The bathroom isn't finished, but we decided to go ahead and build our toilet anyway.It's a two-bay composting toilet. One for number one, two for number two (we will be drawing pictures on the lids, so stay tuned for that!). The poop one uses sawdust as its carbon cover material. The pee one will be filled with biochar (which eliminates all smell and is an excellent additive to the garden, as it releases nutrients, of which it is full, slowly to the plants). We haven't yet gotten around to making the biochar, but when we do, we'll post further explanation. The lids hinge, so that you can take the buckets out easily.
I haven't yet finished making the sawdust container, which will go on the side which doesn't have an armrest. Should get it done over the next couple of days.
We also installed a 4" PVC pipe, which is open within the toilet unit, runs under the floor to the outside, and then up into the air 10 foot. The outside part is painted black. This heats up, making the air within it rise. This makes a draft and keeps the toilet totally smell free. It works great.
So now we have an inside toilet - we are moving up in the world!
Next step, which won't happen for a while, will be a hot shower/bath. We went to the city yesterday and found a used, metal bathtub for $40. It's great.
At first I thought it was a his and hers toilet. Haha!
ReplyDeleteJosie, Abe will never again hear you say, "Honey, it's windy. Maybe we should bring the toilet inside."
I know, but there are plenty of other phrases like that still in our lives!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos on your blog by the way. I love it when the desert blooms.
I'll be interested to learn more about making the biochar and all.... could I use it for my cat litter boxes?!?!? :)
ReplyDeleteBiochar is basically crumbled charcoal. In a cat litter, the cats would then walk it over the house, so probably not ideal!
ReplyDelete