Comments on: Compost Toilet DIY

By: A Self Sufficient Life » Blog Archive » Compost Toilet - The Sawdust Toilet

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:27:17 +0000

[...] DB has already compiled a guide to Compost Toilet DIY but with summer coming and water shortages a serious threat for the future I would like to [...]

By: A Self Sufficient Life » Blog Archive » Compost Toilet Month

A Self Sufficient Life » Blog Archive » Compost Toilet Month — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:41:17 +0000

[...] or slightly less graphically Compost Toilet Month. The thing is, as happy as we are with our DIY Compost Toilet, I can’t help but wonder what else is out there in the world of the waterless [...]

By: Mrs.Dirty Boots

Mrs.Dirty Boots — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:32:00 +0000

Hi Derek, No problem with flies and there are lots of flies during the Spanish summertime. Using sawdust to cover the contents of the compost toilet provides a pretty good smell resistant seal. Burying the compost toilet contents in the middle of the compost heap is important or you would get flies for sure. We always make sure there is plenty more ‘ordinary’ garden waste to cover any new smellier additions to the heap.

People do use the ‘hole in the ground’ method, but you’d need to leave it at least a year to break down before incorporating it into your vet plot and it sounds like an awful lot of extra digging to me! Manures of all types break down much more quickly as part of a hot compost heap.

By: derek derek@mybig.com

derek derek@mybig.com — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:53:02 +0000

Is there a problem with flies, especially in summer, on the compost heap or in the toilet? Actually, would it be feasible to have an outhouse over a hole in the ground and have the outhouse move along whenever the hole fills up, and then plant the vegetables directly into the filled in holes?

By: Mrs.Dirty Boots

Mrs.Dirty Boots — Tue, 05 May 2009 19:54:10 +0000

Hi Luis,

We just make sure to have a 100% cellulose toilet paper and throw it in the compost toilet with everything else. So long as its plain old paper with no coatings or scent, there’s no problem.

By: Luis

Luis — Tue, 05 May 2009 19:06:04 +0000

How do you go about toilet paper? Any specific kind to use? or perhaps something else. Do you throw the paper in the bucket too? QUestions, questions

By: Mr.Dirty Boots

Mr.Dirty Boots — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:08:48 +0000

Bob, it sounds like you are man with a plan.

Sounds great.

By: Bob Pickett

Bob Pickett — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:01:14 +0000

My first one is only a few weeks old. I’m going to “fill” it until 1 May, then start a 2nd for the “post harvest” till. The first one will be used between 1st & 2nd grows on the 90 days veggies. 2nd grow stalks and then I put veggie remains will go back into the 1st compost barrel. Complicated, but I have it in my head!

By: Mr.Dirty Boots

Mr.Dirty Boots — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:35:52 +0000

Hi Bob, to be honest, if the pile heats up properly it should be fine if it is left for 3 months or so. We start a new pile every 3 to 6 months. We finish one, leave it to do its magic and start on the next.

Some people would rather be extra cautious and leave it a lot longer. I think it is about personal judgement and how much you trust your compost heap!

Are you going to build one?

By: Bob Pickett

Bob Pickett — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:10:38 +0000

Won’t the humanure need at least a year to decompose and disinfect? Will you need two compost piles then, one for the current year, and one for next year?