Milorganite and deer...

[Bonsai Nut]

Chalking this one up to "try it and find out". I was talking to a contractor on another project, and the conversation swung around to landscaping... and problems we have been having with deer - particularly low bushes like azaleas. The guy swore by a fertilizer called "Milorganite" which is sold in our local Lowes store. He said "the deer don't like the smell of it, and if you put it around your plants they will steer clear".

So I did some investigating and...

Milorganite is reclaimed sewage from the good ole' town of Milwaukee, WI. Not only have they trademarked the name, but they have found a market for what was once (literally) waste. I am a big fan of reclaiming waste water (grey water) particularly for use in irrigation, so I am potentially intrigued by the concept of using reclaimed human waste for landscape fertilization... particularly if it keeps deer away.

Potential application for bonsai? Who knows?

 

[rockm]

Chalking this one up to "try it and find out". I was talking to a contractor on another project, and the conversation swung around to landscaping... and problems we have been having with deer - particularly low bushes like azaleas. The guy swore by a fertilizer called "Milorganite" which is sold in our local Lowes store. He said "the deer don't like the smell of it, and if you put it around your plants they will steer clear".

So I did some investigating and...

Milorganite is reclaimed sewage from the good ole' town of Milwaukee, WI. Not only have they trademarked the name, but they have found a market for what was once (literally) waste. I am a big fan of reclaiming waste water (grey water) particularly for use in irrigation, so I am potentially intrigued by the concept of using reclaimed human waste for landscape fertilization... particularly if it keeps deer away.

Potential application for bonsai? Who knows?

View attachment 611130

When I was in college (very small rural school) they would spread sewage from the local waste facility on the surrounding cornfields in the spring. Oh. My Gawd. Organic is one thing. Human waste is another. Milorganite has been around a while. It’s treated before bagging. The stuf going on the fields wasn’t as processed and freaking rank.

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

I learned about Milorganite in the late 90s. It was part of the "experiments" we did on the college golf course when I was working on my golf course and turfgrass management degree.
...and obviously, I use that knowledge every day working on a railyard.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Organic is one thing. Human waste is another.

Milorganite is heat-dried in large-scale, bus-sized rotary dryers that operate at 900–1200°F. The extreme heat and dryness kills pathogens.

The product is considered safe for food crops... but I have never used it. I know that in CA, we used grey water for irrigation in our common areas for our housing community - and given that it cost 1/2 as much as potable water, I considered it a bargain!

 

[Flowerhouse]

@shohin_branches says she helps make the stuff lol. Re: use as a deer repellent, please let us know your results.

 

[Zac]

Here in PA farmers spread human waste on fields all the time. It does stink! I always thought hog manure was the worst.

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

Grey water- could I set up a separate drain for my shower and bathroom sink, to flow into the backyard?

 

[Michael P]

Grey water- could I set up a separate drain for my shower and bathroom sink, to flow into the backyard?

Check building codes in your area. Most do not permit free discharge of gray water, it has to go into a sealed tank or cistern, or to a sub-surface drip system.

 

[KateM]

My husband tells me, when they were kids, his granddad who was a plumber used to empty their septic tank in the wooded strip behind their property. He says it was the lushest strip of woods around....
They also had a pig farm near by. Actually on certain days you can still smell pig farms around that area...

 

[Bonsai Nut]

For the record, untreated human waste (feces) is considered dangerous to use on food crops - because of the potential transmission of disease or bacteria (think e coli). You need to treat it first... or use it on something other than food crops.
Untreated human sewage is a main source of drinking water contamination - and food-borne illness.

@shohin_branches says she helps make the stuff lol. Re: use as a deer repellent, please let us know your results.

My wife is from Milwaukee. She laughingly said "smells like home"!

 

[biggestlou]

I have used it on my lawn for years. Doesn’t smell bad at all. It has a little cult following… can be hard to come by. It doesn’t seem to stop the deer and rabbits from eating my plants

 

[nuttiest]

It's better than human remains compost. Although that is probably too taboo to market (yet) but people reportedly use it. Terramation compost.

 

[Maiden69]

Milorganite is well know in the lawn care world, I have stayed away from it because it is overdosed for my needs and lacks potassium. IF your test against deer works I may have to give it a try, at least around my landscape area during our "winter" when the deer decide to be adventurous and move into the neighborhood.

 

[BrianBay9]

Does it also repel squirrels?

 

[Zac]

I doubt it will keep deer away. Drive through farm country and you'll see deer standing in a field that had manure spread on it even the human waste.

 

[Bonsai Turtle]

Grey water- could I set up a separate drain for my shower and bathroom sink, to flow into the backyard?

Not quite literally but possible. Local regulations will vary and some places encourage it. That said, unless you are a high volume user or your local potable water was unusually expensive, the ROI is not great.

 

[Bonsai Turtle]

Milorganite is heat-dried in large-scale, bus-sized rotary dryers that operate at 900–1200°F. The extreme heat and dryness kills pathogens.

The product is considered safe for food crops... but I have never used it. I know that in CA, we used grey water for irrigation in our common areas for our housing community - and given that it cost 1/2 as much as potable water, I considered it a bargain!

Was it “grey water” or “reclaim/reuse water”? Grey water is from non fecal matter containing sources in the household and requires splitting the drain collection system. Reclaim/reuse water is basically the disinfected effluent from a traditional wastewater plant that in most areas would go to a receiving body of water. It is very common now for this water to get used in agriculture, golf courses, lawn irrigation and industrial cooling systems. Reuse water in the US is commonly transported in purple pipes to make the distinction obvious.

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

Our watering is fairly strictly regulated here in the desert. From April to October, no watering on Mondays. Even addresses Tuesday Thursday Saturday, odds Wednesday Friday Sunday, only before 1000 and after 1800 to reduce evaporation. I agree with the protocols, they're pretty sensible. If water gets really low, we're only allowed to water potted plants with a bucket. (Talk about a lot of extra work!) Lawns suffer (and likely die) at this point, but so far, I've never seen this level.
If I could store shower water and keep out the bacteria and fungus, it would be a reasonable emergency water supply for my trees.

 

[Bonsai Turtle]

Our watering is fairly strictly regulated here in the desert. No watering on Mondays. Even addresses Tuesday Thursday Saturday, odds Wednesday Friday Sunday, only before 1000 and after 1800 to reduce evaporation. I agree with the protocols, they're pretty sensible. If water gets really low, we're only allowed to water potted plants with a bucket. (Talk about a lot of extra work!) Lawns suffer (and likely die) at this point, but so far, I've never seen this level.
If I could store shower water and keep out the bacteria and fungus, it would be a reasonable emergency water supply for my trees.

We have similar restrictions here in Florida as well. They are issued by the local water management districts. In my area we currently have: odd addresses can water Wednesday/Saturday and even addresses Thursday/Sunday. Both before 10am and after 4pm. That’s during daylight savings time, during eastern standard it’s just Saturday-odds and Sunday-even.

 

[Bonsai Turtle]

Our watering is fairly strictly regulated here in the desert. From April to October, no watering on Mondays. Even addresses Tuesday Thursday Saturday, odds Wednesday Friday Sunday, only before 1000 and after 1800 to reduce evaporation. I agree with the protocols, they're pretty sensible. If water gets really low, we're only allowed to water potted plants with a bucket. (Talk about a lot of extra work!) Lawns suffer (and likely die) at this point, but so far, I've never seen this level.
If I could store shower water and keep out the bacteria and fungus, it would be a reasonable emergency water supply for my trees.

Coincidentally, I watched this video just last week: