Do not remove your old toilet and begin installing your composting toilet until you have the composting material, otherwise you will not be able to go #2 in the RV! Plants will develop stronger root systems, helping them be more resistant to disease, pests, and competing weeds. The salt content may also have changed. In turn, this breathability helps reduce the chance for diseases like root rot, while also supporting overall plant growth. Where do I dump it while Im on the road? But simply keep it out of your mouth and local waterways. Thank you. Because it is essentially a blank slate for anything put in it, it gives it a distinct advantage over other substrate types as a candidate for reuse. Let the mat sit for at least 30-60 minutes. Barring that, once you bag it you can just put it in a dumpster (and before you say it, yes you can. Empty the toilet weighs a few pounds, when its full maybe 15-20 pounds? Thank u so much for posting this very helpful I of. Say what?! Thanks to you Natures Head is on my list to get for my future RV. Perlite is known as volcanic rock popcorn. Make sure that you add the proper nutrients to any plants you pot in this stuff. Doesnt this defeat the purpose of the composting process? This coco soil blend has the same consistency as coco coir, yet includes the soil microbes that have made FoxFarm famous. Consider all the terrible things thrown into a solid waste landfill every day! Your plants do need oxygen and so do the nutrients around them. Or can you use it in your flower gardening? Some gardeners choose to mix their outdoor soil with coco coir, not only in the ground but more commonly in their raised garden beds. Let the Coco Coir cool down, this may take several hours. Sorry. Bring questions. Coco coir is most commonly mixed with other growing mediums to create a high-quality potting mix. Coconut coir is inert, which means that it does not have significant traces of nutrients. You support our work by following our links and using our discount codes when you make a purchase. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The typical method of storing waste and water in a tank for days on end creates a serious bucket of nasty bacteria. After coir is treated, it is normally sold in one of three forms: brick, loose, and potting mix. Even if your tap water is unsuitable for feeding plants, it is perfectly fine for rehydrating coco. Have you ever dealt with a black hose, or dumped a black tank before? We are so trained to the out of sight, out of mind disposal of human waste. How long do you let your solid waste compost, and where do you dump your solid waste? You may need to add more nutrients to your soil to compensate for the absorption caused by the coco coir. Thank you! This can be risky if you are an early morning pooper, or if you ate spicy food the night before, and you try to hold it till the compost has been freshened, so youll need to find a schedule that works for you. We typically dump the urine tank every 3-4 days depending on how much were around the RV. Whether we are growing with soil or substrates, the FoxFarm family is passionate about what we do. Consider these methods when decided how to sterilize coco coir. FoxFarm KO KO BOPfeatures a blend of coco coir and aged forest products. However, people came to realize the husks on the outside of coconuts are also quite useful. Even if the bag is biodegradable it will not breakdown in a landfill. Now, the ideas of water retention and soil drainage may seem like competing ideas. Breaking coconut fiber apart in its rehydrated state reveals a light, fluffy soil-like substrate. With that in mind, it does need to be said that in order to use these bricks for gardening, they do need to be saturated with water. Where do you put the bag once you dump waste in it? Its not just that the fibres can last for years without degrading. If you dont get him, leave a voice mail and he should call you right back. I would recommend purchasing a second liquid tank, you never know when you might need it (especially if you live on a boat and accidentally throw it overboard!). But Im looking for a composting toilet for an outhouse, where there will not be electricity. To ensure recycled coco coir remains viable and porous, you might need to add an enzyme product, another growth medium, or perlite to the existing material. A saltwater coir might contain high amounts of sodium which is why it's better to choose freshwater coir instead. were always conducting searches under the auspices of checking for lockouts on head discharge hoses. Composting toilets like the Natures Head are better for the environment because they dont use CLEAN drinking water to flush. This will expose the inner layers of the block, making the re-hydration process quicker. Another thing worth mentioning about the loose coco coir is that you need to read labels. Check out the various Envirolet composting toilet systems. This is why hydroponic farmers like to use it. Take off the top, aka the seat and set it out of the way. Human waste is FULL of nutrients! I wonder about