-
Thanks again Keven great stuff .
Got one more silly question for you so l hope you haven't left yet .
The twin chambers , so that's just a simple two bucket system right ?
One gets full , they put the lid on that and just swap over to a new
bucket , meanwhile 6 mths later the first bucket has composted is
that right ?
Just wondering because l thought they needed air flow to compost but
if l have it right and your's just have the lid on - even better .

What great work anyway . Pretty unbelievable isn't it that such a
simple change will actually save lives there .

Cheers.
Max




-- In compost-toilet@yahoogroups.com, "Kevin Ison" <kevin@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Max,
> pics should have explained a few things, but in answer to sawdust
question, Just straight sawdust into chamber over deposits. I think
they settled on 1/2 scoop for pee and full one for number 2.
> But they did have a honeymoon couple who were obviously  not too
familiar with each other as they nearly filled the whole chamber in a
weekend!
>
> The vent pipe runs down in wall between chambers and stops about
200mm under top. And then gap under. This way both chambers get a bit
of air. this might not work as well in less tropical conditions.
>
> Takes about a year to fill the chamber. Then change tops over and
when the second chamber gets filled, the first one is fully
composted. Just dig it out from the top. The owners were amazed at
how much the system could take. Mainly due to the hot climate.
>
> Kev
>
> ---
> Thanks for that Kev really interesting stuff.
> And the 100 ml pipe - that's what l wanted to use . Mainly because
> l've got some but l also thought the extra diam' might do away with
> the need for a fan and draw better . l'll set it up the same as
yours
> then .
> Wondering , hope it's not a dumb question but what's the twin
> chambers then ? Do you mean down in the toilet or is that outside
for
> the composting ?
> Also do they just use sawdust only over the business in yours then
> or ?
>
> Thanks again.
> Max
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

In a message dated 7/12/2006 1:45:57 PM Eastern Standard Time,
lotsowires@... writes:
>I am always interested in finding the ultimate system, so here goes
>again. I will start my new house later this year and will use a
>composting toilet system, so I will sort through your old post again
>for clues. Maybe it will be an opportunity to investigate another
>system. I switched from an Incinolet (incinerating toilet) to an
>Envirolet, and then to a simple bucket system. I was disappointed in
>my self contained unit, as the chamber was not large enough to allow
>the process to complete before having to remove the drawer to make
>room.
That would have been my main concern in going with
the SunMar Excel. I was planning to finish the compost
outside for up to two years on the outside pile. But just
handling such raw compost could be a problem.
The Excel is the only listed (NSF) system though,
so I thought it might be my only option.
However, since there is already an existing septic
system on the lot where I will probably end up
building, I may very well be able to put together
a home-built system as soon as the inspector
is out the door. ; )
>The drawer had to be dumped every few weeks and there were
>problems with material falling behind the drawer and the resulting
>clean out problems that caused. Most of the Excel owners I have met
>seem content with their systems, some actually believe the few week
>old material from their drawer is ready for prime time, ha. I have
>read that at least one Excel owner sawed the bottom of his toilet off
>and added a large chamber below to reduce the need cleanout cycle to
>every few years.
Brilliant!
> Sawing the bottom off the toilet allowed the owner
>to keep the rotary drum and solve the drawer size problem. Others
>with self contained units like me use some sort of secondary compost
>system to allow sufficient time for the biology to do its work.
>Owners of Centrex, Phoenix, Clivus Multrum and others with huge
>chambers may do the job about right, I am not sure. I like the
>control I have over the finishing time by using the 55 gallon plastic
>barrels as secondary compost bins to finish the process. I really like
>the simplicity of the bucket system, but am willing to try something
>new. I am guessing the best system to have that type batch control
>would be a carousel system.
I like carousel systems, too. The Rotaloo is made in Australia,
and I am afraid I can not justify the expense of shipping a
system all the way from there vs. building my own. Any batch
system which assures thorough composting over time feels
"right" to me.
I am a bit particular about the looks of the actual bathroom
though, and for that reason I really like the toilets made
for the SunMar waterless remote system. They sell the
toilets separate from the system, just for owner-builders!
They look great, and are available in many different colors.
Like you I am still looking, especially now that I have decided
on the building site, and the presence of the "kissed-and-blessed"
septic system, which I am not going to use, but is there to free
me from the restrictions to only "listed" composting toilets.

> I have seen photos of one home made
>version posted on the web. Other than the added complexity, any
>ideas. Wonder if any of the group have undertaken such a system, or
>own the carousel or roto loo that could give their reasons why or why
>not to go that way. .
Would you happen to have a link to the homemade
version? I would love to see it!


Oh, and to Kevin, great pictures of the greywater
system!
Are those banana trees in the pictures?

Peace,
Rose


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The folks active on this list now missed the last round of all of the same
questions and issues earlier in the year. And the cycle of the same previous
to that. You¹ll find all in the archives.

