I don't use it every time but it does get used frequently.
My little outside loo has been a great way to start the day, over looking the hills!
I've been very impressed with it so far. Very easy and low effort to manage and best of all no smells. It's used a lot of sawdust, a waste product from my carpentry work and its great to find another use for that material rather than it being something to try to get rid of.
When the bucket is full it all gets transferred to my blue barrels down the field. Here they are each filled for a year in turn. Then when full they are left to rot down for another 18 - 24 months before becoming safe and I'm able to use the compost somewhere else, although I won't on food crops because I do sell food occasionally.
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| More barrels will be added over time, probably four in total. |
This system has got me thinking though.
How could I take it further?
What else could I cut back on? What about toilet paper? Maybe I could think about growing my own? I've been looking at growing some mullien and a few other plants to use, which would be fine in summer but not sure what I could use in winter.
Any ideas? Have you ever grown your own toilet paper?
Sorry, this is such a random request, even for me!
This link may or may not be useful Kev:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.preparedsociety.com/threads/grow-your-own-toilet-paper-toilet-paper-trees.8169/
Thanks, that's a great link. I think I'll grow some mullien and see what its like this year, then maybe try growing something bigger for the long term!
DeleteMy husband has been in the talking/thinking stages about using this method for some time. We haven't progressed to the point you have but I give you plenty of credit for doing as you are.
ReplyDeleteOur first several years up here in northern Minnesota without electricity or running water, we used an outhouse or biffy, as we called it. Ours wasn't composting but rather a large hole in the ground. We regularly added sawdust, leaves, peat moss, dirt, etc. and it never had an objectionable odor so I totally believe you when you say you have no odor involved with yours. Keep up the good work!
That's a composting loo, just one where you don't get to use the compost at the end. I always wonder how big the hole would need to be to stop it smelling or filling up too quick. There's a great little book called "the specialist" by Charles Sale about a man who builds outhouses. Only takes ten minutes to read but he asks all the right questions before you build it - even down to what colour to paint it!
DeleteWish we had one and a sink to wash the hands after weeding. I knew somebody who had a commode seat on their allotment. Think they used the contents to grow veg. Can't say I fancied that. Years ago I have read dustbin men use to collect 'night soil' from London outside privvies and spread them on the fruit veg gardens in Kent.
ReplyDeleteI'd like an outside wash area, even just for the summer. I have been planning one for a while, with a wash for veg as well and drainage under it. But not just yet as I have bigger jobs first!
DeleteNight soil was a big thing, only recently that it's become such a taboo subject really!
Lord. I clicked on a poo post... maybe I need a life. Toilet paper is kind of a bare necessity, even to be pocketed when going fishing or hunting. Maybe just buy the 1 ply and it will compost and be cheaper?
ReplyDeleteI'm imagining REM singing in the background "Everybody poos, sometimes...."
DeleteIt's not so much for the cost, more just to see if I could if I had to!
When I travelled in India, I went the Indian way...no loo paper, just water. Though that might be more difficult as you would have to schlep water down there.
ReplyDeleteIt is the cleanest way.
I always thought the reason that water never caught on over here was it would just be too cold in the winter! Ice cold water on the bum doesn't sound good to me! Maybe for summer use!
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