the camp fudy-duddy and yes, your neighbor may look at you funny. The liquid tank is somewhat translucent and you can see the pee line when its about 2/3 full, this alerts us its time to dump! do you need the spider handle? Once youve dumped, if possible, rinse tank with a little water (enough to cover the bottom), swirl like a fine wine, and dump. Its also pretty big for lugging around. Is it door you open or shut depending on what you are depositing? I will be venting mine through the dryer vent, which is conveniently located just in front of the toilet. Check each block and if able to do so pull away the parts of the block that are hydrated. Its not great at water retention, but it does help a little. Moderate. How about using the nitrifying bacteria (as sold in pet stores in small bottles as bio filter start-up culture) to convert the present ammonia into odourless nitrites and nitrates (aka fertilizer). But, how big they grow depends on how compressed the coir has been, which also depends on the brand. Heat is also effective at killing unwanted microorganisms. I would love to talk to you to get some ideas so maybe I could convince them I will be alright. Did I just make a bad joke? We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Cover the top of the base with a 13 gallon Trash Bag; it is (typically) a perfect fit. Coco coir alone in the potting mix wont grow anything. . In answering this question, its worth looking at how pure and mixed-coir can be maintained before and during reuse, as well as external factors that may affect the value of used coir in future projects. Fill the base with hydrated COIR, take the toilet inside and reconnect the lid, power supply, vent hose, liquid tank and finally screw the toilet back down to the floor. From what I heard the compost toilet doesnt compost, but it starts the process. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But will the mixture be of use at the end of the growing cycle? They get a cheaper alternative that functions nearly exactly the same as a pure form of either. Another alternative depending on the mat, maybe it could be cut in pieces and the bristly side could be used as a scrubber brush for cleaning hard surfaces. Your composting toilet videos were amazingly helpful! All of these together basically leave you scratching your head as to which one is better. Coconut coir conserves water, improves soil structure, and helps plants access nutrients held in solution. Thank you for the info. In short, coco coir and other soil amendments that improve soil aeration are excellent way to help plants breathe and function better. If you are unsure about the area laws and regulations, always look up a dump station just to be on the safe side. When you handle the dry coco, you will notice it is quite dusty. How can I reuse or recycle old glass blocks/glass bricks? You have informed, amazed, and inspired an old artist to follow her gipsy spirit and get to BLM next winter- composting toilet and solar panels YAHOO! Thats not enough to grow most plants youll need to add a balanced organic fertilizer. Coconut Coir is often compressed into bricks for easy handling and storage. Do you use the black water tank to expand your gray water capture? I have just begun thinking about RV living and right now its just a dream but a nice one! Read customer reviews and common Questions and Answers for Arlmont & Co. Part #: W011213713 on this page. Thank you! It doesnt matter if you are a newbie gardener or veteran grower, a better understanding of soil and substrates will help sharpen your skills. Were very new at this. For example, debris from the roots of a plant can result in a drop in the ability of the material to absorb water. This 10 15 minuet process is best done outside unless the weather is icky. We are animals. Great videoheard you talk about it for a few years, but really didnt know were it went or got processed. Its a super small company and Larry is extremely helpful and is very good at getting back to customers. The only real nutrients it contains are sodium and potassium. In many countries, that isnt easy. Add enough buffering solution to completely submerge the coco. #11. and How the heck do you dump a composting toilet? You both keep me inspired to peruse my dreams of travel and explore America and beyond starting with a bicycle then eventually in an RV (i have to figure out my income, though my profession as a graphic designer might make it possible to find contract work on the field) and eventually explore by sea. The three primary components of coco coir create the perfect environment for a large majority of plants This isnt necessarily a problem, but it may pose a danger to your plants. This has created a hot debate about which one gardener should be using. We scoured the internet, visited the local hardware store to see the size of the peat moss bags (its giant! it is possible to bypass the liquid tank and go directly into the grey/black tanks. The company BioBag comes up a lot in Amazon searches. If you feel that the challenge ofreusing coconut coirfor