Liquid Gold: The Lore and Logic of Using Urine to Grow Plants

My husbands loved this book… he’s usually a fast reader anyways but he really enjoyed this book. He was laughing at the creative cartoons that kept him engaged. Thanks for the insights in this book… I don’t think I’ll be indulging in any of them but go growing plants… I’m here for it

A fun book. The author is a real character! She seems utterly convinced that urine is the key to the future and refers to it simply as "liquid gold" throughout the book. She makes statements about how it's use "will" be implemented in the future without a thought to the possibility that it might not be the case. She explains how urine contains nutrients that plants can use and talks about how to use it in compost or spray crops with it. She also just breifly mentions how it stinks and explains that if it's sealed off from air then you won't smell it but offers no explanation of how to achieve such a storage situation. She also mentions that it contains a lot of salt and after a few years of use the salts will build up and prevent your crops from growing or even being able to sprout, but once again little was said to remedy this except that there are types of plants that can uptake salts and then be removed but she provides no information about how effective this actually is. An interesting book and I'm glad I read it, but after reading this book I am actually more skeptical about the practicality of using urine as fertilizer than I was before.

Though I had heard of this book years ago, I finally got a copy of it just a few days ago.I think I was expecting "more" - but then again - I had just finished reading "The Humanure Handbook" by Joseph Jenkins, and was expecting a similar treatment of the subject.Steinfeld makes all the right points and does so in an interesting manner, but her method is more one of presenting possibilities than one of presenting a plan. It seems as though she is "reporting" - showing us pictures and descriptions of how folks have used urine. She doesn't seem to have a "passion" for the subject - something that people who do things radically different from others generally need to see the project through. Steinfeld is also diametrically opposed to Jenkins on best methods: She suggests separating and using the urine separately while "disposing" of the solid waste material by conventional methods. Jenkins is quite adamant about collecting and using liquids and solids together and recycling them both - a much more ecological and economically-sensible suggestion.(I'd LOVE to see these two authors review each others books!)I would still recommend this book for folks with a couple of *extra* dollars to spend or those just interested in learning how people past and present use urine. For those interested in shouldering the greater responsibility of properly, safely, and beneficially recycling their ALL of their "waste" I would suggest "The Humanure Handbook" instead.In all fairness and to Steinfeld's credit, "The lore and logic of using urine to grow plants" is an accurate description of this book's scope.

The is a smart, thoughtful book on an important subject. Despite the cartoon cover, the author approaches the use and disposal of urine in a practical and user friendly way. She presents convincing scientific information supporting the healthful use of urine for growing plants. Also, she gives good information on composting toilets. This is a timely subject for two reasons: first, the recapture of the nitrogen and other resources that are contained in the urine. Second: the disposal of urine without polluting drinking water. Like the Humanure book, this book makes the important point that the use of pure water to flush wastes away into the sewer system is a very poor use of very scarce resources.Highly recommend.

I have always wondered why a dog lifts his leg to pee on a plant. Guess God knew if man didn't have enough smarts then His animals would do the job the natural way that would make His plants grow healthy and strong. I spent several years in the military over in Germany and wondered why they sprayed human waste on thier food growing in the fields there. Thought it was a very dangerous practice at that time. Now I have a very different way of thinking. I pee on my yard plants now and they are beautiful. Save yourself tons of money buying chemicals because pee is free!!!

Quick and wicked good read. I was already privvy to much of the logic contained in this book, I purchased it to convert a more straight-edged step-father. The book is a plethora of straight-science rife with anecdotes and great comics. The book contains much medicine and lore while it is written in a political way, only promoting the agricultural, closed-system use of urine. The book will leave you fully believing in the power of Liquid Gold.

For anyone interested in this sort of thing "Practicality". This book is fun and interesting. I loved it. Very Easy read. Lots of techniques used around the world on urine separating toilents; along with ideas on how to create you own urinals. I acually made one after reading this book and am using it as liquid fertilizer in my yard. The design is so clean and out of the way that not even my wife was bothered by it!

Lots of lore off urine through history, but not a lot about composing it for use today as the wonderful nitrogen boosting liquid that it is. Once used as a mouth wash, it's no wonder the Roman empire fell.

I found Liquid Gold to be an interesting, if a somewhat odd read. Lots of pictures of urinals and pee collection equipment, which are attractive in an odd sort of way.I had the book delivered to my office and showed it around, and found it to be worth its cost in the jokes and quips it generated.If you are a male and can collect your pee for the compost heap, then that is a practical way to go. Otherwise, the other things Liquid Gold recommends, such installing a proper urine collecting toilet, may be a step too far for the majority.

This is an informative book and one that I am using to my advantage. Squirrels have been stealing all my fruit for a long time, since using some of the suggestions in the book, there are already noticeably few squirrels coming into the garden. so fingers crossed I am hoping that this year I will be able to pick some of the fruit for my table!

In these days of trying to find a more natural way to do things I was amazed at the tips I gleaned from this fascinating book. Another neglected resource that can be utilised in very positive ways.

a great book which i have given as a gift to several people - those i thought might use the idea! one was an eighty year old friend who loves her garden. she was highly amused!

Good book. Useful information, and clear instructions for practical use.