I have a Separett urine-diverting toilet system in an office (both part-time
used) and an Ecowaters Net-Barrel system (made with rollaway containers)
with a urine diverter, although this system works well with a dry toilet and
a microflush toilet. I also helped build the last two systems at Sonsie¹s in
Maine, which I believe she described last year.  All of these are explained
in my book, The Composting Toilet System Book, which will be re-released
with more system detail soon, although you can figure them out from the
diagrams. I also sell diverters, cheap urinals, compost cranks, CT plans,
and other books at www.ecovita.net, although that¹s not a big part of what I
do.

Folks, twin-bin composting toilet systems are nothing like the ³bucket
system.² I just serviced 7 Carousel composting toilets at an alternative
residential school. What we took out of them would have required a massive
outdoor composting operation, which would have had problems due to the
wetness of this state (45 inches of rain annually---seemingly more this
year) and its low soil perc, not to mention that no one would have
maintained it.  Like many things, the bucket system is fine for some
applications, but just isn¹t feasible or responsible for others. That¹s why,
if this is your point of entry for composting toilets, it¹s worth posing
your questions to other bucket users on Joe Jenkins¹s forum.

Those who want year-round systems should know what they¹re getting into if
they choose the self-contained systems made for the cottage market.

You can get the toilets on Sun-Mar from other sources cheaper.

Carol


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

---
Our house we just bought 9 mths ago came with a brand new septic , 10
grands worth for free , with enough piping outlet to support an army
so we'd be mad to use anything else on the house now.
But we're making cabins out of an old dairy and that's where my home
made systems going.
lt has a a concrete floor so it's too much messing round and exspense
to get under that so l'm gonna start with the bucket and grey water
system like alot kevens .
Personally l reckon though if your building from scratch , set your
bath room a mtr or so of the ground and build your ouwn composting
contraption underneath . l mean all these systems their charging 2
and 3,000 for are very very simple stuff you can easily build
yourself for a few 100 bucks maybe even improve on.
Things like sunmar we can't make obviously because of all the nic
plastic work but even that we can improvise with .
One example l was looking into was Porta Potties .
They have a nice plastic molded seat and the nICE slide in and out
trapdoor thingy down in the bowl.
l considered buying one to start with [$150] just to get the top seat
part- bowl and the nifty little trap door setup in the bowl. l was
going to just throw the bottom 1/2 of it away and incorperate the
nice top 1/2 of it into our loos in the cabins.Changed my mind though.
Dig around , start a folder and go to all the sites saving all the
good diagrams and pics you can find of all sorts.That's what l did
then l just made up what l thought was the best mix of them all to
suit myself .
You soon see a very basic pricable in all of them - easy to make
yourself especially if your starting from scratch so that you can
build floor hieght to where you want it .
Things like the rota loo's are so basic we'd be mad to fork out the 2
or 3 grand or whatever they're worth l reckon.
lt's basically just a toilet with rotating drums under the floor .

Owell good luck .
Max




  In compost-toilet@yahoogroups.com, "lotsowires" <lotsowires@...>
wrote:
>
>  I am always interested in finding the ultimate system, so here goes
> again.  I will start my new house later this year and will use a
> composting toilet system, so I will sort through your old post again
> for clues.  Maybe it will be an opportunity to investigate another
> system.  I switched from an Incinolet (incinerating toilet) to an
> Envirolet, and then to a simple bucket system.  I was disappointed
in
> my self contained unit, as the chamber was not large enough to allow
> the process to complete before having to remove the drawer to make
> room. The drawer had to be dumped every few weeks and there were
> problems with material falling behind the drawer and the resulting
> clean out problems that caused.  Most of the Excel owners I have met
> seem content with their systems, some actually believe the few week
> old material from their drawer is ready for prime time, ha.  I have
> read that at least one Excel owner sawed the bottom of his toilet
off
> and added a large chamber below to reduce the need cleanout cycle to
> every few years.  Sawing the bottom off the toilet allowed the owner
> to keep the rotary drum and solve the drawer size problem.  Others
> with self contained units like me use some sort of secondary compost
> system to allow sufficient time for the biology to do its work.
> Owners of Centrex, Phoenix, Clivus Multrum and others with huge
> chambers may do the job about right, I am not sure.  I like the
> control I have over the finishing time by using the 55 gallon
plastic
> barrels as secondary compost bins to finish the process. I really
like
> the simplicity of the bucket system, but am willing to try something
> new. I am guessing the best system to have that type batch control
> would be a carousel system.  I have seen photos of one home made
> version posted on the web.  Other than the added complexity, any
> ideas.  Wonder if any of the group have undertaken such a system, or
> own the carousel or roto loo that could give their reasons why or
why
> not to go that way. .
>

