GUESS WHO IS GOING TO ROCK THAT HUMANURE BOOK? WHY @NATACHAYEARWOOD OF COURSE, =) CONGRATS YOU WON THE BOOK AND YOU NEED TO EMAIL US AT growinginfaithfarm@gmail.com =) guess you missed the live show lol
Best composting system is aerobic. Try it. No bad smell, smells like pasturized organic material. Just put it on a screen off the ground, plenty of sun, air - rain even has lots of oxygen in it, and let it dry and breathe. Great fertilizer as it is digested just with aerobes rather than anaerobes. Their poop of these bacteria is what the end product is, don't think matters which type eats it and then poops. Good luck. And let urine soak into the ground as with gray water. Urine is pure and has lots of water in it! Plants take up whatever N2 is needed and passes the rest to other plants that need it so don't concentrate urine. Gray water with scum needs help with wood but maybe use soda ash or sodium carbobate for your wash and see how that might reduce scum. And again just pour it on the grass or ground. Santa Barbara guy has "dump on ground" method tested and true for gray water. Look up his good book on the subject. If you want to save all water put urine and gray water into fluidized bed and let pass through then drink it when it comes out. Certain plants work for this method. So save your urine, let plants have the N2 and water and trace elements that will eventually kill you, then you drink the rest. 3 ways to make drinkable water: 1. mechanical, 2. chemical, 3. Fluidized bed - plants earth, etc just like nature. Method 3 gets all things out not just organic things or toxic elements. Method 3 gets all organic as well as minerals that will harm you. Good luck.
@12:24 The guy who wrote the Humanure Handbook went to Haiti after the earthquake where there were whole villages with cholera and taught them how to do the composting toilets which saved countless lives .Composting toilets could solve Ca.water shortage problems .Thank you for doing your part to educate people !Kudos to you both !Much Love!
@@OneJokeAtATime Maybe the time will come when things are going to be soooo bad that composting toilet, rain water collection, minimalism, self-sufficiency, etc, are going to be mandatory. Till then, people like us, who don't need a law to force us to do what is right, are paving the way to change. Any small step in the right direction that each one of us can do has a positive impact.
Last that I read up on CA codes, rain water catchment is not allowed. Grey water irrigation is only allowed under strict conditions. I'm pretty sure humanure composting would get you a jail term! LOL For being so "progressive" CA is super strict on all "natural" solutions. Yes, CA could solve a lot of their/our issues if they would just wake up and smell the coffee!
@@MaryGatdula People are leaving CA in drove especially Southern CA.. many are going to "fly over states" to the sticks where people still have freedom...trading gated communities with draconian homeowners association or even more draconian agenda 21 style city council planning for a quaint tiny home placed on a piece of fair priced land in rural remote areas of the midwest. Composting toilets are cleaner and tiny homes could save taxpayers millions through the section 8 program for the cost of 1 years rent someone could own there own house and placed on government public lands which CA has millions of acres of to deal with the homeless problem. Ironically Ben Carson is trying to implement these types of out of the box solutions
I bought two of the nature's head composting toilets at a cost of almost a thousand dollars each. in the end my whole family preferred the bucket method.
Humanure Rocks Thanks for sharing. Now to our experience: We did this process twice, six months each time, during the summer in the hot dry desert when we were totally 'off-grid.' We had NO smells and no insects. We used Peat Moss because we learned that sawdust needs to be a fine dust and not too course, not from softwoods like the pine family, and not from wood shops where the sawdust has obtained from treated wood with chemicals in it. Aside from that, we had no available sources of sawdust - peat moss was our medium of choice. One large bail of WallyWorld Peat Moss would last the two of us all summer - with some left over. We would only need to cover our offerings in the bucket with the slightest amount of peat moss to keep odor and insects away. We would take the full bucket and immediately add the contents to our compost pile - so we did not have lots of buckets in waiting. That way our compost pile was not overwhelmed with lots of additions all at once. The only thing that the hot hot dry desert needed us to do was to occasionally add some water to the pile so it would not dry out. (Compost piles need some moisture to enable it to do its work.) We did that by rinsing our bucket with water once it was dumped into the compost pile - the rinse water being the moisture that was added to the compost to keep some moisture in it so it could build up the heat needed to kill all the pathogens and cause for compost to be created. There were times that we needed to add more water to the compost pile - beyond what the rinsed bucket provided. The buckets do, over time, get a slight odor. We would just leave the rinsed bucket out in the sun for several days or a week. Love your videos. Keep up the good work.
Honestly, this entry has just changed my life. I installed a black water tank and toilet and I absolutely hate the process of handling it and that I am just wasting what could be recycled. I can't believe I am crying over discovering this but this one specific issue has made me almost consider giving up my dream of what I am doing to be self-sustaining on the move. I am SO grateful for you! Thank you so much!!
Instead they tell us we are overpopulated … and if u haven’t given it much thought, that translates to depopulation which translates to a certain synonym … the biggest lie that most people have been lead to believe
Good morning,I am learning so much from you both! My husband said this morning as he walked pass me is that all you watch? I told him I am learning for when we move to the country and live off grid!! I wish I would have done this 25yrs. ago but late is better than never..I am doing some things that Stacy has talked about now implementing new things all the time, thanks for your time and channel..Shalom, Janet
Seems like no one wants to "touch this" subject but everyone talks about gardening, cooking and eating. Well what happens later. Hygiene and waste management is a "touchy" subject worth talking about. Thanks guys. Liking the kitchen by the way. Heidi and I will be sending you guys a little something as a thanks for your friendship, hard work, support, congratulations on you getting 100K subscribers and new kitchen build! Oh yeah, humanure ROCKS!
Humanure Rocks!! Chopped leaves works best for me; I think it has something to do with the natural bacteria which are on the leaves. To start each bucket, I use partially composted leaves and when I bring them indoors, they smell like a forest floor!! I don't use a box around my bucket, just a camping potty seat which fits the bucket. I use a 7 gallon bucket, which is the same height as a handicap toilet. I've been doing this for 7 years and not one neighbor knows!! It is a critical component of achieving my goal of using less than 10 gallons of water a day!!
Where do you dispose of the contents of the bucket? If the grid where to go down where do you put all this because the trash man's not going to come carry this bags away. I sure appreciate any ideas or answers thank you
Wow, 5 yrs ago....this video just popped up in my feed.....I just went off grid and still "setting" things up. This is very helpful. Right now, I use a actual "bedside" toilet for an elderly person and then transfer that to a 31/33 gal galvanized steel garbage can with a lid to compost. I've been thoroughly enjoying simple but effective methods for ALL things off grid. Ty for what you guy's do.
I only have one bucket right now. When I empty it, I rinse it out with water and then spray it with vinegar water. Also, I use peat moss for the inside of my bucket but I see that others use sawdust which I may switch over to. I love this composting system! It just makes so much sense, is very practical and saves the water!
I keep considering switching to compost toilet. I've got huge trees in my yard and the roots of one keeps creeping into our line. We have to roto rooter it almost every year it becomes a battle at times backing up into the bathroom. Plus I'm all for lessing my bills.
We use buckets & tons of sawdust and were overjoyed to discover that our solid waste smelled WAY less than with flushing toilets. Furthermore, many of our guests noticed this and commented which started some very enlightening conversations!!
The videos you've put out on the composting toilet are very informative. I can honestly say that if I ever find myself in a compromised situation, away from the comforts of my on-grid life, that I've learned much from your channel that I wouldn't be afraid to set up for a compost toilet. Thank you again for all you share with us! It's good to be part of the community!!!
I subscribed to your videos some time ago giving many thumbs up, but I never would have thought that the topic of feces recycling would be the one I finally responded to. GREAT job handling the "matter". You always give us the information that comes from true experience. Thanks and I'm proud to be a part of your journey.
Outstanding video, I'm so glad someone is coming out and telling the truth about this system. I've been using this system for 2-1/2 years. It works great for me because there used to be a sawmill here on my property back in the day, and the sawdust mountain still remains. I have 10 buckets I use for myself and I dump 9 when the 10th is in the house. I keep the filled buckets in a corner of the barn until I'm ready to dump them. I have a composter made of four t-posts 4' apart in a square wrapped with 4' poultry netting. I line the sides and cover the top with hay I cut with the scythe from native grasses. I use a compost thermometer to keep track of the temps in my pile. It takes me 10 gallons of water to wash the nine buckets after I dump them. I pour the wash water onto the pile. After I dump the buckets I air them out and store them in the barn. I never come into actual contact with any poop. There is no smell and it allows me to go without a septic system or a well. I can do everything I need with collected rainwater. I think I make it sound complicated, but it is very simple and hardly any work at all. People are always asking me when I plan to get around to installing a septic system like they think what I'm doing is somehow unacceptable or in some way unhygienic or even immoral. I tell them never. Why would I want that?
