And just to be extra clear: We're not spending $4,000 to install a composting toilet. We're going with the DIY option. I just wanted to know what it would cost, in case other people are interested and haven't talked to plumbers yet.
Perhaps an indelicate issue: TP. Do I need to grow big leafy rhubarb? Is there perhaps a bidet solution? I don't think the usual will work in this situation.
You can compost TP, but I don't think many of us could stockpile enough to last years. I guess you could use rags, but you'd need a way to clean the rags.
Neither TP or rhubarb is necessary. Use water. For reasons that I don't wish to share in public (🤣), TP was not working for me. I got myself what I call a bum sprayer and they called a perineal spray bottle. It's an angled head on a squeezy bottle. I've since bought just the heads and they were sold as travel bidets. They fit on most bottles. It's essentially the solution that many countries in Asia have come up with although theirs are hoses that are plumbed in. You need water, obviously, but if you haven't got water you're probably dead. It's nicer if the water is a little bit warm. Spraying cold water up your ass can be a bit of a shock!
You can compost rags or TP, but I think the question is what you do when you run out, and you can't get more. I guess leaves? It could be a moot question, because at some point, if the worst-case scenario is so bad you can't even get TP or rags, then what else can't you get?
Get a stick. Peel off the bark. Remove knotted areas. This can be scraped off after it is used, and reused... You can get longer ones for folks with poor flexibility or reach etc. Everyone has their own stick.
The cleanest outhouse I ever used (I know it’s not quite the same thing, but bear with me) had a bucket beside the seat for the toilet paper. Not adding toilet paper to the composting toilet allows the natural products to break down much faster and therefore with a lot less stink!
I just read Jenkins compost toilet handbook, and I highly recommend it, especially for The photos of folks in rural communities all over the world who have transitioned to maintaining composting systems. While his first book on humanure is available on his website for free, the second book is not, and costs $40 USD.
Note that the secret recipe Jenkins describes is to create an insulated pile large enough to maintain a minimum core temperature that will destroy all pathogens, degrade pharmaceutical toxics, and sit for at least a year undisturbed if not, for two years, at which point the compost will be ready to use for food production.
This system avoids the labor of turning the pile, which is not necessary as it disturbs the heat loss, which can be retained with proper construction and moisture retention. Also, urine is not diverted in his system, but retained as an active component.
Note that Jenkins also addresses the sticky problem of zoning regulations, which he notes usually circulates around waste disposal safety. He points out. This is not a disposal issue since nothing is being disposed of, only salvaged and recycled.
When I lived in the city I didn't have a yard, so I would take my organic food waste and walk at several blocks to the compost we built in the community garden. Maybe in a water crisis this is what people will have to do. Therefore, we need to build compost bucket systems for apartment dwellers, where the buckets are such a size with secure lids that they can be safely and easily carried to a central processing facility. Really, the photos in Jenkins book are well worth the price of the book for how lives are transformed with proper low-cost sanitation management.
Is there anything to know about period blood getting in the compost? (I use a Diva cup) Is this ok or should we be very careful to keep it out of both liquid and solid waste?
I read your requirements and realized that those of us who live in urban areas with tiny plots of land may not be able to adopt your strategy. A few years ago I looked into installing a composting toilet on the second floor. I was told my yard was too small and the ceilings too high for ventilation. Perhaps it is time to revisit the issue.
And just to be extra clear: We're not spending $4,000 to install a composting toilet. We're going with the DIY option. I just wanted to know what it would cost, in case other people are interested and haven't talked to plumbers yet.
Perhaps an indelicate issue: TP. Do I need to grow big leafy rhubarb? Is there perhaps a bidet solution? I don't think the usual will work in this situation.
You can compost TP, but I don't think many of us could stockpile enough to last years. I guess you could use rags, but you'd need a way to clean the rags.
Neither TP or rhubarb is necessary. Use water. For reasons that I don't wish to share in public (🤣), TP was not working for me. I got myself what I call a bum sprayer and they called a perineal spray bottle. It's an angled head on a squeezy bottle. I've since bought just the heads and they were sold as travel bidets. They fit on most bottles. It's essentially the solution that many countries in Asia have come up with although theirs are hoses that are plumbed in. You need water, obviously, but if you haven't got water you're probably dead. It's nicer if the water is a little bit warm. Spraying cold water up your ass can be a bit of a shock!
If the rags are cotton, couldn't you compost them too?
You can compost rags or TP, but I think the question is what you do when you run out, and you can't get more. I guess leaves? It could be a moot question, because at some point, if the worst-case scenario is so bad you can't even get TP or rags, then what else can't you get?
If it's available in your region, dried corn cobs will work.
Two red ones and a white one.
Use a red one first.
Use the white one to find out if you need the other red one.
Old hillbilly roadside attraction market item.
Historically, people ate with their right hands and cleaned themselves with their left.
Dogs use their tongue, so it's not the worst possible deal.
Get a stick. Peel off the bark. Remove knotted areas. This can be scraped off after it is used, and reused... You can get longer ones for folks with poor flexibility or reach etc. Everyone has their own stick.
There are a lot of biodegradable TP brands out there. But, as Jessica said, it's impractical to stockpile enough for years.
Got my copy of Survival Illustrated today. Looks good!
Excellent!
Oh, I accidentally went darker than that. I thought you meant composting of a human. 😂
Theoretically, according to what I've read, if you had enough cover material, you could certainly compost an entire human. :)
The cleanest outhouse I ever used (I know it’s not quite the same thing, but bear with me) had a bucket beside the seat for the toilet paper. Not adding toilet paper to the composting toilet allows the natural products to break down much faster and therefore with a lot less stink!
I just read Jenkins compost toilet handbook, and I highly recommend it, especially for The photos of folks in rural communities all over the world who have transitioned to maintaining composting systems. While his first book on humanure is available on his website for free, the second book is not, and costs $40 USD.
Note that the secret recipe Jenkins describes is to create an insulated pile large enough to maintain a minimum core temperature that will destroy all pathogens, degrade pharmaceutical toxics, and sit for at least a year undisturbed if not, for two years, at which point the compost will be ready to use for food production.
This system avoids the labor of turning the pile, which is not necessary as it disturbs the heat loss, which can be retained with proper construction and moisture retention. Also, urine is not diverted in his system, but retained as an active component.
Note that Jenkins also addresses the sticky problem of zoning regulations, which he notes usually circulates around waste disposal safety. He points out. This is not a disposal issue since nothing is being disposed of, only salvaged and recycled.
When I lived in the city I didn't have a yard, so I would take my organic food waste and walk at several blocks to the compost we built in the community garden. Maybe in a water crisis this is what people will have to do. Therefore, we need to build compost bucket systems for apartment dwellers, where the buckets are such a size with secure lids that they can be safely and easily carried to a central processing facility. Really, the photos in Jenkins book are well worth the price of the book for how lives are transformed with proper low-cost sanitation management.
I had the jarring experience of seeing your substack post image in my subscription feed right next to "My Spring Micro Wardrobe" ...
😆😆😆
Priorities...
Alexa, flush the toilet
Is there anything to know about period blood getting in the compost? (I use a Diva cup) Is this ok or should we be very careful to keep it out of both liquid and solid waste?
I read your requirements and realized that those of us who live in urban areas with tiny plots of land may not be able to adopt your strategy. A few years ago I looked into installing a composting toilet on the second floor. I was told my yard was too small and the ceilings too high for ventilation. Perhaps it is time to revisit the issue.