Thanks Carol .
Have to admit after looking through his stuff , l'm still not
comfortable with urine staying in the bucket myself.
l was looking at one site , thought l still had it in fav' but
ofcause it's gone but anyway , he deverts the urine .
His said that there's hardly any odor or mes and the rest actually
dries itself out with sawdust if urines kept out and emptying is
almost dry which helps it rip into composting straight away .
l like the sound of that.
Have to admit also even watching the horses on my place and the cat's
tray , it all dries out to nothing in even hours sometimes as long as
it's not wet so l like the look of that myself .
Anyway testing time in a few days for us so l'm about to find out -
lookout !!!!!!!! Gotta be better than the paddock whatever happens eh.
catch
Max




--- In compost-toilet@yahoogroups.com, Carol Steinfeld <carol@...>
wrote:
>
> FYI: There is a forum for users of sawdust toilets where you guys
can
> compare notes:
> http://www.jenkinspublishing.com/messages/
>
> This might be more helpful than this forum.
> Myself, I find that the two composting toilets I use are much
easier to
> operate than a bucket-to-composter system. And I bring food scraps
and
> household paper to a composter every day, so using an outdoor
composter is
> part of my everyday routine.
>
> Joe Jenkins doesn¹t like urine diversion because he needs all the
nitrogen
> possible to achieve hot composting in the compost pile.
>
> Re: Max¹s design: urine and graywater are well mixed because the
carbon in
> the graywater helps bind the nitrogen in the urine, while the water
dilutes
> it. Divert it to an aerobic planter bed, and you have an ideal mix
for
> plants.
>
> Carol Steinfeld
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Max;

Do you garden, or raise your own food, or grow flowers, or trees ?

If you do, you mite want to use the same urine diverting toilet sytem, but which
diverts the urine to a underground plastic storage barrel.  It is saved there
until you need it.  You would rig up some kind of system to pump it out of the
barrel as you need it to fertilize the plants. ( or just dip it out, if you want
to keep it simple).

This would get rid of the odor problem caused by mixing the urine with your sink
water.  The urine stored in the closed barrel will not smell.  You will not have
your sink water contaminated with foul smelling urine.  You will eliminate the
whole problem of dealing with grey water contaminated with urine, running thru
your yard, and beside your house.

Urine in much higher in nitrogen than the solid feces. Most of the fertilizer to
be recycled from your bodies waste is in your urine, not in your solid waste. 
This fact was very surprising for me to learn also.

It will give all of your garden plants a nitrogen boost.   When you use the
urine on your plants, dig a little hole beside the plant, and pour the urine
water there, then rake the soil over the little watering hole.  Then there is no
urine odor in your garden either.

you can save the urine all winter, and have about 50 gallons to use on your
garden in the spring.

You will not have to buy any commercial fertilizer (made from petroleum) for
your garden. You will not have to wait to compost a barrel of solid feces in
order to fertilize your garden.  You can use the urine on your garden
immediately.  Then, compost the solid waste at your leisure, and use it
somewhere also.

just a idea for you to consider,
                 dan b.


--------------------------------------
----- Original Message ----- From: <compost-toilet@yahoogroups.com>
To: <compost-toilet@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 6:39 AM
Subject: [compost-toilet] Digest Number 343


1a. Hi Guys , this is my new design l'm making right now ..
     Posted by: "Max Jacobs" surrealmaximum@... surrealmaximum
     Date: Mon Jul 10, 2006 7:10 am (PDT)


  ......... lt's going to be a sawdust loo and from everything l've read
personally l reckon it's best to seperate urine ..
The sink grey water runs through the T piece at bottom of tap outlet leaning it
and helping to get rid of urine odor everytime you use the sink .
lt also breaks the urine down to almost just grey water .
The grey water urine mix can then just run straight out into where ever your
running your grey water ..
Worked out it'd only be about a 10%urine to 90%grey water mix so that's very
well broken down and pretty safe to go on anything your grey waters used for
straight off .
What do ya think .
Can't wait to finish it.
Cheers ..
Max
---------------------------------------


---------------------------------
How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger’s low  PC-to-Phone call rates.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In compost-toilet@yahoogroups.com, Carol Steinfeld <carol@...> wrote:

in my book, The Composting Toilet System Book, which will be
re-released with more system detail soon, ...

I have to chime in and say your book is absolutely EXCELLENT.  When I
read your comments in this post about a new release, I had to go check
my copy, mine is version 1.2 updated. Fortunately it was still on my
shelf, and not like so many others I have loaned out, to never to be
seen again.  Being a fan of the book, any hints on what parts will be
expanded, and what version it will be?   For those of you reading
this, that don't have this book, you really, really need this book.  I
do appreciate your comments, and observations about the systems, and
problems you have encountered as it is like getting a little private
tutoring from a pro. At most I only get to talk to the half dozen
local neighbors with various systems, hardly enough to develop a real
opinion, about a particular system.