Nowadays it seems like almost an obsession to be 100% clean and hygienic. Everything has to be sanitized. I guess that's where the rejection and resistance comes from. I used to scrunch up my nose at the thought of composting toilets because I didn't understand. After watching this and reading up on compost toilets, it opened my eyes to a world of possibilities. I know this sounds naive from an adult, but I could never understand a modern world without plumbing, electricity, or all of today's conveniences. Homesteaders show me it is not only possible, but fulfilling. My husband has wanted to go off grid for years. One day, hopefully, we will pursue it. For now, we're learning practical skills that could help. The compost thermometer is a brilliant idea! I'm a bit of a precise person and so is my husband (even more than me). I will try to present him with enough research to show him that it isn't disgusting. He wants to go off grid, but the toilet is something he won't budge on. He's adamant about at least getting septic. Baby steps :) Keep doing what you're doing. For all the people that get grossed out, I'm sure you're inspiring at least one. Plus, you sound like you really have a handle on it. One would think all the information you presented would put their minds at ease, but I've been where they are so I get their confusion. Quick question: My husband said that since he and I eat meat, our waste is no good for compost. Is that true? I'm just starting to research this so I haven't found things singling out meat eaters yet.
@@jgedutis I only filter it for drinking water and also the water I use for cooking, making coffee tea, etc. It's not worth it to filter water for washing.
Humanure Rocks! Our family of 5 has been doing this system for a year and a half now. We really like it. We have a quarter acre and have neighbors close by, but it hasn't been a problem since there is no smell and how could they imagine what we are doing unless we told them. Our only struggle with it has been the supervision and training for our children that are under 4 years old. They like to "help" with the shavings and it can get pretty messy. We also had one time when our 3 year old pooped and we didn't get there soon enough and our 1 year old grabbed his hand down in the toilet. It was awful. We make sure no one is in the bathroom without us knowing. We need to get more buckets since we only have 5 and we dump once a week. It's never good to run out of buckets! Great ideas in this video!
guys I want to thank you for this! i watched it when it first came out, along with your original from way back when. Last Saturday our main line got clogged and we were without any toilet for about 9 hours. I have been in love with the composting toilet idea since your videos and so i went out and got some of my wonderful cedar mulch threw it in a bucket and used my grand daughters toddler seat and made a composting toilet. It worked perfectly never smelled anything but wonderful cedar thanks to you guys!
Great topic! Been researching this a LOT and learned about EM (effective microorganisms) - apparently if you spray on a little EM before you add the sawdust, you make better compost and you kill the smell - love from Canada 🇨🇦
@@lisagarrett6966 Hi Lisa, I never did get around to using Effective Microorganisms - but if you want to learn how to create your own 'potion' go to any TH-cam site that explains how to make LAB (Lactic Acid Bacteria), this is supposed to be good for all sorts of applications - in my backhouse on my island - which I sold :( - what I did was put a large container of peat moss in the backhouse - after visitors used the backhouse, they sprinkled a couple of plastic shovel-fulls into the hole - this reduced the smell and eliminated flies - the other thing I did was inserted a chimney into the hole from the back of the outhouse - when not in use the lids were left down, this ensured very little odor was left in the out house. - hope this helps!
@@willm5814 Thank. You !! I don't have one nor do I want one but if it comes down to it one day, it's good to know. Thinking this might be good for dog poop too since my dog eats a grain free diet with some protein and veggies. Not sure about that though. I think if I were put in an off grid situation, I would use an incinerator toilet. Thanks again.
Humanure rocks!!!! First time homestead single mom! I will certainly try it your way - thank you! Much love from Tennessee! Kelley and my 16 year old Son Christian
Thanks for all the great tips! We're a family of 8 and have been using a composting toilet for 4 years now. Dumping the buckets is no fun, but the rest of the system is great. Blessings to you guys. - Carrie
I have been using the bucket system for 3+years on our off grid homestead. It works great and has saved me 1,000's of $ and at least that many gallons of water. HUMANURE ROCKS! Vivian Ann on the side of the mountain in NE Tennessee
Then we moved to a new location. I am not going to spend $25 000 for the septic system that they asked. We have this same good composting toilet thing, and $2000 grey watersystem now 👍.
We started to use this system for our small off grid cabin in WI about 12 plus years ago. People thought we were nuts and now this has become a thing to know hw to do. Sort of funny how things come full circle. Never had any smells. Worked fine for us and we put the finished product on the ornamental area of our yard. Im so glad people are getting up to speed with this. We may all need to employ this some day! 👍🏻 TFS!!
Humanure rocks !!! And so do you Doug & Stacy. My lovely bride and I have been watching you two for some time now and have learned and been inspired in so many ways , thanks and God bless you.
humanure rocks! ... frozen/broken septic lines happened in the middle of winter cold/snow ... tried the method and wow I'm totally behind it ... and then about a year ago the water heater died ... lol ... heat the water on the stove and get it done ... love your videos .. so much info that really helps ... love you guys (big smile)
This is the single best video we have ever seen on this subject, no joke! We have been wondering when the break down process was supposed to start, etc, etc, etc...sorry for so many comments, this is just AWESOME!!!!
I have been using this system for the last 4 months in Alberta winter. I am glad that you mentioned that you fill them right up because I was feeling guilty for doing that. I have kept a bucket in that bathroom and there is no smell whatsoever. I do have a lot of buckets to empty dome spring...I think we are at 25 already. My kids are 12&14 and they took to it really easy. So nice because the average family of 4 uses 50,000 litres of water a year to go to the bathroom. Yikes, no wonder we are running out of water.
Humanure really does rock! You guys just changed my life! FOR REAL! I've been watching all about composting toilets and have seen 3 (I think) of the ones you've posted and learned that not only can I save money by doing this, but I can also finally be fully off grid using my generator! I've had it all along and we've been homesteading mostly off grid for 6 years now, but pay electric and also pay to have the porta potty we bought emptied regularly. I'll have to look into using the generator full time, but I'm sure it can handle it and BOOM, I'll be fully off grid at last, FREE AT LAST! I'm in Ohio and it's COLD, so watching videos (using my cell phone for internet) is perfect this time of year! I've learned sooooo much and I'm eager to put it all into action! I've been waiting to go solar for electric, but we have a box truck my husband used to work sound at live music shows and festivals. Truck is retired now and he's doing other things for a living, so I have the truck sitting here with a great generator in it that works fine and I didn't even think about it until I watched a few of your videos. I can't thank you enough! The wake up call feels amazing! Now to build those compost bins! YAY! :)
Humanure rocks! And so do you. You two were there first videos I watched and I can't believe the confidence I've gained and the hurdles my family had over come as we inch closer and closer we'll be transitioning to a compost toilet this week I'm so excited because I hate conventional toilets. We would love to have that book. My husband and I and our 4 young children moved to North Idaho, sold all our belongings and moved into an RV where we are buying and building on bare land as we grow and learn we're are so glad to have such great support from summer awesome youtubers!!! We thank you.
Completely new at this. Experimenting before making the complete transition and figured we'd start with the bathroom 1st. Now that our septic drain field needs replacing and we dont have the money. An outhouse is what I'm making.
If you are seriously interested in composting human feces and urine you should really read *The Humanure Handbook* by Joseph Jenkins. I consider that book the bible of composting.
I made and used my own composting toilet for years while living in the garage of my house as a way to prepare for off grid living and loved it! I use family cloth in place of toilet paper too. Humanure rocks!
I just love your composting toilet system! I love watching the video about it. I love that you can start with the bucket, and then build or even remodel your bathroom! You could even take it with you camping! I like that you can even "clean " your composting toilet!
HUMANURE ROCKS...I have been wanting to build a composting toilet for years. Thank you for the video. Your videos are always interesting and very helpful. :)
Humanure rocks! Thanks for giving us the straight poop on how you manage your system. When it comes to planning for off grid living I don't see how people can be all sensitive about any of these types of subjects. It's a part of life that needs to be considered and having the knowledge can only make the transition that much easier for folks. I for one appreciate the fact that you share things like this. It's all info that I'm filing away for future use. Thanks! - All the best. ~ Theresa
Your kitchen looks wonderful...And it's so well lighted! I'll bet you end up shooting a lot of your vids in your outdoor kitchen! Thanks for this vid on composting toilet. I watched the earlier video but will go watch again to refresh my memory! Humanure Rocks! Auto correct keeps fighting me on the word "humanure". That tells me there's a need to get the word into common vocabulary so it is recognized by the youtube auto correct and hopefully also becomes a common practice! HUMANURE HUMANURE HUMANURE ....LEARN ya' dawg-gone Robot LEARN! LOL!
HUMANURE ROCKS! thank you so much I am really trying to completely understand everything involved in this particular topic and I want to adopt it in my day-to-day life. Thank you for sharing this with us
My sister uses this method and it really really works! I have stayed at her place a few times and No problem whatsoever! She uses sawdust and she has also used Mulch from the local landscaper. No smell! She also has an amazing garden!
Humanure rocks! I've been living off grid and using a composting toilet for the past three years. I love it and have not had any issues. Though do find some house guests, particularly men, are very squeamish about the idea. Which I find amusing.
