permaculture

[Scott Vlaun <scott@moosepondarts.com>]

Thanks to everyone for all the information, thoughts and links. Lots  
of great stuff! It'll certainly be a challenge to build something that  
meets all requirements with little funds, but I think it's an  
important issue to deal with on public demonstration sites like  
community gardens.

If anyone comes up with anything else, please pass it along,

Scott




Scott Vlaun Moose Pond Arts+Ecology Design Solutions for a Sustainable  
Future
450 Main Street, Studio 2, Norway, Maine 04268 • 207-739-2409

On Feb 23, 2011, at 12:17 PM, Neil Bertrando wrote:

> I followed this train of thought through till we hit some financial
> setbacks.  still on the drawing board for county approved toilets,  
> although
> we have some engineered plans we can share if you like....still need  
> some
> feedback on them too.
>
> I have several documents I can send you off list if you like as well.
>
> My thoughts on high levels of use are either large batch chambers or a
> removable batch container (ie. wheelie bin, 55 gal. barrel, etc.) so  
> you can
> manage for various use levels that may be unpredictable during the  
> design
> phase.  In the latter case, you need to find a place to store these  
> (an
> passive solar, insulated cob closet???)  In either case the system  
> could
> have a large footprint.
>
> I prefer to avoid the urine diversion systems and balance with good
> ventilation, a significant carbon sponge, and behavioral systems  
> (i.e. guys
> pee in the bush when possible), then drainage if necessary.  for  
> balancing
> moisture look at the wet tropics compost toilet systems.
>
> also "the composting toilet book". by david del porto is a very useful
> reference.
>
> for temperature, insulation is important, you could also consider  
> some solar
> thermal air heaters, flat plate or tube collectors can be fabricated  
> with
> mostly recycled materials. not sure how well they would work at your
> latitude, but you could set up some louvres to manage the system...   
> here's
> a website for more info and some designs.
> http://www.knowledgepublications.com/heat/solar_air_heating_full_product.htm
>
> RE: some resources here's the text from another email thread
>
> best of luck,
> neil
>
> As per Request, here's the links I recieved, which demonstrate  
> recent trends
> around this issue in various states.  Good starting places for  
> contacting
> people who are dealing directly with the process.
>
> http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/06/cities-contemplate-the-composting-toilet/
> http://www.sonomacountygazette.com/blog/2009/12/sonoma-county-composting-toilet-project.html
> http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1945764,00.html
>
> "Call the Inyo County Planning Department at 760-878-0263.  Years  
> ago a
> strawbale house was put up in Independence, Ca that had the first  
> permitted
> composting toilet in California, I believe"
>
> The Washington State Document was really helpful since they have best
> management practices and codes as well as design criteria (although  
> not
> engineered specs).
> the PDF link is
> http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/ww/Water_Conservation_8-29-07.pdf
> also they have a whole array of documents listed alphabetically here:
> http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/ww/pubs-ww-all-bytitle.htm
>
> learning process,
> neil
>
> On Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 1:30 AM, Cory Brennan <cory8570@yahoo.com>  
> wrote:
>
> > Another one is the one done by Anna Edey of solviva.com, she says  
> > she can
> > break down human waste into black potting soil in 2 months using  
> > worms and
> > her particular design which doesn't entail handling the waste  
> > directly until
> > it has completely broken down.
> >
> > --- On Tue, 2/22/11, Leslie Moyer <unschooler@lrec.org> wrote:
> >
> > From: Leslie Moyer <unschooler@lrec.org>
> > Subject: Re: [permaculture] Composting toilet for Community Garden
> > To: "permaculture" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
> > Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 8:37 PM
> >
> > You might look at a Sunny John mouldering toilet, too.  It has some  
> > of the
> > features Ray mentioned, including a solar-assist ventilation system:
> > http://www.sunnyjohn.com/
> >
> >
> > On Feb 22, 2011, at 9:32 AM, Scott Vlaun wrote:
> >
> > > HI All,
> > >
> > > Our community garden in Norway Maine is looking for a "best  
> > > practice"
> > solution to compost human waste on site. (Not for use in the garden)
> > > Since the garden is in a neighborhood, we need to avoid any odor  
> > > issues.
> > I'm a long-time sawdust/bucket/bin humanure composter, but for a  
> > public site
> > like this we need something that requires no handling of "live"  
> > waste and
> > will be a good demonstration/model for the community.
> > > During the season we might have a dozen or more people using the  
> > > toilet
> > on a given day. Winter use would be very limited, but it would be  
> > great to
> > have a system that works in the cold as well. The site is off-grid  
> > so high
> > electric use is not an option.
> > > Any thoughts, links, or references to working systems would be much
> > appreciated.
> > > Enjoy the strengthening sun!
> >
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