--- In compost-toilet@yahoogroups.com, roseoflowlands@... wrote:
>
> The Excel is the only listed (NSF) system though,
> so I thought it might be my only option.
> However, since there is already an existing septic
> system on the lot where I will probably end up
> building, I may very well be able to put together
> a home-built system as soon as the inspector
> is out the door. ; )

> I like carousel systems, too. The Rotaloo is made in Australia,
> and I am afraid I can not justify the expense of shipping a
> system all the way from there vs. building my own. Any batch
> system which assures thorough composting over time feels
  Would you happen to have a link to the homemade
> version? I would love to see it!

Thanks for your comments.  I too want the house toilet to be
acceptable enough to not scare my visitors too much, ha.  My
Incinolet, an electric incinerating toilet looks like something off a
space station, in all stainless steel.  Visitors would take one look
at it, and say they could wait until they got home, ha.  I have had
neighbors drive back home rather than using my Envirolet, just because
it looks different. If it does not have a flush lever they get
nervous, ha.  The range of opinions and comments I have received has
been interesting.  Fortunately, acceptance is the norm, some do shake
their head a bit, but eventually say good for you.  I have had
neighbors that seem to be offended at the very thought of a composting
toilet, since persons of their background don't have bodies that make
such substances, ha.  Others have express concern that I will develop
some type plague, ha.  As far as the inspection issue goes, I am
fortunate to live in an area that does not have a permitting or
inspection system in place.  I know the day of inspections will
eventually come.  For fun, we should have some NSF approval stickers
printed to apply to our systems, and see how far that gets us.  Or
simply get an Excel label and stick it on your toilet.  I am thinking
the typical inspector may have never seen a composting toilet, much
less know the looks of every model.  I suppose I could always use my
Envirolet, or incinerating toilet as a "display only" toilet for an
eventual day of inspection. The web page for the home built carousel
type toilet is below, he did an excellent job.  My only concern would
be the complexity of the system.  I plan a 1-1/2 story house, so I
could sacrifice some ground floor space to install such a system.  I
live on the side of a mountain, so there is no way short of lots of
explosives to put it under the floor. Let me know what you think about
the home built system, maybe we can get the interest of a few members
of this group to build up such a toilet, or adding their two cents
worth about the design.
http://biorealis.com/composter/carousel/carousel.html

-
Hey lotsowires.
The visitor things you mentioned l had to laugh .l had a friend they
had this gas burning contraption. Man this thing was scary. You'd go
to the Jon , finish and drop the lid , CRUNCH - this trapdoor inside
would slamb down and then the funace started. This thing sounded like
a feight train. We all use to gather in there waiting for it to take
of - beer in hand laughing our heads of at it in amazement.
We use to do all sorts of tricks to it , was the funiest toilet l've
ever seen.
Forgot how much all the alternatives on the market are gees , pretty
pricey aren't they !
That Roto Loo links great stuff , he shows the lot doesn't he which
is pretty damn good of him. Looks like a pretty complicated way of
doing it but it also looks profesional which would be a great thing
to  rather than the homemade look alot of them have .
Be no reason at all though , why anyone handy enough could't make his
exact model for a few 100 bucks or more give or take and save a
fortune really.
l couldn't use it with my cabins because the old building was on a
slab . But personally l wasn't too keen on having three big drums and
turntables to bother with all the time myself so wanted for something
abit simpler anyway .

Cheers
Max


-- In compost-toilet@yahoogroups.com, "lotsowires" <lotsowires@...>
wrote:
>
> --- In compost-toilet@yahoogroups.com, roseoflowlands@ wrote:
> >
> > The Excel is the only listed (NSF) system though,
> > so I thought it might be my only option.
> > However, since there is already an existing septic
> > system on the lot where I will probably end up
> > building, I may very well be able to put together
> > a home-built system as soon as the inspector
> > is out the door. ; )
>
> > I like carousel systems, too. The Rotaloo is made in Australia,
> > and I am afraid I can not justify the expense of shipping a
> > system all the way from there vs. building my own. Any batch
> > system which assures thorough composting over time feels
>  Would you happen to have a link to the homemade
> > version? I would love to see it!
>
> Thanks for your comments.  I too want the house toilet to be
> acceptable enough to not scare my visitors too much, ha.  My
> Incinolet, an electric incinerating toilet looks like something off
a
> space station, in all stainless steel.  Visitors would take one look
> at it, and say they could wait until they got home, ha.  I have had
> neighbors drive back home rather than using my Envirolet, just
because
> it looks different. If it does not have a flush lever they get
> nervous, ha.  The range of opinions and comments I have received has
> been interesting.  Fortunately, acceptance is the norm, some do
shake
> their head a bit, but eventually say good for you.  I have had
> neighbors that seem to be offended at the very thought of a
composting
> toilet, since persons of their background don't have bodies that
make
> such substances, ha.  Others have express concern that I will
develop
> some type plague, ha.  As far as the inspection issue goes, I am
> fortunate to live in an area that does not have a permitting or
> inspection system in place.  I know the day of inspections will
> eventually come.  For fun, we should have some NSF approval stickers
> printed to apply to our systems, and see how far that gets us.  Or
> simply get an Excel label and stick it on your toilet.  I am
thinking
> the typical inspector may have never seen a composting toilet, much
> less know the looks of every model.  I suppose I could always use my
> Envirolet, or incinerating toilet as a "display only" toilet for an
> eventual day of inspection. The web page for the home built carousel
> type toilet is below, he did an excellent job.  My only concern
would
> be the complexity of the system.  I plan a 1-1/2 story house, so I
> could sacrifice some ground floor space to install such a system.  I
> live on the side of a mountain, so there is no way short of lots of
> explosives to put it under the floor. Let me know what you think
about
> the home built system, maybe we can get the interest of a few
members
> of this group to build up such a toilet, or adding their two cents
> worth about the design.
> http://biorealis.com/composter/carousel/carousel.html
>