My husband and I are in talks about going off grid and this is one thing he won't budge on (he doesn't want to compost waste, but I do). I do worry about how our families will handle it, though. My siblings get it. The rest, I don't know how they'd take it.
You guys rock! Wish the local government would allow us to practice this on our homesteads. We'd save so much money & allow a healthier more balanced world.
----> $$$$$$ loss. We are nearly 100% post manufacturing era. People are clinging to what is left because they cannot see a viable alternative for economy to pay mortgages and bills. We have to think through and address the legit issues that transitioning to new systems presents. I believe people are not deliberately obnoxious and do want a better future. The problem is they cannot deal with their insecurity of not having their basic needs met. Transitioning is not going to be easy but mother nature means it will happen.
All of the information I need in one Awesome video!!! In 2023 I will be building a mini house in my native country and this is one system I want to incorporate in it; most houses there use other methods I am not a fan of and it’s costly to build, this system is simple, affordable and there is no waste involved. Thanks a zillion for All of that information.
I just bought a vintage Shasta Compact camper and had the toilet and all tanks removed and I love this information for making myself a composting toilet! Thanks!!
Spent $2500.00 to install waterless composting toilet - which must periodically be emptied by hand once given a few days or more to dry out. Coffee grounds and compost accelerator usually used daily. During the "waiting" period I resort to the bucket and dry sawdust method - actually better. In my RV emptying the black tank sometimes a challenge to find a dump station. Composting/sawdust method more appealing there and then so expecting to line the rv toilet with heavy bag and with sawdust on hand. Thanks for validating the humanure approach....I'm not crazy.
Christopher Jackson Hi Christopher. As I would use the lining bag for more than one go but adding a bit more sawdust each time, once ready to close each bag I would put it in another container until ready to unload it and other trash - all bagged of course. cheapRVliving.com has good TH-cam videos on waste management. Diapers go in the garbage all the time so nothing to feel squeamish about. Good bagging followed by good handwashing and you're golden. Hope this helps. Cheers!!
I am very excited to see the compost station! We are redoing our compost retainers this Fall. It is our third year composting and time to upgrade. We have conventional water toilets in the house but are looking forward to building an outdoor toilet near our out-building. I would much prefer this system over an outhouse! You guys have great ideas! Thanks for sharing. Humanure Rocks!
Such wonderful information as always Doug and Stacy! I already said this on your facebook post yesterday but if we ever find that perfect piece of property, this is what we are going to go with. I would love never having to worry again about getting our septic tank pumped (it is getting expensive - let alone the tremendous cost of having it installed in the first place), I love that one is saving tons of water and able to turn that waste into black gold! HUMANURE ROCKS!
Thank you for a well done explanation on composting toilets. It feels like there is way too many videos on buying $1000 composting toilets when there’s this great option. Y’all just saved me a lot of money.
This is awesome! My wife and I are planning to switch to the homestead lifestyle as well. So glad I came across your channel while doing some research on septic systems and how to deal with human waste. Problem solved! Thank you so much for all the valuable info! 😃👍
Humanure Rocks ! I've been using this system for 15+ years -- this year I saved my charcoal and ash from the fire place to mix with last years compost, for terra preta
I have read that ash will interfere with the composting process, so I am waiting until this pile is nearly finished, about a year, and I will use mostly the 'charcoaly' bits.
Humanaure Rocks! Sent this video to my husband. Cross your fingers because our camping outdoor toilet STINKS - STINKS - STINKS!! Thanks for what sounds like an easy solution to a "Pepe Le Pew" problem!
Everyone poops, those that are uptight about it most likely poop way less than those that are at ease with valuable information. You guys are great peeps. You should accidentally drop a watermellon seed, tomato seed around the personal waste compost piles and watch the difference in the size of the fruit, its like Jurrasic Garden, god forbid you eat one HUMANURE RAWKS!!!! not as much as Stacy & Doug though :-)
It's really about understanding composting chemistry. Carbon to nitrogen ratio is important, but proper moisture to. You don't want it to be dry either, but that may be better until it is dumped into your outdoor pile. Some people suggest separating urine & feces, which is good since urine is sterile & can be collected for plant fertiluzing teas. Proper composting not only breaks down unwanted organic compounds, but rebonds elements potentially toxic to humans in complex organic chains. Mycology is also good for handling toxins.
I totally agree, and I love that you brought mycology into this. There is some really fascinating information on employing oyster mushrooms to break down unwanted compounds that persist after thermophilic composting. I will say, though, that I really don't understand the benefit of urine diverting. It would seem that would slow the composting process down significantly, not having the carbon cover material saturated with high-nitrogen liquid. Also, urine starts to really stink after standing just a short while; Oxidation turns it into ammonia, I believe? It would seem that the urine collection container would have to be emptied much quicker and the compost pile would struggle to get "cooking" without the addition of urine. Not to mention having to use 10x its volume in water for proper dilution to use on plants. I imagine a 5gal bucket of just urine would be much heavier than one with "mixed materials" as well, making it an all around unpleasant task. One benefit I've noticed in my non-separated system that nobody seems to mention is the complete absence of any "vitamin pee" smell, 🤢, which I suspect is the result of the liquid being immediately absorbed by sawdust. I really, really appreciate that benefit, as underrated as it may be.
Thank you Abe. You Put some logic to poo science. Mom always peed in the garage bucket. Her flowers were the best in the neighborhood. My red maple was butchered with kerosene by a nasty neighbor. I started collecting urine for a week. I doctored the tree by pouring it onto the trees wounds. And directly onto the roots. It's still alive and thriving. They tried again so I thru some more urine onto the tree's burn. It's gorgeous and bigger now. The wounds are all healed up. Once the trunk grows back,the bees will be back to get the sap next spring. The main trunk died and I now have wonderful family of woodpeckers. Now they have to see the tree every day thriving with birds nesting in it. It must really make them eat their own shit. Llol Thanks
Hello folks. Just wanted to say thanks for all you do. I just copied your composting toilet design but I added a twist. I didn't want a separate bucket of sawdust running around my van. So I added a toilet tank on the back to hold the sawdust. Thanks again.❤
Thanks for sharing all the knowledge, just as a tip to avoid all the mess of a bucket clean-up you can always place a biodegradable plastic, or sack. Also you'll end up needing less buckets, just close up and toss it into the compost pile.
Is there a biodegradable sack that isn’t costly? To the pocketbook or Mother Earth. I prefer to reuse something that’s free. I saw one video where compost was wrapped in newspaper. Newspaper is getting harder to find.
Biodegradable plastic is not all what you think. It is not going to just magically break down. You should look into it more thoroughly before you suggest this.
I caught one of your previous videos that dealt with composting toilet system, but I enjoyed the update from five years ago So when I go off grid I intend to implement it. I agree that humanure rocks and congratulate whoever won it. I will look for this book when I am doing my research. Thank you both, Doug and Stacy.
I haven't had a TV for 20 years. I move from FL to east TN Nov 17, 2017. I half a half acre of land and a small cottage. I just got rid of a washer and dryer, microwave (things that came with the purchase). I have a garden 12 x 24. Collecting rain water in a 250 gallon Ibc tote. I have a shared well with one neighbor. Well is on their property. No more toilet paper use (alternative washable cloths), compost pile, collecting oil lamps. My next goal is to figure out an alternative power source for pumping well water so I can figure out how to get rid of electric company (a challenge I know but we are rural) and I would like to build an outdoor chimney made from bricks for outdoor cooking. I'm down to two Walmart sized plastic bags of trash to take into town and working toward zero which means purchasing nothing in plastic. I'm purchasing fresh individual fruits/veggies and other items in glass jars which are reusable. I'm going to can veggies from my garden. Looking to purchase another Ibc tote and a hand pumped washing machine bucket. All in 6 months so far. Loving this transition.
I have 55 gallon plastic rain barrels outside that were originally used for transporting apple juice concentrate. I've been just collecting rainwater in them. Is there a way to clean these out and make them usable for storing drinkable water? I sure appreciate any ideas thank you!
@@OneJokeAtATime Thats not what was said. Read it again. Vegetables are purchased loose, unpackaged. Other items are packaged in glass jars. Two separate statements. Smh.
@@laurabarber6697 You'll probably want to filter rain water before drinking it, but you can clean the containers as you would clean anything used for food.
I like the 5 gallon bucket And used it many years living on a sailboat. I think I will adopt it but put a plastic liner in the bucket For off grid land use
Hey Doug and Stacy... Well, TH-cam is up to their old tricks again. I was wondering why I hadn’t been receiving notices for your new videos so I started checking. I found that I was still subscribed to your channel but my notification bell was unmarked...! I have caught them doing this to several of the channels that I subscribe to...! I have re-clicked on the bell. I guess that I’ll see how long it lasts this time. Thanks for sharing this information with us. Have a great day and be blessed.
I am truly inspired and encouraged by the video. This information will help my transition into a country girl as I am anning to go live in my rural village in South Africa. Thank you, I have subscribed.
