The humanure thread

[valmom]

I have always thought a composting toilet would be a great thing to have down in the barn. (not that I haven't used the 5 gallon bucket and shavings method in the barn and at shows in the horse trailer!). I looked into it once and the actual composting toilets seemed pricey and to need actual venting and installation. (and the toilet way would be the ONLY way I would get actual permission to put something down at the barn. What my SO doesn't know about a bucket and sawdust and what goes into the manure pile won't kill her).

Oh, and what IS the matter with grey water? Why overload the septic system with extra soap/detergent and water that could be useful? Grey water isn't really a good additive to a septic system!

Interesting to hear other people's thoughts about this topic.

 

[sunsaver]

Here's a link to affordable compost toilets:

http://humanurehandbook.com/store/Loveable-Loo/

I dont have any vested interest in them other than they inspired me to do it myself. Greywater could be put through a biosand filter and applied directly onto crops. The humanure should be composted completely and put around fruit and nut trees or berry bushes. The danger with using composted humanure around greens and veggies is the possibility of fecal parasites being ingested. The E. Coli danger is no greater than using any other type of manure. Proper composting techniques, and applications of fresh mulch over the top of the compost, will greatly help in avoiding the spread of pathogens.

 

[Leta]

This exact thing (composting toilet + greywater filtration and reuse) is the reason we've shifted tactics.

We met some folks earlier this year who are living the dream- they own some rentals in town and farm, and the husband and the wife both do some freelance things. No regular job between them. They have two composting toilets and reuse some greywater. They are 100% off the grid, no propane even. They have solar hot water, a passive solar home design, a wood cookstove and a masonry stove that are fueled by their own properly managed woodlot.

And yet... the reason they only reuse *some* greywater is because they were required to put in a septic system that they do not use.

When I found this out, I was like, "Oh, @#$% no!" So we will not be buying vacant land and building. Instead, we want to buy a house with acreage. Because existing homes don't have to conform to code, and you don't have to get an occupancy permit. And there are houses here that are still primitive, so essentially a blank slate. A red herring house, if you will.

My dad has been a professional builder for 30+ years. I get why building codes exist, there are a lot of hacks out there. But the regulations are so goofy and inconsistently applied that it makes me just shake my head.

 

[Britesea]

I've been thinking about humanure lately also. I'd like to build a composting toilet in the studio (which is currently being repurposed into a library/guest room, and a craftroom/pantry).

It's funny how people get so nervous about using composted humanure, but don't bat an eyelash at horse, cow, pig, and chicken manures.

A friend of mine is fond of saying that he refuses to drink water, because you know what fish do in it.

And a fascinating book, called "At Home, A Short History of Private Life" by Bill Bryson mentions this, which should give a person pause for thought...

"Have you ever noticed," Brian asked as we stepped into the churchyard, "how country churches nearly always seem to be sinking into the ground?" He pointed out how this one stood in a slight depression, like a weight placed on a cushion. The church foundations were about three feet below the churchyard around it. "Do you know why that is?"
I allowed, as I often do when following Brian around, that I had no idea.
" Well, it isn't because the church is sinking," Brian said, smiling. "It's because the churchyard has risen. How many people do you suppose are buried here?"
I glanced appraisingly at the gravestones and said, "I don't know. Eighty? A hundred?"
" I think that's probably a bit of an underestimate," Brian replied with an air of kindly equanimity. "Think about it. A country parish like this has an average of 250 people in it, which translates into roughly a thousand adult deaths per century, plus a few thousand more poor souls that didn't make it to maturity. Multiply that by the number of centuries that the church has been there and you can see that what you have here is not eighty or a hundred burials, but probably something more on the order of, say, twenty thousand."
This was, bear in mind, just steps from my front door. "Twenty thousand?" I said.
He nodded matter-of-factly. "That's a lot of mass, needless to say. It's why the ground has risen three feet."


With all that going on... why worry about a little pee and poop?

 

[sunsaver]

This exact thing (composting toilet + greywater filtration and reuse) is the reason we've shifted tactics.

We met some folks earlier this year who are living the dream- they own some rentals in town and farm, and the husband and the wife both do some freelance things. No regular job between them. They have two composting toilets and reuse some greywater. They are 100% off the grid, no propane even. They have solar hot water, a passive solar home design, a wood cookstove and a masonry stove that are fueled by their own properly managed woodlot.

And yet... the reason they only reuse *some* greywater is because they were required to put in a septic system that they do not use.

When I found this out, I was like, "Oh, @#$% no!" So we will not be buying vacant land and building. Instead, we want to buy a house with acreage. Because existing homes don't have to conform to code, and you don't have to get an occupancy permit. And there are houses here that are still primitive, so essentially a blank slate. A red herring house, if you will.

My dad has been a professional builder for 30+ years. I get why building codes exist, there are a lot of hacks out there. But the regulations are so goofy and inconsistently applied that it makes me just shake my head.

I am doing the same sort of things. Completely off-grid (except for propane stove for "fast food snacks"), solar panels and batteries, wood burning stove, wood burning oven, passive solar hot water thermosiphon, organic permaculture, composting toilet, urine tank for urea fertilizer, greywater direct to biofilter treatment system, geothermal cooling, ice box for food storage, root cellar, and now i'm working on evaporative cooling. I moved off-grid while staying in an existing home. None of my improvements have been inspected, and no permits were applied for. I have often found that it is easier to get forgiveness after the good deeds, than to get upfront permission from the government to make the world a brighter place. Just do it. History will be the judge.

 

[rathbone]

Britesea - LOVE IT! People get real funny about the most natural thing in the world.

 

[Avalon1984]

My main worry would be if I would kill the plant. The stuff I put into my body and then think of how much more potent itll be when it comes out oh boy

What about when you are on medication like antibiotics? Are there studies on how it would affect plants? I think for now I will stick with having husband water the lawn. Besides, when my mares pee it kills the grass. I wonder if I am as potent as they are. My animals are eating healthier stuff than I do so Ill stick with them. Interesting idea though.

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

My main worry would be if I would kill the plant. The stuff I put into my body and then think of how much more potent itll be when it comes out oh boy

What about when you are on medication like antibiotics? Are there studies on how it would affect plants? I think for now I will stick with having husband water the lawn. Besides, when my mares pee it kills the grass. I wonder if I am as potent as they are. My animals are eating healthier stuff than I do so Ill stick with them. Interesting idea though.

You compost everything, very well. Humanure is something like 5 years in warmer climates. Its all dirt at that point.
In France they collect the urine in buckets and let it age for several months as well.

 

[Avalon1984]

My main worry would be if I would kill the plant. The stuff I put into my body and then think of how much more potent itll be when it comes out oh boy

What about when you are on medication like antibiotics? Are there studies on how it would affect plants? I think for now I will stick with having husband water the lawn. Besides, when my mares pee it kills the grass. I wonder if I am as potent as they are. My animals are eating healthier stuff than I do so Ill stick with them. Interesting idea though.

You compost everything, very well. Humanure is something like 5 years in warmer climates. Its all dirt at that point.
In France they collect the urine in buckets and let it age for several months as well.

Oh, gotcha. Yes, I would hope after 5 years all my poison would be washed away What you say about France reminds me of the poo soup we make for our gardens. Take some wet fresh horsey poop, add water, stir, let sit for a while, stir and feed to plants. Works everytime.

 

[lee&lyric]

We've been searching through this thread to find where to get the toilet seat that separates the urine from feces. We were like, "Bingo, great idea!" We are hoping to move onto our land before the end of fall; much to read and learn and we thank everyone to high heavens for this thread.