---
Thanks Dan.
We want to start getting as self sufficient as we can along the way
but our place is 7 ac's and it was really run down [ that's howcome
we could afford it ha ! ]
So the first few years here we'll be flat out just fixing everything
up and just won't get the time to play around with all that side of
things for a good yr or two yet but we hope to later .
There's plenty of room to run our piping well away from buildings but
l've put a T piece tap join on the urine outlet pipe so that later
when we can start , l can reconnect to that and use all the goodies.

Cheers
Max


  In compost-toilet@yahoogroups.com, DAN BECKLEY <drbeckl@...> wrote:
>
> Max;
>
> Do you garden, or raise your own food, or grow flowers, or trees ?
>
> If you do, you mite want to use the same urine diverting toilet
sytem, but which diverts the urine to a underground plastic storage
barrel.  It is saved there until you need it.  You would rig up some
kind of system to pump it out of the barrel as you need it to
fertilize the plants. ( or just dip it out, if you want to keep it
simple).
>
> This would get rid of the odor problem caused by mixing the urine
with your sink water.  The urine stored in the closed barrel will not
smell.  You will not have your sink water contaminated with foul
smelling urine.  You will eliminate the whole problem of dealing with
grey water contaminated with urine, running thru your yard, and
beside your house.
>
> Urine in much higher in nitrogen than the solid feces. Most of the
fertilizer to be recycled from your bodies waste is in your urine,
not in your solid waste.  This fact was very surprising for me to
learn also.
>
> It will give all of your garden plants a nitrogen boost.   When you
use the urine on your plants, dig a little hole beside the plant, and
pour the urine water there, then rake the soil over the little
watering hole.  Then there is no urine odor in your garden either.
>
> you can save the urine all winter, and have about 50 gallons to use
on your garden in the spring.
>
> You will not have to buy any commercial fertilizer (made from
petroleum) for your garden. You will not have to wait to compost a
barrel of solid feces in order to fertilize your garden.  You can use
the urine on your garden immediately.  Then, compost the solid waste
at your leisure, and use it somewhere also.
>
> just a idea for you to consider,
>                 dan b.
>
>
> --------------------------------------
> ----- Original Message ----- From: <compost-toilet@yahoogroups.com>
> To: <compost-toilet@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 6:39 AM
> Subject: [compost-toilet] Digest Number 343
>
>
> 1a. Hi Guys , this is my new design l'm making right now ..
>     Posted by: "Max Jacobs" surrealmaximum@... surrealmaximum
>     Date: Mon Jul 10, 2006 7:10 am (PDT)
>
>
>  ......... lt's going to be a sawdust loo and from everything l've
read personally l reckon it's best to seperate urine ..
> The sink grey water runs through the T piece at bottom of tap
outlet leaning it and helping to get rid of urine odor everytime you
use the sink .
> lt also breaks the urine down to almost just grey water .
> The grey water urine mix can then just run straight out into where
ever your running your grey water ..
> Worked out it'd only be about a 10%urine to 90%grey water mix so
that's very well broken down and pretty safe to go on anything your
grey waters used for straight off .
> What do ya think .
> Can't wait to finish it.
> Cheers ..
> Max
> ---------------------------------------
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low  PC-to-Phone
call rates.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

In a message dated 7/14/2006 12:00:18 PM Eastern Standard Time,
lotsowires@... writes
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:
The web page for the home built carousel
type toilet is below, he did an excellent job. My only concern would
be the complexity of the system. I plan a 1-1/2 story house, so I
could sacrifice some ground floor space to install such a system. I
live on the side of a mountain, so there is no way short of lots of
explosives to put it under the floor. Let me know what you think about
the home built system, maybe we can get the interest of a few members
of this group to build up such a toilet, or adding their two cents
worth about the design. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Thanks for the link, it looks like a very usable system.
Love the details and the pictures, you could build one
right from the website!  I like the fact that it can be
built under a 'normal" looking waterless toilet.
I worry a little about getting the drum attachments
leakproof.

