rd, 2008 at 4:09 am
hannah says:
the first time i dyed with indigo, my teacher’s eyes lit up when she realized i had a three year old boy:
http://sharonburnston.com/indigo.html
he was not into peeing in a bucket for me, so we used urea….
but now, i might have worked on him more, ‘just for mama, thomas?’
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:26 pm
hannah says:
to those concerned with health issues “Urine, which comprises 90 percent of human waste, contains about 80 percent of our waste’s fertilizer value. It can be applied to field crops without treatment because it is generally sterile. By the way “fresh urine” does not contain any bacteria, unless the person has a urinary tract infection, so you could even use it to wash out wounds without causing any infections.”
http://barebonesgardening.blogspot.com/2007/10/free-urea-based-fertilizer.html
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Emily says:
Growing up, my parents would save their urine to pour around the perimeter of the garden, to keep LARGE pests away like deer and fox. I dont know if its the nitrogen or if its like “marking your territory” that keeps them away. If you live in a rural area, might be worth a try!
June 24th, 2008 at 11:04 am