What to Doo with Doggie Doo

Okay...I know you're thinking I've gone mad, but I really am trying to think rationally here... I know I'm not the only one who has a dog that also has a garden in this city.....

I love to go outside in the morning with my cup of coffee and be greeted by new overnight growth on all my plants (it's a very proud moment, you see). Well, my beautiful Border Collie/Australian Shepherd Mix has recently taken a liking to my herb garden. So, as I'm gazing among the the Basil and Sage I see a humungous pile of poo right on top of my chives....oh, wait...there's more...Parsley...and Lavender...what the...???

So, my question is..."is it bad or unhealthy for you and your vegetable garden?" The answer is "Yes". Pets tend to harbor parasites, namely Roundworm & Whipworm, that can transfer to humans. You must be cautious and wash veggies and hands carefully if your dog gives the garden "presents".

Apparently, Vancouver does not allow dog waste in their city garbage or sewage. So, what is a person, especially one that has a garden, to do? Here's one solution presented by CityFarmer (you know how I love that site):

It doesn't seem that difficult. You can buy Septonic to help break down the composting process. It is environmentally friendly and not harmful to humans. It's available here.

There are a few commercial doggie waste composters such as Doggie Dooley ($90) and the Tumbleweed Pet Poo Converter (which uses composting worms). But, it seems to me the homemade kind might be just as good, if not better. Now, the question is: can I did a hole deep enough to put the container in?

Comments

[Scott Burger]

First of all, all responsible urban citizens should pick up their dog poop inside and outside their yard. The James River and Chesapeake Bay are getting ruined by pet feces washing in through storm water.
Use bags, biodegradable if possible.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/09/our-oceans-are-dying-and-were-at-fault.php

Now inside my backyard, I have fenced my garden to keep my dogs out (both of my dogs love tomatoes; by the way I have heard that feeding dogs tomatoes can make their urine less acidic and keep it from killing plants). I also dug a small hole about 3 feet deep on the other side of the backyard away and slightly downhill from the garden that I use for composting dog feces (my house is way above the water table in the area even though I am near the river because I am on a hill). I lined it with a plastic bucket that I cut the bottom out of. It has a loose lid that I put on it when I am not filling it with dog feces.

http://forums.treehugger.com/viewtopic.php?p=41264&sid=f1cc5aa7cc0a8a1cb4cbb702285501c2

It seems to work as far as I can tell, but I suspect its a simple system that could be improved. Ideally I would like to make it into a small fuel cell to produce small amounts of electricity. Such a fuel cell could be scaled up.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/09/microbes-in-dirt-provide-elelectricity-for-african-villagers.php

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/02/dog_poo_power_i.php