Peace,
Rose


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Max, checking my emails on hol, thought I would quick answer.
It is the compòsting that we should be concentrating on. not the toilet
bit. We should teach composting along with all other earth skills at
schools around the world.

Anyway, the guys at the resort just add straw to beef up the air in the mix
if it gets a bit anaerobic. It is a living pile and concentrating on the
comoosting process is most important.
I think our thoughts are usually with designing a better composting toilet,
when it is the process that is most important. My colleague in Australia
did an experiment and made a sheet metal composting chamber 1 foot square.
He is nothing if not keen. anyway it composted prefectly well. We actually
grew pawpaw seedlings in the mix!

cheers,
Kev


-
Thanks again Keven great stuff .
Got one more silly question for you so l hope you haven't left yet .
The twin chambers , so that's just a simple two bucket system right ?
One gets full , they put the lid on that and just swap over to a new
bucket , meanwhile 6 mths later the first bucket has composted is
that right ?
Just wondering because l thought they needed air flow to compost but
if l have it right and your's just have the lid on - even better .

What great work anyway . Pretty unbelievable isn't it that such a
simple change will actually save lives there .

Cheers.
Max



--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web.com/ .

Hi, Max
I was suggesting baking soda on the bottom of your litter box in response to
your question about cat litter odors. Remember that plastic holds odors.

Although I like the Carousel/RotaLoo systems, the major advantage of these
is that the leachate drains to an outer container then away, so when the
inner containers are emptied or removed, you don¹t need to disconnect
something. However, if you can get over that, then the obvious answer is
using something like what my coauthor David Del Porto designed for a resort
in Fiji that insisted on using waterflush toilets and did not want to import
manufactured composters. He created a design that uses 55-gallon containers
or rollaway trash bins, but outfitted them with aerators and air intakes
integrated with a graywater system that uses up all graywater and the
leachate from the composters.

Ecowaters sells plans for this system as well as the twin-bin system he
designed for Greenpeace and now in use all over the western Pacific islands
and now in Baja in Mexico. http://www.ecowaters.org   You can see a diagram
in our book, which is available in many libraries.

I also conduct workshops on how to make simple versions with and without
urine diverters.

One thing about urine diversion: be aware that feces and toilet paper will
dessicate without some water. I recently LITERALLY had to chisel 30 gallons
of solidified feces and paper out of a Carousel, because the owners of the
system didn¹t follow the directions to add a cup of water periodically and
turn the system to the next container every 3 to 6 months. The chunks I was
removing were so sharp they sliced the rubber gloves I was wearing. If you
see this kind of drying, add water (and tiger worms, if you have them).

Carol Steinfeld


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hey folks,


I have a nice, typical sawdust/duff bucket system going here in Northern
California, and it occurs to me that things are going to get really wet this
winter, and my ease of gathering leaves, etc will diminish.  What do folks
do about 'cover' supplies during the winter? Do you bucket/bag up a bunch?
Keep stuff under tarps? Get a barn?



Tys







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Carol ... What are tiger worms? The same as Brandling worms?  Ben


>  (and tiger worms, if you have them).
>
>Carol Steinfeld
>

Ben, a Web search says tiger worms are also brandling worms.

Carol


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hey Tys ... You might want to keep whatever you want to use in some
plastic garbage bins with tight lids. A bail of pine shavings from
the farm supply store is tightly compacted, fairly inexpensive, and
goes a long way. Possibly you can find a bin large enough for a
single bale of shavings.

Ben

>Hey folks,
>
>
>I have a nice, typical sawdust/duff bucket system going here in Northern
>California, and it occurs to me that things are going to get really wet this
>winter, and my ease of gathering leaves, etc will diminish.  What do folks
>do about 'cover' supplies during the winter? Do you bucket/bag up a bunch?
>Keep stuff under tarps? Get a barn?
>
>
>
>Tys
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

Gang ... any of you from the western Mass area or there-abouts? You
may be interested in the July 30th composting toilets and graywater
program associated with the Serius permaculture course in Shutesbury,
Mass. (in red - below).

Enjoy yourselves ...   Ben

Permaculture Design Course 2006
Events Open to Sirius and friends

Several evening presentations/slideshows are open to Sirius Community
members, residents, apprentices, and neighbors, as well as interested
others. We welcome you to join in. Please come on time. If you have
any questions, ask Jono
(<mailto:jononeiger@...>jononeiger@...) or Dave
(<mailto:dave@...>dave@...).
All of these events will take place in the Octagon upstairs in the
Sirius Community Center.  You can find directions to Sirius at
<http://www.siriuscommunity.org>www.siriuscommunity.org.

