permaculture

[christopher nesbitt <christopher.nesbitt@mmrfbz.org>]

Hi Cuauhtemoc,

We have a very good design, which is a modified Vietnamese double  
vault latrine, which we use. It is two ferrocement vaults, with doors  
on the down hill side. Each vault is fed by two latrines. Judicious  
applications of sawdust, rice hulls, etc, maintain a healthy carbon/ 
nitrogen ration. We are working on a manual to distribute locally,  
will put it up on out web page as a down loadable PDF, and should  
have it done in a month or two. I will email you a copy.

We have problems here of high water table through the rainy season,  
so dealing with shit migrating through the ground to the rivers and  
streams (a common source of drinking water for many rural communities  
in the southern Maya lowlands), is essential. Our latrine is about  
two years old, and we are still filling in the first vault. Sometime  
later this year, or early next year, we intend to close this latrine  
and move onto the secondlatrine. By the time the second vault is  
filled, this one should be all composted.

Unlike other latrine designs, we do not separate urine since the  
ethnic communities of Belize have no tradition of dealing with urine,  
preferring to add more carbon in the form of sawdust or rice hulls  
(bamboo leaves work, too, but need a HUGE volume!). Some local  
schools are now using our design thanks to a great NGO called Plenty  
Belize who has built them.

We have had groups of over 40 people here with very little smell at  
the toilet itself.

A good book is "The Composting Toilet System Book by David Del Porto  
and Carol Steinfeld

Another great book, wonderfully written, informative and extremely  
funny is "the Humanure Handbook" by Jenkins.

Where are you located?

Best wishes,

Christopher






On May 21, 2008, at 8:21 AM, cuauhtemoc landeros wrote:

> Howdy all. I am working on getting a dry composting toilet going in  
> a small urban lot, hopefully the future community activation site.  
> I was wondering if anyone has any resources or reccommendations  
> (books, websites, experience) as how to build one of these things.
> Thanks all and enjoy the sunshine.
> For the future...................................
> Cuauhtemoc
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_____________________________
Christopher Nesbitt

Maya Mountain Research Farm
San Pedro Columbia, Toledo
PO 153 Punta Gorda Town, Toledo
BELIZE,
Central America

www.mmrfbz.org