Mon, 2007-06-11 04:54 — The_Truth
What do you think of this? Does anyone believe that a county would sign off on something like this?
What do you think of this? Does anyone believe that a county would sign off on something like this?
Comments
Proximity of Gardens
Like organic gardening and pesticides, it would be a matter of circumstance and perspective. Unfortunatley, composted material rarely stays put. An example of this on a huge scale is in India. The wind carries it quite far and it is not uncommon for city folk to contract horrible eye infections from the dust comming in from the fields (which contains human waste).
We would do well to take a hard look at what some municipalities and forest managers are doing with 'city waste' in the form of fertilizer. It does have its impact on areas beyond where they are used.
I myself shudder when fly fishing in managed forests that use those products--anyone that has done likewise will know what the posted warning signs states and it does not leave one with a feeling of well being.
Scandinavians have been
Wed, 2007-09-19 07:41
Scandinavians have been using composting toilets for years often because the permafrost prevents digging of septics. They're popular in parts of Canada where the environment is especially fragile ie: living on small islands. It's cean, unsmelly, and you end up with wonderful soil for the garden. Or you can just incinerate the waste.
I've just found out the county where we're buying land doesn't allow them because they don't trust owners to rotate the waste drum....because we're lazy idiots, right? Grrr. Sometimes I wonder if it's just ensuring someone's brother-in-law in the septic business gets the business.
The entrenched negative mentality towards such a cheaper and cleaner atlernative to septic leeching fields is mind-boggling and disappointing. It was like that with solar power for years. I have a good story or two about that.
Take your pick of cool systems:
http://www.sun-mar.com/
http://www.envirolet.com/
http://www.biolet.com/
http://www.compostingtoilet.com/
Mundane answer
I think the answer is simpler--culture.
There is a decided difference between scandinavian cultures (where composting has met with success )and most countries with large pupulations (also, note, there are health problems associated with the practice, even in Scandinavian Countries--simply put, no-one is perfect).
Large countries like the US do not have the luxury of a rather homogeneous cultural attitude. At this point, a country like Japan, even with a large population might be able to get away with a public-wide use of human waste composting in a very systematic and hygenic way--but give it a few years and it may be beyond that country culturally.
Yes, far too many of our fellow citizens would not follow the needed steps (look at litter on the side of the highways or rampant speeding if you want proof that a good many people simply can't follow agreed upon proceedures).
However, an outright ban is a bit of an over-step in my opinion.
Now, if inexpensive and full-proof systems are developed, that is a different story.
ONe thing I would caution anyone on is thinking that composting is absolutely "clean." It simply is not and that is the problem in itself. Leach fields (as the technology currenlty stands for municiple use) are currently the only way that we can reasonably insure that human and eco impacts are balanced , at a reasonable cost. But, it still carries its own health risks.
Solar power too, for the large scale applications needed to replace on-grid power are 20 to 30 years behind where they should be and are "alternatives" at best and not replacements.
In many respects there is quite the dicotomy between the individual undertaking these technologies and the "greater society."
By all means, the individual should/must, but the greater society should take a long hard look before jumping in.
-Andrew
This method or form of
Wed, 2008-01-02 18:24
This method or form of compost might not be the best for your gardens, but why not use the compost for flowers & trees instead of vegetables. To me this is still the best method of dealing with our own waste.
Septic alternative
Somewhere along the line I bookmarked a website that contains the entire text of "The Humanure Handbook." I don't recall if it came from one of our forums, but if you haven't read it and plan on doing any sort of composting toilet or alternative greywater system, you simply HAVE to read this book! Besides, it's free online (Rick's favorite price), and the guy has an awesome sense of humor. How can you pass up a book with chapter titles such as:
Crap Happens
Solar Power in a Banana Peel
Deep Sh*t
When the Crap Hits the Fan
A Day in the Life of a Turd
Fecofriggenphobia
The End is Near
He now claims to be a USM (Universal Shit Magnet). Also known for decades now as "The Humanure Guy," everybody who knows him or meets him passes on their crap anecdotes. So I guess that makes him full of it!
You can access the entire book online here: http://www.weblife.org/humanure/default.html
Happy reading (and fruitful composting)!
Louanne
"Longhare"
humanure
One thing to keep in mind is that many "humanure" proponents for agriculture do very little research on generational use of the processes most common in the world. Cholera and other diseases are now on the rise, especially in those contries often sited by books promoting human compost of waste and use in agriculutre. Mostly what seems to be happening is the breakdown of human pathogens are not complete in a good number of "municiple/coop" systems. Most books will state that as long as the proper amount of bacteria, heat and time are allowed, that all the pathogens are distroyed. THAT is the problem---most people will not do it properly or the proceedures will break down over time..
One good reason I would never eat leaf products from Central and South America and farmed seafood from Asia.
Most of the early studies done into this, site programs that are either "test/research" or governmental "showcase" systems.
It is much like looking at a showcase nuclear power plant and then comparing that to Chernobyl. Most countries run their human waste composting closer to the sloppy work in Chernobyl.
It is one thing if you decide on your lonesome to go the Humanure route and really work to keep things going the way they should be, testing and ensureing food safety, another if all the landowners in your county decide to.
I would be very leery of trusting the average homesteader with humanure composting! Especially, if I'm living next to five or six families that do so.
Septic alternative
Doh! Busted! :oops:
Septic alternative
blame Steve.
Rod tried to contain it the best he could.
so..umm like yeah...it was Steve.
..and Ponyboy too.
Kola :oops:
Septic alternative
Great info.
You "smiley people" are out of control :!: :lol:
What next? Squirrels with fishing poles? :lol:
Sparky
Septic alternative
here's one I'm working on getting approved.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Home-Building/1983-03-01/Build-Yourself-an-Outhouse.aspx
-Rick
Septic alternative
I still like this one. :)
http://www.wormfarm.com.au/index.php
Septic alternative
yes I got my ears on..10-4 roger that good buddy..over n out
I like it!!
a lil CB/trucker talkin' there,
Kola
Septic alternative
Not sure, but I like it! Kola, you listening?
Tell the county you're doing it their way, and build it this way, especially if there is the likelyhood that they'll never inspect it. (something that seems to be happening more and more often as local gov'ts are forced to tighten their money belts)