I have seen "lime" mentioned several times to be used in outhouses etc. I've looked at hardware stores and the only lime I see is in small packages for fertilizer/plants....is that the same that we would want for this situation? Or should I ask for something else? Thanks!

-- Jen White (jenwhite@compuserve.com), January 08, 1999

Answers

Look in the fertilizer section. It comes in big (heavy) bags like fertilizer. I think around here, 40 pounds (weight) is pretty common.

-- Anonymous (Anonymous@anonymous.com), January 08, 1999.

The excellent book "Humanure" suggests large quantities of sawdust or peat moss as an alternative for this purpose.

-- r w cat (runway_cat@hotmail.com), January 08, 1999.

Jen,

The best answer I know of is to use the ashes from your wood fire (stove or other) in the outhouse. Just be sure that they are no longer burning before you use them!

-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), January 08, 1999.

Most nurseries will have stacks of 50# bags of (ground) limestone for sale.

If not just now, come spring.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), January 08, 1999.

You might want to consider your soil when you choose. We have too much lime in our soil already-- will go for sawdust, wood ashes!

-- Maria (encelia@mailexcite.com), January 08, 1999.

When we lived at our camp off the grid, we used peat moss in our outhouse. IMHO it smells better and it's easier. You don't get that dust flying around. Just a scoopful after each use. For what it's worth.... Bobbi http://www.buzzbyte.com

buzzbyte

-- Bobbi (bobbia@slic.com), January 08, 1999.

Wood ash accomplishes basically the same thing as lime - it reduces acidity. In the days of making your own lye soap, you didn't go to a store and buy lye all nicely packaged. You made it by placing wood ash on a wooden slanted trough and dripping water through the ash. The result: lye, a very alkaline substance. Combine the lye with fat in the right proportions, cook, and you get soap.

-- Bonnie Camp (bonniec@mail.odyssey.net), January 08, 1999.

YoU can get a truck load delivered easy. call people who deliver stone and or sand.

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), January 08, 1999.