Thank you for another informative video! Your videos are helping us explain our future lifestyle (currently in escrow and jumping off grid in October!!) to our VERY speculative in-laws. Humanure Handbook ROCKS! Peace and Love my friends! Carly F
Humanure ROCKS!! I know I am very late to the party! But, better late than never! Been watching your videos... feels like a part-time job!! There's so much to learn!!! Thank you for sharing your wisdom, experience and life!!
I've seen some applications where the urine is diverted to separate storage for disposal and others where it's just dumped in with the fecal matter in with the sawdust. I was wondering if I could get some insight from some folks who've actually done either or both as to what they think about the topic of separating vs consolidating liquids and solids.
I've noticed they haven't bothered to reply. *sigh* ...EVERYONE i have listened to except this couple say to separate. I wonder what their argument is for not separating.
Many people separate to dump the solids in a plastic bag in a trash can, pour liquid in a public toilet. They use composting medium with the solids, but do not actually have a farm or property where they can have a composting bin or area as Doug and Stacy do.
Just in time, my field bed just gave out and they want thousands of dollars to fix it. I don't have thousands to fix it, so I was trying to figure out how to by pass the septic and this is the answer. I would also like to know how you deal with your gray water from your shower and kitchen sink. Right now I am using a garden hose pump meant for a pond to drain the tub and laundry tub. I dump sink pans into bucket then to the laundry tube to be pumped out. The problem is what to do with the gray water that goes outside. Any answers are appreciated very much. Thanks for the video. Humanure Rocks!
Yes- I use a laundry soap as well as an all purpose dish/cleaning soap called Oasis which actually breaks down into plant nutrients! It works just fine! No chemicals for this girl....I even have gone no-poo, make my own deodorant and toothpaste....it can all go down the recycle hose to outside in the garden!
Hi guys. My partner and I have been living on the road for a couple years + now. We try to do videos too... Anyway the point is, I really like how you present. I have never posted to a video before. And I have not watched any other of your videos. I just really appreciate what you have done here, suspect it is the same for your other videos, and had to tell you how refreshing your approach is. Thankyou for your, "whats the big deal?!", addressing topics like this.
I know these are old but now we are moving toward this for our life! We currently have a septic system that is quite old. We hope to be implementing this in the very near future! Thank you! Humanure Rocks! LOL
When i empty my compositing tiolet i normally pour it on top of the leaves and have my bon fires "firebased recycling" hey it works and it burns faster and my grass grows faster
l had a friend who had a composting toilet 50 yrs ago There were 6 kids + 2 parents = a lot of buckets. As they were establishing an orchard and garden they just put it straight into the ground. First they put stakes where all the trees would go and started digging holes and filling them up to the top, sealing them with compost and covering with old roofing iron. When it broke down and dropped deep enough to plant a tree they just planted on top with compost and soil. They had a huge orchard and amazing gardens. Even the veggie garden used human waste. This is ok if you are all healthy, just your family, otherwise keep it just for trees. We all happily use animal waste but then feel weird about using humanure on our gardens. Another friend used road kill and pest animals he shot under his fruit trees.
You are doing what my deceased husband and I were going to do when our children were grown cause they had no interest in living like that but even though we lived in town I still had a huge garden and full city lot and I caned Everything' I could get and pickled things and frozen something's we bought a whole beef and organic grown I even put up my own tuna and smoked salmon and caned chicken and made soup and caned my own soups. We had seven children and then sadly after 27years of marriage he got leukemia ALL, and our eleven year old son got Burkitts lymphoma cancer and he was in his second bought of cancer when my husband his dad passed away we were ready to by that land and move out in the country and live out our dream life but that was not in God's plan my son he did beat The cancer he is now in his twentys and is a single dad of a 3 year old then I also got cancer the same kind as my son and now I have had to give up on that dream cause I fell at my work picking up a client and broke my ankle in 3places and it never healed right and now I don't get around well at all but I just love watching your video story about your life and your dream . Keep up the good work and I will keep watching
Humanure Rocks!😊 Live you both thank you for all your books and information you share ! My Son and his wife and Myself have learned so much from you two
@OFF GRID with DOUG & STACY When you bring the bucket out you can simply spread a piece of tarpaulin on the ground first and even if it is raining you will get no mud on the bottom of your buckets. The tarpaulin can be hung on your clothes line for the rain to wash any mud of; or left to dry and once dry you can sweep the mud off. Simples!
We use a pallet to set the cleaned buckets on to dry thanks for your videos we went from burying our waste from a camping toilet that was bad and heavy switching to the bucket system has been great and there really is no smell
With Stacey who loves to wear frocks And Doug wears his Amish with no socks Tips on toilet hygene on this channel can be seen And I must say that Humanure Rocks
I tend my tiny veggie patch With joy and with great care Dreaming of the blessed day when I will take the dare to buy my little patch of land and build my tiny shed, meanwhile, visions of chickens spin round in my head. :D
Humanure Rocks! Lol..probably too late but it STILL ROCKS! he he.My friends and family think I am a weirdo because I am obsessed with composting toilets...I must be hanging out with the wrong peeps..gotta fix that. Homestead Homie here. Thanks for this great playlist! Great info! 💖LOVE💖 to all...
Thank you for this information. I needed a clear, blunt description. Most TH-camrs avoid being too graphic but these times we are living in require we know this information. What do you do if you run out of toilet paper. I live in a city setting.
HUMANURE ROCKS!!!!! It is exactly what my sister and I are going to use on our Homestead in Texas!
Are there building codes in the area of Texas you all are homesteading on?
Huni Buni so far no because we are so far out from the city.
GUESS WHO IS GOING TO ROCK THAT HUMANURE BOOK? WHY @NATACHAYEARWOOD OF COURSE, =) CONGRATS YOU WON THE BOOK AND YOU NEED TO EMAIL US AT growinginfaithfarm@gmail.com =)
guess you missed the live show lol
OFF GRID with DOUG & STACY 4
Best composting system is aerobic. Try it. No bad smell, smells like pasturized organic material. Just put it on a screen off the ground, plenty of sun, air - rain even has lots of oxygen in it, and let it dry and breathe. Great fertilizer as it is digested just with aerobes rather than anaerobes. Their poop of these bacteria is what the end product is, don't think matters which type eats it and then poops. Good luck. And let urine soak into the ground as with gray water. Urine is pure and has lots of water in it! Plants take up whatever N2 is needed and passes the rest to other plants that need it so don't concentrate urine. Gray water with scum needs help with wood but maybe use soda ash or sodium carbobate for your wash and see how that might reduce scum. And again just pour it on the grass or ground. Santa Barbara guy has "dump on ground" method tested and true for gray water. Look up his good book on the subject.
If you want to save all water put urine and gray water into fluidized bed and let pass through then drink it when it comes out. Certain plants work for this method. So save your urine, let plants have the N2 and water and trace elements that will eventually kill you, then you drink the rest. 3 ways to make drinkable water: 1. mechanical, 2. chemical, 3. Fluidized bed - plants earth, etc just like nature. Method 3 gets all things out not just organic things or toxic elements. Method 3 gets all organic as well as minerals that will harm you. Good luck.
@12:24 The guy who wrote the Humanure Handbook went to Haiti after the earthquake where there were whole villages with cholera and taught them how to do the composting toilets which saved countless lives .Composting toilets could solve Ca.water shortage problems .Thank you for doing your part to educate people !Kudos to you both !Much Love!
@@OneJokeAtATime Everything you say here is true. And sad.
@@OneJokeAtATime Maybe the time will come when things are going to be soooo bad that composting toilet, rain water collection, minimalism, self-sufficiency, etc, are going to be mandatory. Till then, people like us, who don't need a law to force us to do what is right, are paving the way to change. Any small step in the right direction that each one of us can do has a positive impact.
There's a great TH-cam video on the whole Haiti composting of human manure.
Last that I read up on CA codes, rain water catchment is not allowed. Grey water irrigation is only allowed under strict conditions. I'm pretty sure humanure composting would get you a jail term! LOL For being so "progressive" CA is super strict on all "natural" solutions. Yes, CA could solve a lot of their/our issues if they would just wake up and smell the coffee!
@@MaryGatdula People are leaving CA in drove especially Southern CA.. many are going to "fly over states" to the sticks where people still have freedom...trading gated communities with draconian homeowners association or even more draconian agenda 21 style city council planning for a quaint tiny home placed on a piece of fair priced land in rural remote areas of the midwest. Composting toilets are cleaner and tiny homes could save taxpayers millions through the section 8 program for the cost of 1 years rent someone could own there own house and placed on government public lands which CA has millions of acres of to deal with the homeless problem. Ironically Ben Carson is trying to implement these types of out of the box solutions
I bought two of the nature's head composting toilets at a cost of almost a thousand dollars each. in the end my whole family preferred the bucket method.
Thanks! That's good to know!
+Break the Chain yup, 960 dollars. They are very nice but the bucket was easier.
What about urine though??
Elton
Why do they like the buckets better? I'm curious because the hubs and I are looking into putting the nature's head in our RV
seabliss22 I'm Guessing for clean up ..cant beat a bucket.
Humanure Rocks
Thanks for sharing.