In particular please come to the student design presentations on
Wednesday, August 9th. The design clients are Terry Mollner, the
Lighthouse (Sirius Community), and Linda Scott and Michael Baines,
all on Baker Rd.

Sun. July 30, 8 pm
Slide show: "Waste" treatment: grey and blackwater, compost toilets, etc.
Dave and Jono

Tue. August 1, 8 pm
Slide show: Animals in Permaculture
Jono and Dave

Sun. August 6,  8 pm
Gardening Like the Forest: Edible Forest Gardening
Dave Jacke

Wed. August 9th,  2:30-6:00
Student Design Presentations   Students

Wed. August 9th, 8pm
Special Guest Speaker: Kristin Getler will tell us about her
permaculture work in Bolivia, farming in Connecticut, food policy
efforts in Holyoke, MA, and farm to school and school gardening
programs in Holyoke and Easthampton, MA.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hey folks,


I have a nice, typical sawdust/duff bucket system going here in Northern
California, and it occurs to me that things are going to get really wet this
winter, and my ease of gathering leaves, etc will diminish.  What do folks
do about 'cover' supplies during the winter? Do you bucket/bag up a bunch?
Keep stuff under tarps? Get a barn?



Tys







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

We just use our ranch occasionally right now, so I just keep a bag on a
shelf filled with the pine shavings that are normally used for pets.

MM

Hello all.
My three children and I are in the process of designing an earth-
bag/straw bale hybrid we are planning on building here in Central
Texas. It's a pretty funny process.
I have finally reached the point that I am going to try and find out
about zoning/permits and such.
We are outside of city limits and some people have said not to even
bother, but I have heard horror stories of fines and construction that
had to be destroyed.
So....
Does anyone have any information about getting approval for a
composting toilet in a private residence in Central Texas?
Particularly Hays County?
If not (stupid question alert) where do I start looking for
information and rules.
Yes, I really am that uninformed about such things and yet I'm going
to do this anyway!
Wish us luck.
Suzanne

I am currently using peat moss from walmart, but I have used leaves  that I had
piled up after shredding with my lawnmower / bagger. these  shreded leaves that
have been piled up shed water very well, even after  a heavy rain the center of
the pile would be very dry, but even damp  they work very well, as cover

Tys Sniffen <tys@...> wrote:

Hey folks,


I have a nice, typical sawdust/duff bucket system going here in Northern
California, and it occurs to me that things are going to get really wet this
winter, and my ease of gathering leaves, etc will diminish.  What do folks
do about 'cover' supplies during the winter? Do you bucket/bag up a bunch?
Keep stuff under tarps? Get a barn?



Tys







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




Yahoo! Groups Links









Soon to be Texas E-Shiper
S.E. of Dallas,mild winters,(long)hot and humid summers
Daron

---------------------------------
Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls.  Great rates
starting at 1¢/min.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi,

The Humanure Handbook has a listing of state regulations in one
of the last chapters.
Maybe this would be a good place to start. (see link below).
weblife.org: Humanure Handbook: Appendix 3: State Regulations of Composting To

Good luck with your project!

Peace,
Rose


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Suzanne ... Hope this is a helpful start. A search of the State of
Texas website (similar for all states) for "composting toilets" found
the following link to regs for "On site sewage facilities" (OSSF's) .
Have not gone through the entire section. Assume they will deal a lot
with septic issues,  but they do include a section on graywater,
Assume there will be details on composters. Let us know what you find.

Don't know about Texas, here in Mass, we are entitled to a 40% size
reduction in the constructed septic field for graywater - if you want
to go that way - but the site has to be approved for the full sized
system. I'd suspect in arid Texas, you can devise some clever and
resourceful alternatives.

http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=4&ti=30&pt=1&ch\
=285

Texas Administrative Code

TITLE 30 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PART 1 TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
CHAPTER 285 ON-SITE SEWAGE FACILITIES

Subchapters
SUBCHAPTER A GENERAL PROVISIONS
SUBCHAPTER B LOCAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE OSSF PROGRAM
SUBCHAPTER C COMMISSION ADMINISTRATION OF THE OSSF PROGRAM IN AREAS
WHERE NO AUTHORIZED AGENT EXISTS
SUBCHAPTER D PLANNING, CONSTRUCTION, AND INSTALLATION STANDARDS FOR OSSFS
SUBCHAPTER E SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR OSSFS LOCATED IN THE EDWARDS
AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE
SUBCHAPTER F LICENSING AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR INSTALLERS,
APPRENTICES, DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES, SITE EVALUATORS, AND
MAINTENANCE COMPANIES
SUBCHAPTER G OSSF ENFORCEMENT
SUBCHAPTER H DISPOSAL OF GRAYWATER
SUBCHAPTER I APPENDICES


