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Vince P
Member
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# Posted: 23 Dec 2007 22:13
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I'm just wondering what some of you are using for this unmentionable, but important part of off the grid living.
When I was putting my cabin together, this was a vital project for my wife and three daughters, despite my best effort to have them adopt a more "earthy" lifestyle. At first I built my outhouse at home, took it apart and transported it to the cabin site. I planned to dig a pit toilet and use builder's lime as a desiccant, until I heard about the "composting sawdust toilet" that a number folks have adopted. I must say that I am very pleased with how it worked out. I use wood shavings, which is sold for horse stables and there is no odor, except for that of the sawdust. For more info see, this book, which is available for free online: The Humaure Handbook
This has worked so well for me that I built another one this winter for nighttime use and we actually keep it inside the cabin.
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bobrok
Member
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# Posted: 26 Dec 2007 22:38
Reply
What a great idea! This is worth a 2nd look for my cabin. Right now we have the state-mandated outhouse (into which I put the lime-aide) and a Thetford porta-potti for indoor use. I couldn't believe my luck to find a practically brand new one for $30 at a garage sale and I just couldn't pass on it (pardon the pun).
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nrvswyf
Member
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# Posted: 8 Jan 2008 17:27
Reply
Thank you for the link to The Humanure Handbook. I'd heard of it... but am running out of money to buy books with! I bookmarked it so I can go back & read later.
We'll be living in a camper when we get to Colorado... and will have to have some kind of toilet (other than the camper - because we'd like to leave it parked!)... and I thought the Humanure system would be perfect for our needs... temporarily.
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Vince P
Member
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# Posted: 2 Feb 2008 17:47
Reply
Anyone have experience with this composting toilet? It's a bit expensive, but it's the design I'm interested in.
http://www.lehmans.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=7431&itemType=PRODUCT&i MainCat=810&iSubCat=815&iProductID=7431
I've acquired an old airplane toilet (the kind with the trap door) and I'm going to attempt to build something similar to this composting toilet with some modifications I've learned from using the sawdust toilet.
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Wawajake
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# Posted: 8 Apr 2008 13:12
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I have an off the grid 24 x 24 cabin east of Lake Superior on a river.
I have utilized a very similar solar system and water system to our web site host.
I do have an outhouse, but we sprung for a Sunmar Non electric compost toilet and are very happy with it. But we respect its limitations. It does not truly compost when temperatures outside are getting below 12 degrees celcius and there is no one there to turn it over and add any extra microbes. So half of the year it is really just a holding tank and we try to use outhouse on those weekends. It can still evaporate liquids if you do not overwhelm it.
(just use at night) It is not a major chore nor is it smelly to dump the compost tray in bush. The toilet is vented thru roof so no problems there either for smells.
A mix of Sunmar peat moss with 50% pine wood shavings like you get from pet stores in big bag is what we use . Sunmar peat moss is expensive but is virgin no bugs. We tried using garden peatmoss but it breeds flies . it was $1200 well spent you can install in 4 or 5 hours.
jake
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