Now to our experience: We did this process twice, six months each time, during the summer in the hot dry desert when we were totally 'off-grid.' We had NO smells and no insects.
We used Peat Moss because we learned that sawdust needs to be a fine dust and not too course, not from softwoods like the pine family, and not from wood shops where the sawdust has obtained from treated wood with chemicals in it. Aside from that, we had no available sources of sawdust - peat moss was our medium of choice.
One large bail of WallyWorld Peat Moss would last the two of us all summer - with some left over.
We would only need to cover our offerings in the bucket with the slightest amount of peat moss to keep odor and insects away.
We would take the full bucket and immediately add the contents to our compost pile - so we did not have lots of buckets in waiting. That way our compost pile was not overwhelmed with lots of additions all at once.
The only thing that the hot hot dry desert needed us to do was to occasionally add some water to the pile so it would not dry out. (Compost piles need some moisture to enable it to do its work.) We did that by rinsing our bucket with water once it was dumped into the compost pile - the rinse water being the moisture that was added to the compost to keep some moisture in it so it could build up the heat needed to kill all the pathogens and cause for compost to be created. There were times that we needed to add more water to the compost pile - beyond what the rinsed bucket provided.
The buckets do, over time, get a slight odor. We would just leave the rinsed bucket out in the sun for several days or a week.
Love your videos. Keep up the good work.
Honestly, this entry has just changed my life. I installed a black water tank and toilet and I absolutely hate the process of handling it and that I am just wasting what could be recycled. I can't believe I am crying over discovering this but this one specific issue has made me almost consider giving up my dream of what I am doing to be self-sustaining on the move. I am SO grateful for you! Thank you so much!!
Psssst put a plastic bag in the bucket piss outside and toss the bag in the trash as u roll around
It's biodegradable and get bio bags ✌️
Where u gonna compost it? Ur mobile.
R u just dumping on side of roads?
@@OFFGRIDwithDOUGSTACYppl go both at same time, esp women
It’s not an either or for at least half the pop
Imagine the amount of water that our country would save if more people went to this method.
Yeah
Oh yeah
Instead they tell us we are overpopulated … and if u haven’t given it much thought, that translates to depopulation which translates to a certain synonym … the biggest lie that most people have been lead to believe
Or world wide
Are suggesting water goes away when used in a toilet? You know it gets recycled back into nature right?
Good morning,I am learning so much from you both! My husband said this morning as he walked pass me is that all you watch? I told him I am learning for when we move to the country and live off grid!! I wish I would have done this 25yrs. ago but late is better than never..I am doing some things that Stacy has talked about now implementing new things all the time, thanks for your time and channel..Shalom, Janet
And she also meant to say: Humanure Rocks! :-)
Seems like no one wants to "touch this" subject but everyone talks about gardening, cooking and eating. Well what happens later. Hygiene and waste management is a "touchy" subject worth talking about. Thanks guys. Liking the kitchen by the way. Heidi and I will be sending you guys a little something as a thanks for your friendship, hard work, support, congratulations on you getting 100K subscribers and new kitchen build! Oh yeah, humanure ROCKS!
Thanks ya ll for addressing such necessary subjects. Humane rocks and so do you!!,
Humanure Rocks!!
Chopped leaves works best for me; I think it has something to do with the natural bacteria which are on the leaves. To start each bucket, I use partially composted leaves and when I bring them indoors, they smell like a forest floor!!
I don't use a box around my bucket, just a camping potty seat which fits the bucket. I use a 7 gallon bucket, which is the same height as a handicap toilet. I've been doing this for 7 years and not one neighbor knows!! It is a critical component of achieving my goal of using less than 10 gallons of water a day!!
if leaves make the toilet smell like the forest i'm up for that, thanks!
Where did you get your bucket?
that is awesome
Do you fill the bucket right up , like they do? Exactly how do you do yours...step by step and a huge thankyou
Where do you dispose of the contents of the bucket? If the grid where to go down where do you put all this because the trash man's not going to come carry this bags away. I sure appreciate any ideas or answers thank you
Wow, 5 yrs ago....this video just popped up in my feed.....I just went off grid and still "setting" things up. This is very helpful. Right now, I use a actual "bedside" toilet for an elderly person and then transfer that to a 31/33 gal galvanized steel garbage can with a lid to compost. I've been thoroughly enjoying simple but effective methods for ALL things off grid. Ty for what you guy's do.
I only have one bucket right now. When I empty it, I rinse it out with water and then spray it with vinegar water. Also, I use peat moss for the inside of my bucket but I see that others use sawdust which I may switch over to. I love this composting system! It just makes so much sense, is very practical and saves the water!
Even if you have a well like I do it makes sense. Wells can give out. Then what. Mine is old and so far so good.
Peat moss breaks down the feces better I think, and it takes the ammonia odor out
You know what I like most about my new composting toilet? No sewage overflows and no water waste. :D
I keep considering switching to compost toilet. I've got huge trees in my yard and the roots of one keeps creeping into our line. We have to roto rooter it almost every year it becomes a battle at times backing up into the bathroom. Plus I'm all for lessing my bills.
Where do you dump it ?
@@kluv5560 Watch the video! They clearly explain it.
@@stephenspreckley8219 where in the video?
@@kluv5560 They are composting it, there are many mentions of it.
We use buckets & tons of sawdust and were overjoyed to discover that our solid waste smelled WAY less than with flushing toilets. Furthermore, many of our guests noticed this and commented which started some very enlightening conversations!!
Don't need sawdust. Dry sand, vacuum cleaner dust, grass clippings dry, pine needles, dried mud/sand, mulched dried leaves, coffee grounds. All works
Your video is great because ... it shows that I don't need to buy a $1,000 composting toilet. Well, that's just one reason. :)
The videos you've put out on the composting toilet are very informative. I can honestly say that if I ever find myself in a compromised situation, away from the comforts of my on-grid life, that I've learned much from your channel that I wouldn't be afraid to set up for a compost toilet. Thank you again for all you share with us! It's good to be part of the community!!!
I subscribed to your videos some time ago giving many thumbs up, but I never would have thought that the topic of feces recycling would be the one I finally responded to. GREAT job handling the "matter". You always give us the information that comes from true experience. Thanks and I'm proud to be a part of your journey.
Lol 😂😉
Outstanding video, I'm so glad someone is coming out and telling the truth about this system. I've been using this system for 2-1/2 years. It works great for me because there used to be a sawmill here on my property back in the day, and the sawdust mountain still remains. I have 10 buckets I use for myself and I dump 9 when the 10th is in the house. I keep the filled buckets in a corner of the barn until I'm ready to dump them. I have a composter made of four t-posts 4' apart in a square wrapped with 4' poultry netting. I line the sides and cover the top with hay I cut with the scythe from native grasses. I use a compost thermometer to keep track of the temps in my pile. It takes me 10 gallons of water to wash the nine buckets after I dump them. I pour the wash water onto the pile. After I dump the buckets I air them out and store them in the barn. I never come into actual contact with any poop. There is no smell and it allows me to go without a septic system or a well. I can do everything I need with collected rainwater. I think I make it sound complicated, but it is very simple and hardly any work at all. People are always asking me when I plan to get around to installing a septic system like they think what I'm doing is somehow unacceptable or in some way unhygienic or even immoral. I tell them never. Why would I want that?
Nowadays it seems like almost an obsession to be 100% clean and hygienic. Everything has to be sanitized. I guess that's where the rejection and resistance comes from. I used to scrunch up my nose at the thought of composting toilets because I didn't understand. After watching this and reading up on compost toilets, it opened my eyes to a world of possibilities. I know this sounds naive from an adult, but I could never understand a modern world without plumbing, electricity, or all of today's conveniences. Homesteaders show me it is not only possible, but fulfilling.
My husband has wanted to go off grid for years. One day, hopefully, we will pursue it. For now, we're learning practical skills that could help.
The compost thermometer is a brilliant idea! I'm a bit of a precise person and so is my husband (even more than me). I will try to present him with enough research to show him that it isn't disgusting. He wants to go off grid, but the toilet is something he won't budge on. He's adamant about at least getting septic. Baby steps :)
Keep doing what you're doing. For all the people that get grossed out, I'm sure you're inspiring at least one. Plus, you sound like you really have a handle on it. One would think all the information you presented would put their minds at ease, but I've been where they are so I get their confusion.
Quick question: My husband said that since he and I eat meat, our waste is no good for compost. Is that true? I'm just starting to research this so I haven't found things singling out meat eaters yet.
@@chuzzlesthegreat7784not true
Meat makes best compost as it’s loaded with nutrients!
Doug n Stacy eat meat!!
When u can’t get septic tank pumped in grid down tines coming soon
U will wish u had a compost toileting system!
Rain water is very contaminated. Do you filter it before using?
@@jgedutis I only filter it for drinking water and also the water I use for cooking, making coffee tea, etc.
It's not worth it to filter water for washing.
Humanure Rocks!
