Windgrove maintenance

Warning! This blog entry contains images that might offend the sensibilities of some people.

Looking along the fence line that separates the outdoor bath area away from the hungry wallabies who would like nothing better than to munch on the tender foliage in the enclosed garden, one can see a red wheel barrow up against the back wall of a wooden structure that is, itself, separated from the main house. Inside this pine lined space one finds a shower, sink, mirror, change bench and two toilets.

Two toilets? Is this about new age, enlightened, back to the 70’s hippy style communal living and sharing?

Not really; rather, a practical solution to the contemporary problem of the over consumption of water in a world that is becoming increasingly water depleted. It is estimated that the average person will flush down an average of 5,000 gallons of fresh water per annum. The two holer at Windgrove has been in operation for nearly 15 years and has never used even one gallon of water. Considering the number of people that have lived, stayed or visited here over this period of time, the amount of water saved amounts to well over 200,000 gallons. Quite impressive, isn’t it?

And, the reason no water is used is that Windgrove has composting toilets; both waterless and chemical free. And totally free of any smell usually associated with the normal outhouse found down by the swamp at grand-dad’s fishing cabin. The smell here is simply vented away by the white stacks seen in the photo. A ten dollar solution that solves a century old problem.

There are two toilet seats because two are necessary for the system to function properly. However, only one is used at a time. The other simply waits until the first one gradually, one poop at a time, fills up over two to three years. Then the first one gets shut down (rock placed on lid) and the 2nd toilet slowly fills up.

And, do you see the wicker basket between the two toilets? This contains saw dust. After each use of the toilet, a handful is tossed into the “hole” thereby helping the composting process so that after the toilet gets filled and has “rested” a further two to three years (or until the other toilet gets filled), the result is a totally odurless, crumbly soil suitable for the garden.

The above photo shows how I access the back of the toilet to remove the composted shit, sawdust and toilet paper. Not so much a bad job as just a job that has to be done. This was the 5th time in 15 years I have emptied one of the composting bins. At two and a half barrow loads per bin, that comes to 12 and a half wheel barrow loads of decent fertilizer. When I think of all the water saved and the non-usage of any chemicals over this time, it leaves me with a good feeling. The broccolli and carrots certainly thank me.

And this year, after I cleaned out the toilets, good neighbour Steve got the job of cleaning out 18 years of wood shavings from my studio floor that had compacted to be a foot deep. At the end of a long, dusty day, Steve took away over 30 wheel barrow loads. It certainly seems obvious, to me, that my hands have produced more waste than my rear end.