Making Money From…. Manure

It is a simple, universal fact that Mother Nature has a sense of humor. There usually isn’t a better way to describe the urges that we all have to go to the bathroom. It is a fact of nature that makes little boys giggle and once it hits, no one can deny its power. Humans and all animals do it. You can be driving along a road and see a dog doing it or visit a zoo where you may see large animals taking care of it. As luck would have it, some farmers also use this natural ability to make money from manure.

Farmers and Manure

No one can deny that manure is useful as a fertilizer. When manures absorbed by soil, nutrients release into the soil. These nutrients can increase the moisture content of sandy soils. It also loosens compacted soil. It adds carbon to the soil so that more nutrients can get into the soil. It is also able to reduce runoff, which can deplete nitrates. Manure is also very slow to release its nutrients. This means you can fertilize less often and avoid worry that your soil will have too much nitrogen. Most often, we think of cow dung for fertilizer, but this is not the only situation where fecal matter can be used.

Odd Uses for Animal Dung

Since B.C. times, people have used dung in some very interesting ways. They have used crocodile dung as a birth control method and to give their face a pasty white appearance. Cow dung was once used for building material in Britain. Llama dung has proven effective as a pollution fighting agent. All you have to do is run contaminated water through it. Llama manure tea is also used in gardens and other areas. It is a popular choice because there are fewer seeds and plant matter in their dung.

In 1862, gunpowder was also made using manure and urine mixed together. It created saltpeter. The saltpeter was then harvested and used to create an explosive combination. Confederate states were even encouraged to collect their urine and do their part to aid in the Civil War.

Creative Minds Using Natural Items

In today’s world, we usually only think of dung as potential manure. However, not all people let their creativity end there. Moose droppings are very common souvenirs in Maine, Colorado, Alaska, and Canada. In some countries, flying squirrel dung may end female reproductive issues. This includes pain and menstrual cramps. Elephant dung is useful in creating paper. One elephant can create about 115 pages a day.

It seems that our fascination with all things poop will never end. In the UK, the Isle of Wight Zoo has erected a museum thats dedicated to fecal matter. The poop you will find there comes in all sizes, shapes, and textures. You will find samples from lions, skunks, and even human infants. To ensure that it is not a stinky place to be, poo is dried for up to a year. This ensures we get the thrill of viewing without the nausea of smelling.