Our family of 5 has been doing this system for a year and a half now. We really like it. We have a quarter acre and have neighbors close by, but it hasn't been a problem since there is no smell and how could they imagine what we are doing unless we told them.
Our only struggle with it has been the supervision and training for our children that are under 4 years old. They like to "help" with the shavings and it can get pretty messy. We also had one time when our 3 year old pooped and we didn't get there soon enough and our 1 year old grabbed his hand down in the toilet. It was awful. We make sure no one is in the bathroom without us knowing.
We need to get more buckets since we only have 5 and we dump once a week. It's never good to run out of buckets!
Great ideas in this video!
guys I want to thank you for this! i watched it when it first came out, along with your original from way back when. Last Saturday our main line got clogged and we were without any toilet for about 9 hours. I have been in love with the composting toilet idea since your videos and so i went out and got some of my wonderful cedar mulch threw it in a bucket and used my grand daughters toddler seat and made a composting toilet. It worked perfectly never smelled anything but wonderful cedar thanks to you guys!
+Moore2Life nice!
You must have a tiny hiney!
Great topic! Been researching this a LOT and learned about EM (effective microorganisms) - apparently if you spray on a little EM before you add the sawdust, you make better compost and you kill the smell - love from Canada 🇨🇦
Hi Will, would you elaborate on what you use please? (EM) Thank you.
@@lisagarrett6966 Hi Lisa, I never did get around to using Effective Microorganisms - but if you want to learn how to create your own 'potion' go to any TH-cam site that explains how to make LAB (Lactic Acid Bacteria), this is supposed to be good for all sorts of applications - in my backhouse on my island - which I sold :( - what I did was put a large container of peat moss in the backhouse - after visitors used the backhouse, they sprinkled a couple of plastic shovel-fulls into the hole - this reduced the smell and eliminated flies - the other thing I did was inserted a chimney into the hole from the back of the outhouse - when not in use the lids were left down, this ensured very little odor was left in the out house. - hope this helps!
@@willm5814 Thank. You !! I don't have one nor do I want one but if it comes down to it one day, it's good to know. Thinking this might be good for dog poop too since my dog eats a grain free diet with some protein and veggies. Not sure about that though. I think if I were put in an off grid situation, I would use an incinerator toilet. Thanks again.
Humanure rocks!!!! First time homestead single mom! I will certainly try it your way - thank you! Much love from Tennessee! Kelley and my 16 year old Son Christian
"Humanure Rocks." Thanks for all the time you put into these videos. Hubby and I are wanting to do this.
Thanks for all the great tips! We're a family of 8 and have been using a composting toilet for 4 years now. Dumping the buckets is no fun, but the rest of the system is great. Blessings to you guys. - Carrie
I have been using the bucket system for 3+years on our off grid homestead. It works great and has saved me 1,000's of $ and at least that many gallons of water. HUMANURE ROCKS! Vivian Ann on the side of the mountain in NE Tennessee
Exellent advises. I have been doing this at the cottage for years, and it works very well. Do it right, no smell at all 👍.
Then we moved to a new location. I am not going to spend $25 000 for the septic system that they asked. We have this same good composting toilet thing, and $2000 grey watersystem now 👍.
We started to use this system for our small off grid cabin in WI about 12 plus years ago. People thought we were nuts and now this has become a thing to know hw to do. Sort of funny how things come full circle. Never had any smells. Worked fine for us and we put the finished product on the ornamental area of our yard. Im so glad people are getting up to speed with this. We may all need to employ this some day! 👍🏻 TFS!!
Humanure rocks !!! And so do you Doug & Stacy. My lovely bride and I have been watching you two for some time now and have learned and been inspired in so many ways , thanks and God bless you.
"Humanure Rocks" I just love how you guys explain things, you are so easy to understand. Thanks Doug & Stacy, Love you guys!!!
humanure rocks! ... frozen/broken septic lines happened in the middle of winter cold/snow ... tried the method and wow I'm totally behind it ... and then about a year ago the water heater died ... lol ... heat the water on the stove and get it done ... love your videos .. so much info that really helps ... love you guys (big smile)
This is the single best video we have ever seen on this subject, no joke! We have been wondering when the break down process was supposed to start, etc, etc, etc...sorry for so many comments, this is just AWESOME!!!!
I have been using this system for the last 4 months in Alberta winter. I am glad that you mentioned that you fill them right up because I was feeling guilty for doing that. I have kept a bucket in that bathroom and there is no smell whatsoever. I do have a lot of buckets to empty dome spring...I think we are at 25 already. My kids are 12&14 and they took to it really easy. So nice because the average family of 4 uses 50,000 litres of water a year to go to the bathroom. Yikes, no wonder we are running out of water.
Don't forget vinegar for cleaning, and baking soda for deorderizing. :).
A white vinegar solution will not only clean urine, but is also a very effective deodorizer for urine.
I use apple cider vinegar for my kitty's litter boxes. Works well.
@@OneJokeAtATime Lol!!! Thanks for a good laugh :)
Humanure really does rock! You guys just changed my life! FOR REAL! I've been watching all about composting toilets and have seen 3 (I think) of the ones you've posted and learned that not only can I save money by doing this, but I can also finally be fully off grid using my generator! I've had it all along and we've been homesteading mostly off grid for 6 years now, but pay electric and also pay to have the porta potty we bought emptied regularly. I'll have to look into using the generator full time, but I'm sure it can handle it and BOOM, I'll be fully off grid at last, FREE AT LAST! I'm in Ohio and it's COLD, so watching videos (using my cell phone for internet) is perfect this time of year! I've learned sooooo much and I'm eager to put it all into action! I've been waiting to go solar for electric, but we have a box truck my husband used to work sound at live music shows and festivals. Truck is retired now and he's doing other things for a living, so I have the truck sitting here with a great generator in it that works fine and I didn't even think about it until I watched a few of your videos. I can't thank you enough! The wake up call feels amazing! Now to build those compost bins! YAY! :)
I am going to buy the Handbook and use your tutorial. Excellent for a Senior Citizen. This old dog learned a new trick
This makes so much sense. Way to go Doug and Stacy. You have educated us on an important point again!
It is all so pretty!!! Your kitchen looks amazing and I love how well your composting toilet works. It makes me feel braver about trying it for sure.
Humanure rocks!
And so do you. You two were there first videos I watched and I can't believe the confidence I've gained and the hurdles my family had over come as we inch closer and closer we'll be transitioning to a compost toilet this week I'm so excited because I hate conventional toilets.
We would love to have that book.
My husband and I and our 4 young children moved to North Idaho, sold all our belongings and moved into an RV where we are buying and building on bare land as we grow and learn we're are so glad to have such great support from summer awesome youtubers!!! We thank you.
Man! Completely changed my mind about the composting toilet! Thanks for the info!
Completely new at this. Experimenting before making the complete transition and figured we'd start with the bathroom 1st. Now that our septic drain field needs replacing and we dont have the money. An outhouse is what I'm making.
If you are seriously interested in composting human feces and urine you should really read *The Humanure Handbook* by Joseph Jenkins. I consider that book the bible of composting.
Thanks for your help with backing ourselves off the grid. God Bless you Both. 🙏
You two are a wealth of knowledge and need to write a book about homesteading!
I made and used my own composting toilet for years while living in the garage of my house as a way to prepare for off grid living and loved it! I use family cloth in place of toilet paper too.
Humanure rocks!
What is family cloth?
You do have one of the best tutorials for composting toilets. Just thought I should say thanks for all of your wonderful videos. I am learning a lot.
I use an old carpet to set the buckets on, it keeps the weeds down and keeps the mud off the bottom of the buckets.
You could just set a pallet on the ground too until you can build something more permanent as a platform, or not.
I just love your composting toilet system! I love watching the video about it. I love that you can start with the bucket, and then build or even remodel your bathroom! You could even take it with you camping! I like that you can even "clean " your composting toilet!
4years later I just watched this from Nova Scotia Canada 🇨🇦 loving the off the grid living
HUMANURE ROCKS...I have been wanting to build a composting toilet for years. Thank you for the video. Your videos are always interesting and very helpful. :)
Humanure rocks! Thanks for giving us the straight poop on how you manage your system. When it comes to planning for off grid living I don't see how people can be all sensitive about any of these types of subjects. It's a part of life that needs to be considered and having the knowledge can only make the transition that much easier for folks. I for one appreciate the fact that you share things like this. It's all info that I'm filing away for future use. Thanks! - All the best. ~ Theresa
Your kitchen looks wonderful...And it's so well lighted! I'll bet you end up shooting a lot of your vids in your outdoor kitchen! Thanks for this vid on composting toilet.
I watched the earlier video but will go watch again to refresh my memory!
Humanure Rocks! Auto correct keeps fighting me on the word "humanure". That tells me there's a need to get the word into common vocabulary so it is recognized by the youtube auto correct and hopefully also becomes a common practice! HUMANURE HUMANURE HUMANURE ....LEARN ya' dawg-gone Robot LEARN! LOL!
