An Introduction to Humanure: Let's Talk about Poop
Let’s talk about poop.
If you’re anything like me, you look into things and ask questions, a lot of questions. This has the often dramatic effect of creating radical shifts in lifestyle choices. Once I have a little information on a subject, I tend to immerse myself, because
If you don’t live fully, you’re certainly missing out. And humanure is no exception. (I immerse figuratively not literally where this is concerned.)
Homo Sapiens have a strange habit of creating an artificial separation between ourselves and everything else. A Man vs. Nature mentality that not only goes against natural laws, but also creates a mess for future generations to deal with. The way we deal with “waste” is a perfect example. Nature does not waste, only transforms and connects nutrient loops, thereby maintaining equilibrium and balance. By upholding the idea that “waste” exists at all and not finding a way to return the “waste” into another system is not only losing nutrients, but also actively creating pollution. I for one am none too happy about this…
Humanure is just what it sounds like, the manure of humans (yes we have manure just like every other creature, although we have many foul names for it). The problem with humanure lies not it what it is but how we deal with it, or mostly DONT deal with it. In the “developed” world, we use potable water (often using a lot of energy to earn the title of potable) in copious quantities to flush a nutrient rich manure (and urine) to Away.
Wait, I need directions to this place Away…. Away is where it becomes someone else’s problem. Right.
The manure mixes with water and becomes sewage, which ties up and pollutes more potentially potable water. Then comes the issue of transporting this sewage whether through centralized sewers of septic tanks that need to be emptied and hauled to Away. Its not getting any prettier from here, so the long of the short is that it’s not a good idea to mix drinking water with our manure. So, um, what to do?
Luckily there is a simple, proven and effective method for safely transforming our excreta into valuable humanure. The answer is compost it. So simple a 5 year old could think of it, but it doing it safely and properly does take some knowledge that many 5 year olds may not posses. I will go into a more in depth look at details and options in later posts including a detailed look into the system we built and use, so stay tuned.
Our slow to adapt and evolve cultures (like North America) would do well to learn from the rest of the cultures that have allied with microbes to safely mange humanure through a variety of composting methods, varying in scale and complexity but all relying on the basic of biology; everything eats everything.
Everybody poops, but not everybody deals with it.
The good news you needn’t much to start doing it. And composting humanure can be done safely and easily with little inputs (we don’t pay a dime, unless you include recycled unbleached toilet paper). Plus you’ll be producing a fantastic compost to boost fertility and soil health (many people prefer using it on shrubs and trees).
Many municipalities go so far as outlaw composting toilets, but allow composting to occur in backyards. Gardening breaks fewer bylaws than human excreta. This is a loophole that could allow many urban dwellers to retrofit their existing conventionally plumbed toilets to accommodate the noble task of safely managing humanure.
So if you’re keen to get more in line with the natural order of things and closing a nutrient loop, what are you waiting for?
I read about a system in the book Solviva where she plumbed her upstairs toilet sewage line to dump into a twin box worm bin outside on the side of her house. The worms converted the solids to vermicompost and there was a drain for the liquids which led into a 3 stage riparian bio-filtering system. Her goal was to experiment and devise a system which would eliminate (no pun) the barrier to entry of carrying full buckets outside that most people have a tough time getting past. Apparently it was so effective, she never had to switch the system over to the second bin (while the worms worked on composting down the first) because it was so efficient, it never filled up! Her downstairs toilet was still a composting bucket. It's not a perfect system but interesting and inspiring!
Woah~~~ incredibly cool & natural design! I have some friends who use systems like the clivus moltrum for indoor use, but worms with liquid valve! Incredibly inspiring. We have a ton of soldier fly larvae in our system and I suppose those could be used too! Their squiggling is noisy tho and I love worms more :) thanks for the comment.
HAHA nothing like hearing the sound of squiggling larvae below you :P Actually I don't know what that sounds like but I'm imagining it.
It can get Pretty rowdy in there, they make a ruckus ! Looking to more efficiently use them next year, growing them for chicken fodder (obviously not in our humanure system though)
I am old enough to have spent a lot of time (as a child) on a farm without running water. You had to walk through the woods to get to the outhouse. This image of your composting toilet would have made us feel like we were rich to use something that nice, lol. I will be watching for more info on this. Not sure this house could be retrofitted, but I want to sell it and move further away from the city, so someday soon maybe!
You know, I have sat in too many horrible Porto potties or even unenjoyable Composting toilets to let mine be that way! I feel we need to relax and enjoy our toilet time, not want to get away! Lol! I think there is Hope for people who want to switch over when the already have a regular toilet. A lot of my friends use the bucket system. I'll see if they'll let me photograph their toilets hehe and I can do a post on that too :)
We have been doing the 5 gallon bucket humanure method for about a year and a half now. It is a bit of a pain in the ass but it definitely isn't as gross as some people might imagine and it doesn't stink up the washroom.
Exactly! I'm glad you shared that here because I've been around many of these and they definitely don't smell, they just are a pain to move! BUT If that is the only option someone has, it shouldn't keep them from composting poo!
This is a beautiful introduction into the concept. I am interested into how it is done safely? how do you do it?
Modern plumbing is a health miracle, but I agree that it should be done more efficiently and should be turned into nooch. In Kelowna you can buy ogo-grow at the dump, which actually has humanure in it. It is a step in the right direction. My dad just has a giant tank underneath the ground, I dunno what his protocalls are or what it does.
We will post soon detailing the method we use. Basically, add sawdust, wait 2 years, but we'll hash it out more. ;)
Wow that's interesting. Ogo-grow- who makes and what else is in it?
Nice post @mountainjewel, and great intro also, I'm 100% behind you on that. Composting toilets are the way forward, it really helps us become more involved in natures cycles as we have the ability to feed the soil that then feeds us.
thanks! i completely agree. we're really missing out on a nutrient loop if we don't use our poo.
AS beautiful as that looks I’m
Not poopn on dat! I’d rather have compost pooper 😂🤣😂
Haha! That is a composting toilet!
Water and solar or the foot pump? Show us underneath and behind it? Floor heater? Ass Warner? 🤣😂🤣😂🤘🏽
Good little article. Youre rught, its crazy to mix perfectly good drinking water into all this
Agreed! It shocks me that it's considered a sign of progress! But a lot of people are scared of poop!
@mountainjewel Another great post. I love that you are raising awareness around this issue! I think that closing the fertility gap by composting our poo is one of the simplest ways to lead more sustainable lives. Great work!
100% agree! Thanks~~~~