From oil dependence to local resilience

Composting toilets

I have just come across an interesting New York Times article called Yellow is the New Green

Having always been interested in water conservation and reuse of resources, and having recalled how we all had to put bricks in our cisterns during the water crisis in Auckland during the 1980s, this engaged me.

Tags: sewage, urine

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Permalink Reply by tina on April 28, 2009 at 16:42

hi deidre. last year in wales i found lots of places that had compost toilets. either in addition to their mainstream bathrooms or as the sole one when the place was totally off the grid. they worked well, particularly when urine and faeces were kept seperate and plenty of sawdust used to cover the faeces. just last week i built one on a sloping piece of land near otaki, removing some himalyan honeysuckle to do so. therefore sorting two problems at once :) cheers, tina

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Permalink Reply by Deirdre Kent on April 29, 2009 at 10:47

Hi Tina I would be interested to see this toilet cos I live in Otaki. My phone is 364 triple seven nine. Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Martin KAVANAGH on June 7, 2009 at 13:20

Hi Deidre,

Have you read 'THE HUMANURE HANDBOOK' ? - It's a great read, being entertaining and funny while very useful & full of info.
.. tells how you can do it yourself (!!) without having to buy a costly commercial installation by using a couple of large plastic buckets, sawdust, and an outside composting set-up.

I bought my copy from 'Amazon' over the interne .. but I believe that you can get it free too, - try googleing ?? Cheers, Marty.

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Permalink Reply by Deirdre Kent on June 7, 2009 at 20:23

Thanks have been meaning to get this book for ages and you have prompted me to search. I have also heard there is a new version of the wormorator coming out from a Northland inventor.

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Permalink Reply by Deirdre Kent on July 5, 2009 at 10:22

Hi Marty

Many months later I got the book on interloan from the library and now we have a bucket system installed. Not sure how we will get on when we have our first visitors tomorrow. Five come to stay.. Great book. Cheap solutions. We bought stainless steel bucket from Mitre 10 then went to the second hand furniture store and got a $20 sturdy table which we will adapt. Buying a wooden seat next week from the same place. Now working out where the compost heaps will be in our new place. Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Martin KAVANAGH on October 6, 2009 at 8:59

Hi Deirdre,

More months again (we must be getting older & slower !!) and I've just moved into my small rural cottage and will be organising my loo set-up as a priority here too. - How did your arrangement work-out ?? - especially with visitors reactions ;-) ;-) ? - I've also started hard digging into turf to build my veggie gardens and have got a start planting seeds & bought seedlings from the Christchurch (Riccarton) Sunday market. This place is inland HAWARDEN and can be a bit harsh weatherwise .. very cold winters & hot dry summers so shelter will be a priority as well as keeping the water up to the plants. I must say that the rural outlook and the loudest sounds being sheep and Bellbirds calling is truly 'mind expanding'for this ex Londoner !!

If there's any greeners up here reading this I'd be pleased to make contact (my phone # is: 03 314 4119)

Cheers Deirdre, Marty Kavanagh

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Permalink Reply by Deirdre Kent on October 6, 2009 at 9:16

Hi Marty

We are going to be getting a wormorator as there is a new model out with a bigger tank. Will fertilise our garden when we get the arrangement finished. Meanwhile the bucket system according to Joseph Jenkins is excellent.