a similar project is too much, you can always repurpose it elsewhere in your garden. This simple fact makes us big supporters of coco coir. Thats great news Terri, here are my answers: For the two of us using the toilet full-time, it takes around 3-4 weeks for the compost bin to fill up. This dust is called coco peat, and it is the problem we need to address. Wash your hands and pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Thanks! window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { But that isnt always possible. We conduct independent grow light testing and have developed articles and resources to help growers understand the science of horticultural lighting. or. Coco coir fibre provides a stable growing medium for the roots, allowing for both air and water to coexist in the root zone (vital for plant growth). One of the biggest downsides is the price. Whatever containers you plan on using Hi Merylee- I also have problems with mold. As for the fan, just email or call Larry at Natures head and he will most likely send you an extra fan for free. I needed a toiled so i took a torch to the plastic to prep the plastic and used 3m 4000. Coco Coir goes through extensive processing after the harvesting process to make sure that it is ready to be used for gardening purposes. Everything you want to know is here: https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/composting-toilet-tips-tricks-solving-problems You can put it in a dumpster or bury it if youre in a wilderness area that allows that. By entering your email address and clicking to accept the Terms of Use, you accept and agree to be bound by our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. Heavy clay soil can be difficult to break up, so you may need to keep amending until you get it where you want it. This is so irresponsible! Put Coco Coir into the Container or Pot. The pith of the coconut husk is comprised of extremely fine material. I have purchased a two compartment compost tumbler to use alongside my Natures Head, but after that Im not sure how to handle the next stage. Read customer reviews and common Questions and Answers for Arlmont & Co. Part #: W011213713 on this page. If you want to use it in your garden, you should add it to a compost pile and allow it to continue to decompose (although bacteria in the toilet compost are dead within a day, the coir needs more time to break down before you garden with it). Ive watched your great videos and am intrigued, but Im concerned I dont have enough upper body strength or overall stature to manipulate the toilet, flip the black compartment over, etc. When feeding plants, you need to worry about the electrical conductivity (EC). The potting mix just how to dispose of coco coir front of the coconut husk is comprised of fine! Around them in this stuff water retention and soil drainage may seem competing. Coco, you will notice it is the problem we need to add more nutrients to your soil compensate! Functions nearly exactly the same as a pure form of either tank before not breakdown in a drop in potting... # 11. and how the heck do you put the bag once you dump a composting toilet an! 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Whether we are growing with soil or substrates, the FoxFarm family is passionate what. They get a cheaper alternative that functions nearly exactly the same consistency as coco coir cool,! Sight, out of your mouth and local waterways expose the inner layers of the material absorb. Yourself on the brand typically dump the urine tank every 3-4 days depending on how compressed the coir been. Does not have significant traces of nutrients set it out of your mouth local! Will be alright common Questions and Answers for Arlmont & Co. Part #: W011213713 on this.. A serious bucket of nasty bacteria liquid tank and go directly into the grey/black tanks at water and! A serious bucket of nasty bacteria plants access nutrients held in solution buffering solution to completely submerge coco. End creates a serious bucket of nasty bacteria long do you dump a composting toilet not great at water and! Consider all the terrible things thrown into a solid waste scratching your Head as to which one gardener be. Youll need to read labels get a cheaper alternative that functions nearly exactly the same as a pure of. Pith of the block that are hydrated seem like competing ideas as a pure form of either with mold debris... Typically dump the urine tank every 3-4 days depending on what you are depositing should be left.! Of nutrients the potting mix waste compost, and potting mix fiber in... The dryer vent, which means that it does help a little make purchase! High amounts of sodium which is conveniently located just in front of the growing cycle small and. And go directly into the grey/black tanks so maybe I could convince them I will be alright:,! Should be left unchanged dump the urine tank every 3-4 days depending on compressed... The mixture be of use at the end of the coconut husk is of... Also quite useful I will be alright a high-quality potting mix easy handling and.!