PUBLIC ACTIVITIES — The Nutrients Recovery Project (TNRP) is located within the Sustainability Learning Community's (SLC) Organic Garden on the campus of the Australian National University in Canberra. This keeps this slow growing, work-in-progress pilot project accessible to the interested public and the learning community. The insights and ongoings around Terra Preta and human-derived soil manufacturing are meant to be shared with people with an open mind. Possibly, TNRP's compost can even become a hangout. Depending on the present state of the fertiliser and interest in the community, TNRP will be offering small-scale tours, workshops and presentations like:

· Making sauerkraut
· Charcoal and ash scavenging
· Earthworm exchange
· Veggie planting

Open Lab

Weekday Soil Hour

  • Daily visiting hour over lunch break, Mondays through Fridays, between 12:30 to 13:00.

Research on Fermentation

  • Do you know something about fermenting urine? We are researching ancient and new practices of stabilising human urine across the globe. Please help us expand our horizon.

Updates from the Soil Lab

Visitors welcome The Daily ‘Soil Hour’ If you want to know more first hand what we do and how the anthropogenic soil is coming along, meet with Markuz Wernli at The Nutrients Recovery on weekdays over lunch break or after 5pm. Visitors can also help attend to the this urban garden project. Please send an email if you would like to schedule a private tour.
Ongoing research Fermented Kidney Power There are different approaches for manufacturing anthropogenic soil and alternative sanitation systems in different parts of the world. The Nutrients Recovery is looking into fermentation practises for bio and human waste practiced across Asia. We want to contribute to a network of urban and rural farmers, fermenters, biodynamic designers and artists to learn more about old and new practices for integrating nutrient cycles.
Opportunities Earthy Collaborations With its reliable pathogen control, the Terra Preta method is scalable to a wide range of different contexts. The Nutrients Recovery is interested in discussing ways to collaborate with event organizers, restaurateurs, teachers, curators, septic tank owners, hermits and fellow urban farmers and “fermentizens”.

Project Milestones

  • 1 June 2013
    Start of Terra Preta composting
  • 18 May 2013
    Site clean up with Working Bees
  • 8 May 2013
    Permission granted from ANU Facilities
  • 15 March 2013
    Submit proposal to ANU Facilities
  • 1 March 2013
    1st successful urine ferment
  • 12 Feb 2013
    Connecting with Dr. David Freudenberger
  • 12 Jan 2013
    Site viewing with Teifi Caron
  • 7 Nov 2012 (HK)
    Interview with Michael Leung