Experimenting with making cat litter out of biodegradable newspaper. It was pretty easy. Found a large strainer out on trash day.
- Cut or shred recycled newspaper into ribbons.(above)
- Soak in water with a little biodegradable soap
- Strain and soak in plain water.
- Sprinkle with baking soda and squeeze out water.
Let air dry for several days. I’ll report back on how it worked. :-D
Eventually, I’d like to compost with mycoremediation for non-crop plants.
Here is what I’m going to try for mycoremediation:
Litter that is made of compressed newspaper, wheat gluten, or finely powdered corncob debris will work, wheat and corn being the best because they clump, rather than just absorbing urine, which makes it easier to scoop out the soiled litter. Although pine-based litters are fairly incompatible with most cultivated fungi, newer fungal isolates (of Neolentinus lepideus) that will be suitable for use with pine are being developed and will likely be available in a few years. In general, the best species for remediating feline feces are king stropharia and oyster mushrooms.
Scoop the soiled litter into a bucket with a lid to prevent odors from escaping, and periodically cover it with clean, wet biodegradable litter that has been inoculated with fresh spawn. The mycelium will thread its way into the substrate, decomposing and deodorizing the soiled litter in as little as twelve weeks. Run this myceliated litter through a vermicomposting cycle next; don’t mix it into your regular garden compost until it has been thoroughly decomposed by the worms.