Archive for the ‘Post Topics’ Category

Self-Contained Compost Bin for Pet Waste

Thursday, March 19th, 2020
(originally from Cat’s Kitchen blog article)

I just learned about this from Dr. Mercola’s Healthy Pets website (1). Instead of polluting the earth’s lands and water with more non-compostable plastic bags, you can build a simple composter for your pet’s poop. From the article, you can “compost dog waste (2) in your own yard using a [metal or] plastic trash container. According to [Mike] Levenston [at City Farmer in Vancouver BC], it’s environmentally safe as it slowly decomposes due to septic starter, available at most hardware stores. However, he emphasizes, it’s important to note that composted dog waste should not go into your garden.

I wonder, will it also work for cat poop from the litter box? Read on, for more…

Building your own pet waste composter

The 2020 Mercola article (1a) provides instructions for a composter that is set in the ground with the lid on top, so the composted material can leach directly into the ground.  The composting is aided by adding a septic starter (available at most hardware stores).

Mercola’s 2016 article (1b) discusses using a calculated mix of poop and sawdust, as described by a University of Florida (UF) Extension article (2), which photos. The UF composter sits in a wood frame above ground, and is designed for dumping-over when full. The composted waste can then be added to your flower garden.

Both types can be made from metal or plastic garbage can, and have holes cut/drilled into the sides.

Composting cat litter:

I have two cats, and have often thought about putting the dirty kitty litter in my regular compost pile, but have not done so because of the granular litter into which my cat poops and pees. So when cleaning the litter box, I have always placed the clumps of litter into a biodegradable “Thank You” plastic bag (intended for grocery shopping; see Amazon ASIN B07G7V6JZB for 100 bags).

I do believe these bags are truly biodegradable (many brands are not) because I tested one by filling it with regular non-compostable garbage, and then let it sit on the ground outside for a few weeks. When I picked up the bag, the bottom fell out due to decomposition. So I’m comfortable putting these filled bags in my trash that goes to our local dump.

Unfortunately, the granular litter doesn’t decompose, so I would have to separate the pee and poop from that litter before putting them into a composter. Here’s one way to deal with it (I’ve not yet tested this method):

  1. Separate poop from litterthis step is easy, as the poop just sits on top of the litter. Simply use a litter scoop to remove the pieces of poop to a biodegradable bag.
  2. Separate pee from litter: place peed litter in a strainer, then run water over the litter to remove and dilute the pee into a pail. Spread the diluted pee over your lawn or over the ground where shrubs and trees grow.
  3. Allow the cleaned litter to dry for reuse (I would only reuse it once). After reuse, put it into a biodegradable bag for going to the dump.

References:

  1. Mercola Healthy Pets:  healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/03/19/dog-waste-digester.aspx
  2. healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2016/08/25/composting-dog-poop.aspx
  3. Univ. Florida Extension: sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota/natural-resources/waste-reduction/composting/what-is-composting/compost-bins/self-contained-compost-bin/

How to detox glyphosate (Roundup) from your body

Monday, February 4th, 2019

By Catherine Haug, Feb 4, 2019

I just wrote an exciting post for my personal blog, Cat’s Kitchen: How to detox glyphosate (Roundup) from your body. The method involves a simple daily dose of the supplement: glycine powder (glycine is an amino acid).

It can also help to increase your effective glutathione levels (the most important detox agent in your body), as described in the posting.

Lastly, the article also provides information on testing for glyphosate levels in your body.

Check it out!

EMFs and the damage they cause

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019

By Catherine Haug, Jan 23, 2019

NOTE: this was originally published on my personal blog: Cat’s Kitchen.

EMFs (electro-magnetic fields) are a controversial topic  regarding the damage to human health that they may cause, especially as the digital world is growing exponentially. Just what is an electro-magnetic field?

It is a combination of an electric field and a magnetic field produced by electrically-charged moving objects such as electrons. EMFs can be produced by (examples):

  • electric wiring in your home;
  • your cell phone, computer, radio, television;
  • your microwave oven;
  • smart meters (for your electricity usage);
  • radio and cell towers;
  • and so on….

We are exposed to EMFs wherever we are and every moment of our lives. They can have very negative effects on our bodies and our health, and there is serious concern that in our digital age, EMFs may be our undoing. For more on this, see two of Dr. Allen Christianson’s emails on this topic as copied below.

I also include several links to articles by Dr. Mercola and other experts on the topic of EMFs, and a documentary on the dangers of smart meters. (more…)

Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity May Not be the Real Problem With Grains After All

Thursday, November 22nd, 2018

Field of Wheat

By Catherine Haug, Thanksgiving, November 22, 2018 (photo, right, from Wikimedia Commons)

Many Americans are pursuing a gluten-free diet to relieve/avoid gut issues. While that is very very important for those with Celiac disease (an auto-immune disorder), it may not be the best healthful solution for those with “gluten sensitivity.”

What is gluten? And if it is not the problem with non-Celiac gluten sensitivity, what is causing the trouble with grains? (more…)

Why farmed salmon should be banned

Tuesday, November 13th, 2018

Farmed Salmon Pen

by Catherine Haug, Nov, 2018 (Photo, right by  L. Renehan/Living Oceans Society (1))

Salmon is my favorite fish (after lutefisk), probably because when I was growing up in Bigfork in the 50 and 60s, we had an amazing land-locked salmon fishery here. When I moved to the west coast for college and career, I had abundant access to wild-caught ocean salmon. But we lost our salmon fishery here, and wild-caught salmon are in decline in the waters off the west coast of the USA and Canada.

You might think that switching to farmed salmon would help our wild salmon fisheries to recover, but sadly, this is not the case. In fact, the truth is just the opposite. (more…)

SF Groundskeeper sues Monsanto (and Roundup) and wins

Saturday, August 11th, 2018

Frankenfood

By Catherine Haug, Aug 11, 2018 (Image, right, from Organic Consumers’ Association (2), used with permission)

I found this article in today’s Daily Inter Lake, but I can’t find it on their website (yet). For the full story, check it out on the LA Times. (1) Read on for a summary. (more…)