Tomatoes are one of natures perfect foods. In my house tomatoes are a staple. I use them in sauces, salads, sandwiches, salsa, and numerous recipes. They are packed with lycopene and an excellent source of vitamin C.
I was reading an article from the Science and Development Network about recent research discovering how tomatoes thrive on a urine diet. That is right, URINE. Now I’m not an expert in agriculture or any genius in science, but the new findings do not sound very appetizing. Apparently, Surendra Pradhan, an environmental biology researcher at the University of Kuopio, Finland, and his colleagues tested potted tomato plants with one of the following three treatments: mineral fertilizer, urine and wood ash, urine only, and no fertilizer. The study showed the tomato plants fertilized with urine quadrupled and did as well as the mineral fertilized plants. They also found that the urine fertilized plants contained more protein and were deemed safe for human consumption.
Pradhan told SciDev.Net, “this is a very simple technology. Urine can be collected in a urine-diverting toilet or it can be collected in a separate jerry can [from] an ordinary, pre-existing toilet. If wood ash is available, this can be use as a supplement of phosphorus, potassium and other nutrients.”
He further explains that the method is a free alternative to expensive mineral fertilizer, which is not easily accessible in isolated or hilly areas.
I’m not oblivious that most plants are fertilized with cow dung, but the thought of human urine just completely disgusts me. Am I alone in this thinking?
Back in March 2008 the Associated Press released a report stating a large array of pharmaceuticals including antibiotics, mood stabilizers, sex hormones, and other substances were found in the drinking water supplies of more than 41 million Americans. Even though it was a tiny amount detected, it was still in the water. How did it get there? From what I am understanding, people take pills, and even though their bodies absorb the medication some if it passes through then flushed down the toilet. The wastewater is treated before it is expelled into the reservoirs and lakes. Next, the water is cleaned again at the water treatment plants and distributed to consumers. But the treatments do not completely remove all the drug residue.
Well if the treatments can not completely remove the drugs from the purified urine, than what happens to the tomato plants being doused with the unpurified human urine fertilizer? Like I said I am not a scientist, I could be completely wrong in my reasoning, but this just sounds repulsive.
When does organic become too organic? All I know is I like my tomatoes fresh and urine free. Please do not pee on my tomatoes!
I’ve read a bit about this in the last couple weeks. I wouldn’t want my husband peeing ON my plants, but as he often gets out of the van and has to pee NOW, I invite him to pee on the compost pile. I wouldn’t want to collect urine specifically for dumping on it, but I have no problem with hubby’s occasional dosing.
I’ll have my tomatoes “pesticide free” and “pee free” too, giggle
I disagree with you all, and I am not a hippy mom, but first of all, when shipwrecked, c’mon, you all know, you can drink your own urine. It will save your life.
Insofar as tomatoes, and other vegetables, urine is a natural deterrent for deer and other animals. You are supposed to have a man, or even dog pee around your veggies. I didn’t know ON them, it’s news to me, but worth a shot.
Cheers!
Val
Hi Valerie!
I was being sarcastic when I was saying “ON” them. As far as drinking your own urine–that is one thing and only needed to do in desperate measures for survival. To have your tomatoes being grown with urine fertilized from every Tom, Dick, and Harry is another. I know what I am ingesting, but I don’t know what they are.
Animal urine is something entirely different. Animals don’t take pharmaceutical drugs or narcotics that can be secreted through their urine. Unless a farmer is treating them with hormones, their urine is rather pure.
Just a thought!
Best regards
Michelle
The idea of urine being used as fertilizer doesn’t bother me in the least, but when I start thinking all the…stuff…that could be in that urine..that grosses me out. I definitely wouldn’t want traces of antibiotics or God knows what else being put near food I’m going to eat!
Ewwww – that just kind of grosses me out. I’m with you on this. I don’t want traces of anything like that in my food. Yuck!
eee..too strange