>Hello all.
>My three children and I are in the process of designing an earth-
>bag/straw bale hybrid we are planning on building here in Central
>Texas. It's a pretty funny process.
>I have finally reached the point that I am going to try and find out
>about zoning/permits and such.
>We are outside of city limits and some people have said not to even
>bother, but I have heard horror stories of fines and construction that
>had to be destroyed.
>So....
>Does anyone have any information about getting approval for a
>composting toilet in a private residence in Central Texas?
>Particularly Hays County?
>If not (stupid question alert) where do I start looking for
>information and rules.
>Yes, I really am that uninformed about such things and yet I'm going
>to do this anyway!
>Wish us luck.
>Suzanne
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

About the micro-flush toilet idea: We use a SeaLand one-pint flush with an
aerated composter system. I wouldn¹t cut door in the barrel. Dealing with
leaks that have excreta in them is not what you want to ever do.  My
coauthor designed a a composting toilet system using rollaway barrels fitted
with an aerator. The leachate drains to an integrated graywater system. This
also incorporates an air intake.  An inline fan is used for venting. When
one composter is full, it is switched out for another. Believe me, this is
the easiest way. Try to avoid building any system that involves shoveling
end-product from a hatch.

Carol Steinfeld
Ecowaters.org


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I'm looking to get one of those long ones, to check my temps.  Any
suggestions?



Tys



--------------------------------------------
Tys Sniffen
415.606.7746
Efficiency Consultant:  <http://www.ideamountain.com/> www.ideamountain.com






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Things seem to be working along fine with my sawdust bucket/pile system… but
I noticed the other day that in the pile I have some pretty good sized
maggots in there… about ¾ of an inch long… my wife believes they are some
type of blow fly larvae… pretty typical, I guess.  Should I do something
different?  I’m ok with them there, unless it’s an indication of some other
problem.  Or will I be infested with a million more flies soon?



Tys



--------------------------------------------
Tys Sniffen
415.606.7746
Efficiency Consultant:  <http://www.ideamountain.com/> www.ideamountain.com






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tys ... I'll bet they're soldier fly larva. Same
size as the ones that got into my outdoor worm
bins anyway. I got rid of them because they
stank. Had to hand pick them from the worm bins.
The chickens loved them.

>Things seem to be working along fine with my sawdust bucket/pile system… but
>I noticed the other day that in the pile I have some pretty good sized
>maggots in there… about ¾ of an inch long… my wife believes they are some
>type of blow fly larvae… pretty typical, I guess.  Should I do something
>different?  I’m ok with them there, unless it’s an indication of some other
>problem.  Or will I be infested with a million more flies soon?
>
>
>
>Tys
>
>
>
>--------------------------------------------
>Tys Sniffen
>415.606.7746
>Efficiency Consultant:  <http://www.ideamountain.com/> www.ideamountain.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

Hi,

I am planning on doing just what you mentioned. I will
probably go with a commercially available system
because we are in the city and the inspectors are
notoriously "picky". Eventually I still would love to
build from scratch, but lately i have been considering
converting my current (mobile DW) home instead.
One advantage is easy access to the area undereath
the house to place the actual composter.
I also would like to install a greywater system. I have
plenty of trees, and already constructed a large planter
behind the house.
That would free up the area that is now "septic field"
for growing vegies etc.  That would be very welcome, considering
that the rest of our land is heavily wooded. Great for the chickens
and the goats, but hard to grow anything there.
As far as being completely off-grid, I would love to get there
eventually, and I see no reason why mobile dwellers could not
make the same modifications that other homeowners might make.
Interesting topic, btw!

Peace
Rose


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Rose.......I let the blackberries grow over the leach field............Gee
they R good

-------Original Message-------

From: roseoflowlands@...
Date: 09/02/06 14:58:08
To: compost-toilet@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [compost-toilet] Composting Toilets and Mobile Homes

Hi,

I am planning on doing just what you mentioned. I will
probably go with a commercially available system
because we are in the city and the inspectors are
notoriously "picky". Eventually I still would love to
build from scratch, but lately i have been considering
converting my current (mobile DW) home instead.
One advantage is easy access to the area undereath
the house to place the actual composter.
I also would like to install a greywater system. I have
plenty of trees, and already constructed a large planter
behind the house.
That would free up the area that is now "septic field"
for growing vegies etc. That would be very welcome, considering
that the rest of our land is heavily wooded. Great for the chickens
and the goats, but hard to grow anything there.
As far as being completely off-grid, I would love to get there
eventually, and I see no reason why mobile dwellers could not
make the same modifications that other homeowners might make.
Interesting topic, btw!

Peace
Rose

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]