HUMANURE ROCKS! thank you so much I am really trying to completely understand everything involved in this particular topic and I want to adopt it in my day-to-day life. Thank you for sharing this with us
My sister uses this method and it really really works! I have stayed at her place a few times and No problem whatsoever! She uses sawdust and she has also used Mulch from the local landscaper. No smell! She also has an amazing garden!
I'm even using this system in the suburbs now. Saves the use of water too. All the "compost" goes out to the garden where just flowers grow.
Humanure rocks! I've been living off grid and using a composting toilet for the past three years. I love it and have not had any issues. Though do find some house guests, particularly men, are very squeamish about the idea. Which I find amusing.
My husband and I are in talks about going off grid and this is one thing he won't budge on (he doesn't want to compost waste, but I do). I do worry about how our families will handle it, though. My siblings get it. The rest, I don't know how they'd take it.
You guys rock! Wish the local government would allow us to practice this on our homesteads. We'd save so much money & allow a healthier more balanced world.
----> $$$$$$ loss. We are nearly 100% post manufacturing era. People are clinging to what is left because they cannot see a viable alternative for economy to pay mortgages and bills. We have to think through and address the legit issues that transitioning to new systems presents. I believe people are not deliberately obnoxious and do want a better future. The problem is they cannot deal with their insecurity of not having their basic needs met. Transitioning is not going to be easy but mother nature means it will happen.
Do it anyway, how would they even know
All of the information I need in one Awesome video!!!
In 2023 I will be building a mini house in my native country and this is one system I want to incorporate in it; most houses there use other methods I am not a fan of and it’s costly to build, this system is simple, affordable and there is no waste involved.
Thanks a zillion for All of that information.
I just bought a vintage Shasta Compact camper and had the toilet and all tanks removed and I love this information for making myself a composting toilet! Thanks!!
Fir you get some organic trash bag liners fir the bucket and take the bag to the trash as needed 👍
Spent $2500.00 to install waterless composting toilet - which must periodically be emptied by hand once given a few days or more to dry out. Coffee grounds and compost accelerator usually used daily. During the "waiting" period I resort to the bucket and dry sawdust method - actually better. In my RV emptying the black tank sometimes a challenge to find a dump station. Composting/sawdust method more appealing there and then so expecting to line the rv toilet with heavy bag and with sawdust on hand. Thanks for validating the humanure approach....I'm not crazy.
Christopher Jackson
Hi Christopher. As I would use the lining bag for more than one go but adding a bit more sawdust each time, once ready to close each bag I would put it in another container until ready to unload it and other trash - all bagged of course. cheapRVliving.com has good TH-cam videos on waste management. Diapers go in the garbage all the time so nothing to feel squeamish about. Good bagging followed by good handwashing and you're golden. Hope this helps. Cheers!!
I am very excited to see the compost station! We are redoing our compost retainers this Fall. It is our third year composting and time to upgrade. We have conventional water toilets in the house but are looking forward to building an outdoor toilet near our out-building. I would much prefer this system over an outhouse! You guys have great ideas! Thanks for sharing. Humanure Rocks!
Such wonderful information as always Doug and Stacy! I already said this on your facebook post yesterday but if we ever find that perfect piece of property, this is what we are going to go with. I would love never having to worry again about getting our septic tank pumped (it is getting expensive - let alone the tremendous cost of having it installed in the first place), I love that one is saving tons of water and able to turn that waste into black gold! HUMANURE ROCKS!
Keep your dream alive. We just purchased riverfront property and now I'm here learning how to shit in a bucket. Dreams do come true!
Thank you for a well done explanation on composting toilets. It feels like there is way too many videos on buying $1000 composting toilets when there’s this great option. Y’all just saved me a lot of money.
This is awesome! My wife and I are planning to switch to the homestead lifestyle as well. So glad I came across your channel while doing some research on septic systems and how to deal with human waste. Problem solved! Thank you so much for all the valuable info! 😃👍
Humanure Rocks ! I've been using this system for 15+ years -- this year I saved my charcoal and ash from the fire place to mix with last years compost, for terra preta
I had wondered about using the wood ashes from my wood stove I am going to give that a try.
I have read that ash will interfere with the composting process, so I am waiting until this pile is nearly finished, about a year, and I will use mostly the 'charcoaly' bits.
humanure rocks!
so does Doug and Stacey !!
Humanaure Rocks! Sent this video to my husband. Cross your fingers because our camping outdoor toilet STINKS - STINKS - STINKS!! Thanks for what sounds like an easy solution to a "Pepe Le Pew" problem!
Great information. Thank you. We are going off grid on everything, especially after the power failure in the -18* arctic blast, this winter.
Thanks for all you do and share.i just finished building my composting toilet for my sprinter van.
Loved the info that you shared!! Thank you!
Humanure Rocks!
Everyone poops, those that are uptight about it most likely poop way less than those that are at ease with valuable information. You guys are great peeps.
You should accidentally drop a watermellon seed, tomato seed around the personal waste compost piles and watch the difference in the size of the fruit, its like Jurrasic Garden, god forbid you eat one
HUMANURE RAWKS!!!! not as much as Stacy & Doug though :-)
=)
Human urge Rocks!!! Such a practical solution to a every day .... human.. daily ..process👍
Humanure rocks,!! Spellcheck does not
It's really about understanding composting chemistry. Carbon to nitrogen ratio is important, but proper moisture to. You don't want it to be dry either, but that may be better until it is dumped into your outdoor pile. Some people suggest separating urine & feces, which is good since urine is sterile & can be collected for plant fertiluzing teas. Proper composting not only breaks down unwanted organic compounds, but rebonds elements potentially toxic to humans in complex organic chains. Mycology is also good for handling toxins.
I totally agree, and I love that you brought mycology into this. There is some really fascinating information on employing oyster mushrooms to break down unwanted compounds that persist after thermophilic composting.
I will say, though, that I really don't understand the benefit of urine diverting. It would seem that would slow the composting process down significantly, not having the carbon cover material saturated with high-nitrogen liquid. Also, urine starts to really stink after standing just a short while; Oxidation turns it into ammonia, I believe? It would seem that the urine collection container would have to be emptied much quicker and the compost pile would struggle to get "cooking" without the addition of urine. Not to mention having to use 10x its volume in water for proper dilution to use on plants. I imagine a 5gal bucket of just urine would be much heavier than one with "mixed materials" as well, making it an all around unpleasant task.
One benefit I've noticed in my non-separated system that nobody seems to mention is the complete absence of any "vitamin pee" smell, 🤢, which I suspect is the result of the liquid being immediately absorbed by sawdust. I really, really appreciate that benefit, as underrated as it may be.
Once it is composted, you can use it in your compost pile?
Separating urine is to help dry the solids more quickly, greatly
...Greatly reducing the smell of each, I meant to say.
Thank you Abe. You Put some logic to poo science.
Mom always peed in the garage bucket. Her flowers were the best in the neighborhood.
My red maple was butchered with kerosene by a nasty neighbor. I started collecting urine for a week. I doctored the tree by pouring it onto the trees wounds. And directly onto the roots. It's still alive and thriving. They tried again so I thru some more urine onto the tree's burn. It's gorgeous and bigger now. The wounds are all healed up. Once the trunk grows back,the bees will be back to get the sap next spring. The main trunk died and I now have wonderful family of woodpeckers.
Now they have to see the tree every day thriving with birds nesting in it. It must really make them eat their own shit. Llol
Thanks
Today is the first time I watched your video. Your program is educational for a beginner like myself. Humanure rocks.
Hello folks. Just wanted to say thanks for all you do. I just copied your composting toilet design but I added a twist. I didn't want a separate bucket of sawdust running around my van. So I added a toilet tank on the back to hold the sawdust. Thanks again.❤
Thanks for sharing all the knowledge, just as a tip to avoid all the mess of a bucket clean-up you can always place a biodegradable plastic, or sack. Also you'll end up needing less buckets, just close up and toss it into the compost pile.
Is there a biodegradable sack that isn’t costly? To the pocketbook or Mother Earth. I prefer to reuse something that’s free. I saw one video where compost was wrapped in newspaper. Newspaper is getting harder to find.
Biodegradable plastic is not all what you think. It is not going to just magically break down. You should look into it more thoroughly before you suggest this.
@@pchelloo how do you know he hasn't. Maybe he speaks from experience. You should learn some manners before assuming.
@End Times Are upon us haha! Well aren't you the hypocrite. Your comment was just as rude as any. 🤦♀️
You two are adorable and i SO appreciate all your information. And yes, HUMANURE ROCKS!!! ,)
Humanure rocks. I do something similar. I dump into 55 gallon trash cans. Once full i seal for a year.
wow, great idea too. so how is it after a year of being sealed..Please let me know...I like that idea. Maybe give a step by step scenario. Thankyou
Yes, I would like to know also please. Thanks!
Humanure ROCKS! Totally! I live in a condo building where they would never go for thos, but I plan on using it for camping! This is awesome!
I caught one of your previous videos that dealt with composting toilet system, but I enjoyed the update from five years ago So when I go off grid I intend to implement it. I agree that humanure rocks and congratulate whoever won it. I will look for this book when I am doing my research. Thank you both, Doug and Stacy.
