Human Hair

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by Victoria, Aug 10, 2021.

  1. Victoria

    Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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    Here is one for the books.

    Just got back from the Hairdressers. I asked Isabel if she had to dispose of the hair in any special manner and she replied no.

    However she said it was good for keeping the Wild Boars and Rabbits away! Neither like human hair. She said she used to have a lady come regularly and collect the hair because Rabbits were eating her Beans. It worked for this lady.
     
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    • CanadianLori

      CanadianLori Total Gardener

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      That's interesting @Victoria .

      I haven't been to a hairdresser in about 20 years. I usually brush mine into a switch at the back, grab the end and then cut off an inch or so every month. I'm sure though, that years ago when I always kept my hair short, the clippings were used to make steel wool!
       
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      • Victoria

        Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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        I hadn't been in over 50 years till I had it cut short 18 months ago when I "re-invented myself" to cheer me up. Steel wool :loll:, mine is thick and soft and grows like wildfire ... shame I don't have any beans, :whistle:
         
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        • JR

          JR Chilled Gardener

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          I've got more hair on my back than on my head now, but I've read somewhere else that slugs don't like hair much either.
           
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          • john558

            john558 Total Gardener

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            I compost my Grandaughters hair.
             
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            • Purple Streaks

              Purple Streaks Gardener

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              I read that human hair keeps foxes away, so I think there's some truth in this.
               
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              • JR

                JR Chilled Gardener

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                Sheeps wool to deter slugs
                 
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                • Michael Hewett

                  Michael Hewett Total Gardener

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                  I've got a headfull of thick wavy hair and a lady cuts it for me every 6 weeks in the house. She used to do B's hair when she became unable to go out and I asked her to cut mine as well to save me going to a barber (they always cut it too short).
                  When she comes next I'll save it and put it on the garden to see if it deters slugs.
                   
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                  • noisette47

                    noisette47 Total Gardener

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                    It doesn't work for deterring roe deer, that's for sure! Strangely, a Christmas-tree silhouette shape made from concrete reinforcing rods does. Today's bit of (probably) useless information :biggrin:
                     
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                    • pete

                      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                      I might mention this the next time I see my barber, been going to his place for over 40yrs and he has been struggling during the pandemic.
                      Maybe he could sell what he sweeps up as and environmentally friendly garden pest deterrent.
                       
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                      • pete

                        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                        I mean,....Who in their right mind has a christmas tree in their garden made from reinforcing rods.:biggrin:
                         
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                        • noisette47

                          noisette47 Total Gardener

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                          Someone who is fed up of having their roses nibbled? :biggrin: I've got about 20, currently. They're only 18" high, and very unobtrusive, fashionable even, being rusty. Better than wodges of soggy hair and swinging CDs :roflol:
                          They don't work for wild boar, though. Need chilli pepper and cheap perfume for them ;)
                           
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                          • shiney

                            shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                            It does work but only for a short time until the human smell has gone.

                            Another stupid 'Elf and Safety' law put a stop to that. You can sell long hair specifically cut for the purpose of making wigs but can't sell the sweepings on the floor.

                            In the old days :old: allotment holders used to collect sacks of hair from the barbers to use in the bottom of the trench that they dug for growing beans. The hair retains the moisture much longer than the soil does. Old newspapers used to be used for the same purpose but I'm not sure whether the lead in the newsprint would get into the roots.

                            That sounds a reasonable idea as it will get stuck to them.


                            Hair is good in a compost heap (or just on the soil) but it takes up to two years to break down. That's not a problem if you spread it on the compost heap but it's better not to just chuck it on in one big lump.

                            The keratin in the hair releases a lot of nitrogen, a lot more than manure does, so it's a superb fertiliser.
                             
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