yah

Originally uploaded by Espressobuzz

uh huh...

In Lieu of a Loo

So dealing with human waste has crossed my path many ways recently. Today I find myself in need of addressing this issue in at least three different circumstances.

As a joke, awhile back, I bought the book "The toilet Papers" to put on the back of my toilet - but one read through it myself - and I realize that our concept of the flush toilet and wasting water in our culture is absurd! I've been interested in composting toilets ever since reading it - and now I could really put those ideas use.

We are about to start building our funhouse "Flight to Mars" again, to bring to Burning Man and other various local burning man events. We'll be doing this out in the remote reaches of Duvall, Washington, on a hunk of land owned by friends of ours. One requirement for allowing us to use the land? Provide a bathroom facility of some kind.

Burning man itself and it's various counterparts such as Critical Massive also make having your own "loo" a very nice option too. Let alone provide one for you whole theme camp! I'd be everyone's best friend!

And.. My parents bought a piece of property here in Washington State and will be plopping my little trailer out there for fun and frolick -but the one thing it's missing?It's black water tank - ie: it's toilet abilities.

There you go - three reasons to build myself a composting toilet.

So here's my idea: A composting outhouse built on a trailer.

I've read that little book - I get how it works - and the options for composting human manure. Now it's time to find some plans/help/advice for building my own rolling version.

Hear that? Silence....! I find very little in the way of actual plans - or even ancedotes of others doing this themselves, online. Come on people! We've been pooping since the begining of time! There must be some advice somewhere!

I did find this woman's account of building her own Clivus Multrum type toilet. There are no dates on her web pages - and no follow up. Did it work? Were there any draw backs? What's it like to take dump in your very own, hand built, water conserving, composting toilet????

I'm taking the photos and written descriptions she's supplied - and starting to sketch out my own designs. I figure it will be about 6' long by 4' wide. Maybe set on a trailer that is about 8' long by 6' wide.

Read more about my plans here...