So how do I build a compost toilet at the bottom of MY garden?

[MrsStuartBaggs]

Full instructions please.

Links to easy-to-follow diagrams v welcome.

Depends.

How big is your garden? How overlooked is it?

Do you want one that acutally makes compost - this means you have to empty it every so often.

Or do you want one that just digests everything that goes in it and never needs emptying?

We have compost loos where we live and are running a course on building them next year sometime.

It's 120 foot long; it can be overlooked by neighbours, although we are planning high fences. Nonetheless from upstairs windows it would be possible to see if you really wanted to.

I was thinking that I'd like the compost. I'd seriously be interested in your course next year.

I'd like the simplest sort possible; for example, it could easily be restricted to liquid waste only. People would be expected to come indoors for other toileting activities.

The Centre for Alternative Technology runs a one day 'taster' course on compost loos. There's a little bit of information here

Oh no, HFD, that looks a bit off-putting. [fsulk]. I suppose what I need is a straw bale urinal at its most basic. But I would like females to have an opportunity to contribute too. I know wee containing HRT or the Pill is no good, but we don't do those drugs here.

I would imagine the amount of sh1t your dh spouts forth it will need to be a large toilet.

Mollie! He's only 21, y'know! DID you know that?

course will be on tree bogs which are the ones that don't need emptying

sorry no caps am nak

Love the name of them. But I think that's more for when we move to somewhere more rural.

I was thinking, though, that maybe what I need is a willow wigwam round a couple of bales of straw, with a sitting provision for women?

Noo I don't believe Mr Baggs is 21. How do you know? He hasn't mentioned his age at all and I've watched every programme

Not sure you actually need a toilet, I'm sure a potty would do for him!!

I married him because he's got a whole field of ponies, and I love ponies.
[fbear]

I can see why you'd need a compost toilet!

But I am serious about having a urine/straw combo composting facility at the bottom of the garden. (I am less interested in faecal matter, contrary to the implications of my married name.)

HFD and Queen, I hope my silly MN username (and jokes about it) hasn't killed this thread!

I am a very serious composter and a serious vegetable grower. We have a large garden, wide as well as long, with several outhouses, one of which is used by the dc as a games room. Peeing in the garden certainly goes on, and I'd just like to formalise this, and get good compost-activating straw from the process.

From talking on this thread, and looking at the links - for which much thanks - I reckon that I could put in a tall, living willow structure to act as a kind of cubicle. Its doorway could be angled to exclude overlooking. If it were to be used by males only, then it would only need to contain a bale of straw for them to pee on.

What I need to know, to develop this idea is:

How could I arrange some straw bales to make this urine-only loo workable for women?

And:

How often might I need to put the "activated" bale(s) into the compost bin/heap, and start again with a new one? I'm thinking also that regular changing would be needed to keep the cubicle pleasant to use? I'm guessing that I could chuck in some lavender and other herb clippings to freshen it up from time to time; although rain and general weather must help?

Any thoughts or links welcome.

Alternatively, you could have a bucket in your structure for women to pee in and then pour that on your compost heap.

And indeed dilute 1:3 and use as a liquid feed, though be cautious as its high nitrogen and in effect little different from an artificial fertiliser (though benefit of trace elements of course).

Female strawbale urinals - I've seen ones where the strawbale is sunk in the ground with a pallet on top with strategic cutouts (more for camps, then it is left to decompose in situ), also ones where there is a kind of 'box' with a cut out hole and a strawbale inside it which can then be dragged out. Its a PITA moving urine soaked straw, though, and IMO only worth doing for the sort of camp where you have to clear the space afterwards. Also, no matter how many notices you leave a) people dump the paper on it, and b) people shit on it. But maybe it would be ok if it was just your garden.

Personally, I would (and do) go with the pee-in-a-bucket and dump it on the compost heap approach. Much simpler, you don't need to source organic strawbales, which is never easy round here at least, and you can use the urine in different locations/ways.

I did have a good Swedish (in english) document on using urine in agriculture/horticulture, will see if I can find the link for it.

Thanks, Takver, you clearly understand exactly where I'm coming from. I was going to ask about sourcing organic strawbales, but didn't want to seem too [fbear] at once.

I would be really grateful for any links you can find. Must go to bed now, but will peruse your advice more thoroughly in the morning.

Sorry, have hunted and annoyingly can't find the article I was looking for.

Don't worry, Takver, I've moved forwards in my thinking as a result of this thread, and can probably discuss it with the Centre for Alternative Tech.