(Castle Frankenstein, the place where bonesauce was invented. Not making this up.)
Bone Sauce is a pest repellent, especially reccommended for use on fruit trees, credited to Austrian farmer Sepp Holzer. A more controlled version of the process was historically used to create Dippel's oil, which "consists mostly of aliphatic chains, with nitrogen functionalities and includes species such as pyrroles, pyridines and nitriles, as well as other nitrogenous compounds." Dippel's oil is moderately toxic, and was used historically as a pesticide, herbicide, and bactericide. Some of its constituent compounds were later synthesized into the precursors to modern pesticides and herbicides, as well as being used in creating rubber gloves, solvents, varnishes, paints, etc.
History:
The history of bone sauce proves life is stranger than fiction, and sometimes the boundaries are difficult to find.
Alchemist, theologian, and anatomist Johann Conrad Dippel was born and raised in Castle Frankstein and thus often called by the name "Frankensteinensis," ahem, Dr. Frankenstein. He was the creator of "Dippel's Oil," aka, bone sauce, which he believed to be the elixir of life, the key to immortality and cure-all for various afflictions including demonic possession. He was also famous for his experimentations on animals, blowing up a tower in a bizarre experiment, rumors of grave-robbery, and experimentation on cadavers. In one paper, even claimed that in a process involving bone sauce and a funnel, a human soul could be transferred into a cadaver, though there was no evidence that he himself ever tried such experiments, of course.
He even attempted to purchase castle Frankenstein with the recipe for bone sauce.
His offer was declined. Dippel's oil, it turns out, was no elixir of life, but quite the opposite. It was used as a chemical weapon up through WWII, used to poison wells. It was also used as an agricultural pesticide, repellent, herbicide, and bactericide (for instance, as a sheep dip.)
Part of the reason for its effectiveness may be that some of its prime constituents, pyrroles and pyridines, are primary ingredient in many modern pesticides, bactericides, and herbicides including the notorious persistent pyridine herbicide like Clopyralid. Some pyridine herbicides have been associated with damaging trees, which may explain reports of bone sauce doing the same. Pyridines were later issolated from Dippel's oil, and refined into the more effective and predictable agrochemicals in use today. Pyridines are found in minute amounts in a few plant sources including marshmallow and belladonna, as well when roasting or grilling, but are considered toxic to humans. Pyridines are also highly flamable, which may explain some reports of bone sauce "blowing up."
Other bone oil constituents, pyrroles and nitriles also have many industrial uses in pesticides, glues, solvents, etc.
Sepp Holzer's bone sauce may work, when it works, because it may contain pesticidal and toxic compounds. The "rebel farmer" mad-genius may have learned about this in Ag school, and realized he had access to an effective, long-lasting agricultural chemical that could be made on the farm, by anyone willing to risk possible explosion and exposure to volatile organic compounds.
And yes, it is the current modern theory that Mary Shelly was inspired by a trip to Frankenstein Castle, where she likely heard the local stories of the mad Dr. Frankenstein, who thought he found the secret of life, but instead unleashed a monster.
Discussion:
There appear to be multiple recipes reported for diluting bone sauce, with Holzer himself describing his process in one video on Youtube. There are also disagreements about the recipe and use of bone sauce, with some sources claiming that inauthentic recipes may actually damage trees.
Due to the lack of condition control, it is impossible to judge the efficacy of these various recipes or say what the chemical constituents are in any particular batch of bone sauce, or in what quantities. Depending on processing, it may be little more than a reduced bone broth (probably ineffective) or it may contain compounds that are herbicides, or pesticides.
As of yet, there is little available systematic research regarding the use of bone sauce or Dippel's oil to deter wildlife. It is considered moderately toxic to mammals, including humans but of low toxicity to bees and worms. It is an irritant of skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. The creation of bone sauce will theoretically release Volatile Organic Compounds which may be unsafe for humans.
However, there are numerous mixed annecdotal reports within the Permaculture community, forums, Facebook posts and blogs. These demonstrate mixed or even random results, from successful deterrence to leaf burning, dead trees, or even attracting wildlife.
One active constituent of Dippel's oil is pyridines, which are the basis for pyridine herbices and insecticides, which are noted for not breaking down easily. It's difficult to say how much pyridine may be present in a "dose" of bone sauce. Because pyridines are not allowable for organic agriculture, it raises the question as to whether bone sauce is appropriate for growers who would like to be organic. There may be unexamined risks to trees, wildlife, ecologies, or even human gardeners.
Conclusion:
Little research basis, possible risks, considered experimental. There are likely safer, more effective and research-based alternatives. In multiple studies, two of the best-performing home pest deterrents have been hot pepper tea (such as cayenne and garlic) for herbaceous plants and rotten egg for woody perennials and fruit trees.
While there is theoretical reason to support the use of bone sauce as a pesticide and herbicide, we could find little available modern research on the effectiveness, affordability, environmental impacts, or safety of Dippel's oil, or bone sauce. Annecdotal reports are mixed. Further, both the use and production of bone sauce may pose risks to plants, animals and humans. It may also not be in keeping with the spirit of organic, natural, or chemical free growing.
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