I haven't had a TV for 20 years. I move from FL to east TN Nov 17, 2017. I half a half acre of land and a small cottage. I just got rid of a washer and dryer, microwave (things that came with the purchase). I have a garden 12 x 24. Collecting rain water in a 250 gallon Ibc tote. I have a shared well with one neighbor. Well is on their property. No more toilet paper use (alternative washable cloths), compost pile, collecting oil lamps. My next goal is to figure out an alternative power source for pumping well water so I can figure out how to get rid of electric company (a challenge I know but we are rural) and I would like to build an outdoor chimney made from bricks for outdoor cooking. I'm down to two Walmart sized plastic bags of trash to take into town and working toward zero which means purchasing nothing in plastic. I'm purchasing fresh individual fruits/veggies and other items in glass jars which are reusable. I'm going to can veggies from my garden. Looking to purchase another Ibc tote and a hand pumped washing machine bucket. All in 6 months so far. Loving this transition.
I have 55 gallon plastic rain barrels outside that were originally used for transporting apple juice concentrate. I've been just collecting rainwater in them. Is there a way to clean these out and make them usable for storing drinkable water? I sure appreciate any ideas thank you!
@@OneJokeAtATime Thats not what was said. Read it again. Vegetables are purchased loose, unpackaged. Other items are packaged in glass jars. Two separate statements. Smh.
@@laurabarber6697 You'll probably want to filter rain water before drinking it, but you can clean the containers as you would clean anything used for food.
Rocket stove,make your own outside cooking. Made out of bricks.
Get a eco zoom rocket stove for cooking
I like the 5 gallon bucket And used it many years living on a sailboat. I think I will adopt it but put a plastic liner in the bucket For off grid land use
Hey Doug and Stacy...
Well, TH-cam is up to their old tricks again.
I was wondering why I hadn’t been receiving
notices for your new videos so I started checking.
I found that I was still subscribed to your channel
but my notification bell was unmarked...!
I have caught them doing this to several of the
channels that I subscribe to...!
I have re-clicked on the bell.
I guess that I’ll see how long it lasts this time.
Thanks for sharing this information with us.
Have a great day and be blessed.
TH-cam just wants us to Poo into drinking water.
HUMANURE ROCKS....I'M 2 WEEKS IN AND IT IS GREAT! THANKS, DOUG AND STACY!
I am truly inspired and encouraged by the video. This information will help my transition into a country girl as I am anning to go live in my rural village in South Africa. Thank you, I have subscribed.
Thank you for another informative video! Your videos are helping us explain our future lifestyle (currently in escrow and jumping off grid in October!!) to our VERY speculative in-laws. Humanure Handbook ROCKS! Peace and Love my friends! Carly F
Humanure Rocks!! Been using a composting toilet for 6 months now!
I remember as a little girl, my grandma had an outhouse. Ahhhhhhh...the memories and the spiders. LOL "Humanure Rocks."
We are in the process of getting 12 acres. This information is so helpful!
Humanure ROCKS!! I know I am very late to the party! But, better late than never! Been watching your videos... feels like a part-time job!! There's so much to learn!!! Thank you for sharing your wisdom, experience and life!!
I've seen some applications where the urine is diverted to separate storage for disposal and others where it's just dumped in with the fecal matter in with the sawdust. I was wondering if I could get some insight from some folks who've actually done either or both as to what they think about the topic of separating vs consolidating liquids and solids.
Theres a guy that makes his own gunpowder outta his urine and a few other components
I've noticed they haven't bothered to reply. *sigh* ...EVERYONE i have listened to except this couple say to separate. I wonder what their argument is for not separating.
Many people separate to dump the solids in a plastic bag in a trash can, pour liquid in a public toilet. They use composting medium with the solids, but do not actually have a farm or property where they can have a composting bin or area as Doug and Stacy do.
So glad you did this video because I had a lot of questions and you answered all of them :) Humanor Rocks! Not sure I spelled that right :\
Just in time, my field bed just gave out and they want thousands of dollars to fix it. I don't have thousands to fix it, so I was trying to figure out how to by pass the septic and this is the answer. I would also like to know how you deal with your gray water from your shower and kitchen sink. Right now I am using a garden hose pump meant for a pond to drain the tub and laundry tub. I dump sink pans into bucket then to the laundry tube to be pumped out. The problem is what to do with the gray water that goes outside. Any answers are appreciated very much. Thanks for the video. Humanure Rocks!
our gray water goes right out to the tree line... we use bio degradable soap and rock on =)
You can dig a wide hole away from the house and fill with gravel to catch your gray water. You can even plant on top of it like a wick bed.
Yes- I use a laundry soap as well as an all purpose dish/cleaning soap called Oasis which actually breaks down into plant nutrients! It works just fine! No chemicals for this girl....I even have gone no-poo, make my own deodorant and toothpaste....it can all go down the recycle hose to outside in the garden!
Use nontoxic products and do a drain tile and dry well set up.. its basically a leach pit
Hi guys. My partner and I have been living on the road for a couple years + now. We try to do videos too... Anyway the point is, I really like how you present. I have never posted to a video before. And I have not watched any other of your videos. I just really appreciate what you have done here, suspect it is the same for your other videos, and had to tell you how refreshing your approach is. Thankyou for your, "whats the big deal?!", addressing topics like this.
I know these are old but now we are moving toward this for our life! We currently have a septic system that is quite old. We hope to be implementing this in the very near future! Thank you! Humanure Rocks! LOL
When i empty my compositing tiolet i normally pour it on top of the leaves and have my bon fires "firebased recycling" hey it works and it burns faster and my grass grows faster
l had a friend who had a composting toilet 50 yrs ago There were 6 kids + 2 parents = a lot of buckets. As they were establishing an orchard and garden they just put it straight into the ground. First they put stakes where all the trees would go and started digging holes and filling them up to the top, sealing them with compost and covering with old roofing iron. When it broke down and dropped deep enough to plant a tree they just planted on top with compost and soil. They had a huge orchard and amazing gardens. Even the veggie garden used human waste. This is ok if you are all healthy, just your family, otherwise keep it just for trees. We all happily use animal waste but then feel weird about using humanure on our gardens.
Another friend used road kill and pest animals he shot under his fruit trees.
You are doing what my deceased husband and I were going to do when our children were grown cause they had no interest in living like that but even though we lived in town I still had a huge garden and full city lot and I caned Everything' I could get and pickled things and frozen something's we bought a whole beef and organic grown I even put up my own tuna and smoked salmon and caned chicken and made soup and caned my own soups. We had seven children and then sadly after 27years of marriage he got leukemia ALL, and our eleven year old son got Burkitts lymphoma cancer and he was in his second bought of cancer when my husband his dad passed away we were ready to by that land and move out in the country and live out our dream life but that was not in God's plan my son he did beat The cancer he is now in his twentys and is a single dad of a 3 year old then I also got cancer the same kind as my son and now I have had to give up on that dream cause I fell at my work picking up a client and broke my ankle in 3places and it never healed right and now I don't get around well at all but I just love watching your video story about your life and your dream . Keep up the good work and I will keep watching
Thats terrible. Im sorry
Thank you for your story. So much of the old ways will have to be relearned as jobs get thin. You are an inspiration. Bless you and your family
Humanure Rocks!😊 Live you both thank you for all your books and information you share ! My Son and his wife and Myself have learned so much from you two
I'm glad you explained about the composting toilet. I previously thought it would be gross, but i understand more about it now.
@OFF GRID with DOUG & STACY
When you bring the bucket out you can simply spread a piece of tarpaulin on the ground first and even if it is raining you will get no mud on the bottom of your buckets. The tarpaulin can be hung on your clothes line for the rain to wash any mud of; or left to dry and once dry you can sweep the mud off. Simples!
We use a pallet to set the cleaned buckets on to dry thanks for your videos we went from burying our waste from a camping toilet that was bad and heavy switching to the bucket system has been great and there really is no smell
With Stacey who loves to wear frocks
And Doug wears his Amish with no socks
Tips on toilet hygene
on this channel can be seen
And I must say that Humanure Rocks
The straight poetic poop from Leon King! :D
Excellent verse, Leon.
why thank you Wendy Darling . Do one for you if you tell me a funny story about yourself!
+Leon King nice!
Psflorence the humidoar rocks
I tend my tiny veggie patch
With joy and with great care
Dreaming of the blessed day
when I will take the dare
to buy my little patch of land
and build my tiny shed,
meanwhile, visions of chickens
spin round in my head.
:D
Humanure Rocks! Lol..probably too late but it STILL ROCKS! he he.My friends and family think I am a weirdo because I am obsessed with composting toilets...I must be hanging out with the wrong peeps..gotta fix that. Homestead Homie here. Thanks for this great playlist! Great info! 💖LOVE💖 to all...
Thank you for this information. I needed a clear, blunt description. Most TH-camrs avoid being too graphic but these times we are living in require we know this information. What do you do if you run out of toilet paper. I live in a city setting.