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Video Transcript: Low Cost, Big Savings

Low cost big savings: Your Composting ToiletTranscript copyright earththrives.com Carlyn:  For about 500 dollars you can build yourself a two bay moldering toilet. Jonathan:  Yup it would definitely I think–so for the materials–yea, if its part of an existing house. Carlyn:  Does it save money? Jonathan:  Yea your expenses are just about done once you’ve built this. You might need to invest in a little bit of wood chips which is the ingredient that you add while using it. You can...

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Video Transcript: What’s In It for Me?

What’s In it for Me? Transcript copyright earththrives.com Carlyn: If I was just on the fence trying to decide whether to get a compost toilet–even if I wasn’t going to build it myself but would have someone else build it for me–what would you say to me to get off the fence and decide to do it? Jonathan: Well I think I would encourage you to listen to the wisdom of the people that have lived in a very sustainable–and I like to use the word elegant–a very sensible way...

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Video Transcript: Ventilation

Ventilation: Key Ingredient for Composting Toilets Transcript copyright earththrives.com Jonathan: There is a need to have directed flow of air through it for odor control and for moisture control. The moisture of the heat, the pile, it’s called is needed to be controlled.  It can’t get too moist or it doesn’t molder; it just kind of gets sticky. Air is the friend of any biological process and it needs air that the ventilation system gives it. That is done with plastic pipes: 4-inch plastic...

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Video Transcript: Do You Need Town Permission for a Composting Toilet?

Do You Need Town Permission for a Composting Toilet? Transcript copyright earththrives.com Carlyn: Do you need any kind of particular permit to build this? Jonathan: Well, permits depends on your particular state and town in Massachusetts. Some states, it’s just a state issue and whether they allow them or don’t, they have that regulation. In Massachusetts everything is very much determined by the town, but as I understand it the state law enables the town to regulate these things. Our town...

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Jonathan’s Scoop on Composting Toilets

Jonathan, stone mason and writer-editor of Wendell, MA, discusses the building of his mouldering toilet in several Earth Thrive’s episodes.  He tells us: “My partner and I lived for 19 years in a deepwoods homestead complete with garden & goats, a hand pump at the sink, a composting system for our biological wastes, and no electricity. It was elegant in the comfort & aesthetic sense, but also elegant meaning clean and simple, as in “an elegant mathematical...

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