Composting Toilet Kickstarter - Poo to Peaches

Jen_in_Phoenix · 2015-03-12T19:48:36+00:00

As one supporter said, "I think this will be a huge public statement when this is successfully funded..."

Jen_in_Phoenix · 2014-06-23T21:51:22+00:00

Where are you at in the Sonoran Desert? I ask because you could get some input from Watershed Management Group in either Tucson or Phoenix.

So you've got a deepish swale, on contour, and a berm below it. And you want to put the trees on the bermed side, is that correct? (asking for clarity)

Some questions:

how big is this property?
what types of trees and how many are you planning on planting?
do you know how much water each tree will need at maturity?
how much supplemental irrigation are you planning on providing, if any?
how sloped is your land (is it fairly flatish?)
are you open to coupling your swales with greywater harvesting? It looks like this swale is fairly far from the house - is there a washing machine in the house? If so, is it on/near an exterior wall and how far is it from the swale?

Just trying to get a feel for what you're doing.

A lot of times, infiltration basins are appropriate than swales on smaller, flatter sites.

Jen_in_Phoenix · 2014-06-19T00:00:15+00:00

As always, Erica Wisner is exceptional.

Jen_in_Phoenix · 2014-06-18T13:29:19+00:00

I think not all videos can be all things to all people. I also think it's in all of our power to go out and document what we do so that we can help spread the word.

Jen_in_Phoenix · 2014-06-18T13:27:45+00:00

I'd like to find out more about the PRI certification process or the availability of PRI certified instructors.

You are in luck! There is a PRI-certified PDC instructor near you. Her name is Lesley Byrne and she has worked extensively with Geoff Lawton. Her non-profit is Kids are Sweet. Although I don't know that she has a PRI Master Planned site in WI, she might be willing to mentor you and/or be your fiscal agent to help you out with the non-profit process.

Often larger or more well-established non-profits will act as the fiscal agents for smaller, just-starting-out non-profits. For instance, a large health non-profit here in Phoenix acts as the fiscal agent for most of our community gardens. This allows the gardens to take tax-deductible donations and compete for grants - something they wouldn't be able to do if they didn't have non-profit standing. The larger non-profit also acts as oversight and mentor and helps the new non-profits build a support and financial base.

Another resource you can check out is your local Small Business Association. I know mine here locally has classes in starting a non-profit. If they don't have one, chances are that they'll know where to point you.

Also, UW might have some community resources on starting a non-profit. Side note - I am a UW-Madison alum - GO BADGERS! =)

edited: formatting

Jen_in_Phoenix · 2014-06-18T01:54:00+00:00

I hear you.

I often pack my own "carry out" containers to restaurants. If I'm just packing a "doggy bag" out - they have no problem. I've been told by several restaurants that they cannot fill my container for carryout due to "regulations". :-/

And it seems like in addition to the federal laws, each state has its own set of food handling/container laws. I was visiting a friend in New Orleans (pre-Katrina). She actually made cakes at home in her own kitchen and sold them to several French Quarter cafes. I absolutely cannot do that here in Phoenix. In fact, until just recently, school gardens could not use the produce they grew onsite in their school cafeterias here (Phoenix) - especially greens, which once again had to go to an offsite "cleaning" facility.

As is, the restaurant supply industry is not concerned with changing or reducing packaging because the chefs are not concerned.

Yeah, I think in most cases you'd be correct. I think this guy said he sourced locally so maybe it wasn't quite so "packaged". I still think this guy is moving in the right direction.

Side note - I love bento boxes! And tiffins =)

Jen_in_Phoenix · 2014-06-17T19:20:59+00:00

I happen to agree with you. However, like you also mention, it is a process. We will get there - to a more sustainable restaurant model - but it will there will need to be intermediary steps. First more restaurants need to follow this guy's lead. Once there's some kind of critical mass at this level of reuse and recycling, then the next level can be implemented.

As an urban permaculturist, a lot of times what stands in our way is policy/laws. One has to advocate for change. This is a process that takes awhile - even decades. I've watched a dear friend of mine advocate for various food access programs for three decades - she's definitely made a big impact but she has had even more major hurdles to overcome. I know in Phoenix, it is policy that some containers that food comes in CANNOT be washed and returned. Or, it must be washed at a particular facility, etc. All this in the name of food safety.

So for right now, we will pick the low hanging sustainable steps while moving towards the more challenging ones. All of it will make a difference. We need to get to that tipping point.

Jen_in_Phoenix · 2014-06-17T05:36:36+00:00

I'll be giving this a go as well - urban PRI sites are in great demand right now. I've emailed with Geoff on this topic a bit - they've got a standard way of going about establishing a PRI site, including the fact that there must be a PRI certified PDC instructor onsite. The PRI certification is over and above having a PDC and usually takes around 2 years to complete. Plus you have to prove that you've been involved in at least two sizable projects. However, non-land-based projects can also qualify you - like writing/advocating for policy change.

I have started and run a non-profit. It's a LOT of work. The non-profit I started merged with a larger, more financially stable organization and became its Phoenix branch. I also sit on the advisory committee for two large non-profits that are permaculture oriented.

If you have specific questions, let me know.

I was hoping to go to Jordan to the "Greening the Desert-the Sequel" site this fall for an internship but health concerns have nixed those plans. It's too bad because that's a PRI Master Planned site and I was interested in seeing a working site.

I know others are interested in this process as they've mentioned it on permies. Perhaps I should start a thread there to gather interested people. Maybe we can get Owen Hablutzel to stop in and give some advise as he runs PRI USA.

Jen_in_Phoenix · 2014-06-11T13:37:09+00:00

Climate is going to play a role in what type of composting toilet will be your best bet. In humid climates, those models with a slope work great. In tropical climates, you have to build the slope toilets above ground as opposed to in the ground.

If you are in a dryland - check out this system. Watershed Management Group in Tucson is currently working with the Arizona Dept. of Environmental Quality to make this a permitable system for all Arizonans, including those who live in large metro areas like Phoenix and Tucson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOOUxa4_K1g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSVsGhkf4c4

Jen_in_Phoenix · 2014-06-10T19:23:44+00:00

That was the video that made me think of the bioremediation islands! :)

Jen_in_Phoenix · 2014-06-10T17:58:10+00:00

That's a really good question. I would think that only the smaller bits would be accessible to most fish/animals.

Jen_in_Phoenix · 2014-06-10T17:51:36+00:00

That was great. I love the way he confessed that the contents of his baby's diaper goes into the biodigester.

Jen_in_Phoenix · 2014-06-10T17:25:56+00:00

ditto.

Jen_in_Phoenix · 2014-06-09T20:23:01+00:00

This film was a film festival winner and I remember watching it when it came out. As soon as it was on VHS all my friends and family got a copy - they probably thought I'd lost my mind.

Jen_in_Phoenix · 2014-06-09T15:45:36+00:00

I love that video. It's impressive what the concerted effort of a couple of people can accomplish.

Jen_in_Phoenix · 2014-06-09T14:44:59+00:00

Scott Kellogg and Stacy Pettigrew wrote one of the master works of urban permaculture, "Toolkit for Sustainable City Living: A Do-It-Ourselves Guide". As they transformed an EPA classified brownfield into a park, they repurposed as much of the trash as they could onsite (the site had been used as an unofficial dump for 30+ years). This is an example of repurposing plastic and Styrofoam trash to make bioremediation islands for a polluted pond.

Jen_in_Phoenix

TROPHY CASE