Living Off The Grid: My 5-year Journey With A Composting Toilet And Waste Water System
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- Опубліковано 22 кві 2024
- In this video we go over our experience using a composting toilet for the past 5 years. We also discuss how we deal with that waste by composting and an upgrade we made to our diy gray water system. We also tell you about a hack for cleaning the pee tube on the composting toilet.
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No exposition of off-grid living can be complete until it covers this topic. You did a very good job of covering it. Thanks.
I have been watching off grid type channels for years and this is the first time that I have seen a REALISTIC video on this very important subject.
A lot of channels gloss over the "gory" details which all of a sudden become VERY IMPORTANT when you find yourself having to deal first hand with this "situation".
Good on you guys for tackling what some folks would think of as a taboo subject in a very factual, down to earth way.
URINE DIVERTER SMELL.....to reduce the smell and help with the cleaning, I have a mixture of vinegar and a squirt of lemon juice in a spray bottle beside the toilet. Just give a few squirts down the tube after each use, I find this helps reduce the smell and build up.... I quite enjoy watching all your antics. cheers.
Great job covering the real world aspects of living off grid! You could call it "Everything you wanted to know about off grid living that you're afraid to ask!" The grey water details were totally new info to me. I definitely learned something new!
I was raised in the country on a farm, we had an out house for years then a flushing toilet on a septic system. We were in tall cotton as they would say. There are many of your process' that work and I truly can relate to. As for the toilet, no thanks. At my age 76, If I had a choice of being like a bear in the woods of your toilet, I will be like the bear lol. This was a fun video I was cracking up at the first truly you two dropped my BP this morning, laughter is good for the mind, body and soul. Wishing you two a truly blessed week. God bless in all things.
That was a shiny topic that needed wiped out LOL & you wiped it out.Katie can you mix some clorox and water & @ least once a day pour it down yhe toilet to clean the pipe and pee smell away a little 2 gallon bucket of water about 1/2 Full & 1/3 cup of water should do the trick
No, the bleach+urine = chlorine gas. 🤢🤮 Definitely something you don't want indoors, let alone a small enclosed area.
Alternative might be H2O3, hydrogen peroxide, but again, there's the problem with gases.
I look forward to every episode. I love what you are doing with your property. Safe to say you are my fav tubers and that's no poop. Thanks for sharing. LG NB
People with live stock deal with animal waste all the time without any problems, but when it comes to human waste, it's very often a taboo subject. I'm glad you covered it. A lot of off grid youtubers don't. 👍👍
Part of the problem with human compost, is because we take drugs, and those end up in the compost, and our food if we use it as compost. Anyway, that what I've been told ! I feel animal also do get drugs... Maybe not as much, or not as varied, so it more controlled...
@@mochouinardYou really need to research how many chemicals they’re already putting in our food and water.
Many of the animals we muck out are herbivores!! BIG DIFFERENCE!
Cinderella Freedom Incineration Toilet.
@@mary-chiltonvanhees1201 The big difference is that I wasn't referring to the effects. I was nearly commenting on the process of dealing with it.
Thanks for speaking about this subject like regular people talk! 😂😂😂 This is one of my favorite channels that I look forward to watching every Saturday morning! Thanks for what you do!
Use a 5-gallon bucket of water next to the composting toilet and rinse the urine tube with a small cup of the water. Just an idea.
Hey Katie & Greg, Thank you so much for all the work you put into your videos! I look forward to each one and love all the progress you’ve made. I don’t usually comment but this segment on composting waste hits home for me. I have an off grid property in the mountains of SW VA. We don’t live there full time so it’s much easier to deal with the waste. I use the same model Separett toilet and empty it after each trip(about 1week long). I do use the bags. My compost bin is a 2 chamber rotating one. I use one side for a complete year adding in organic material (leaves & cut grass) with each waste bag. The next year I use the other side letting the first year’s compost continue to break down. The bins get rotating several times when I’m there but mostly just sit in one position between trips. The bags do take much longer to break down than the waste & organic materials but since they spend over a year and some close to 2 years in the bin, they do break down. I know this is different from your setup, mainly because we don’t live at the property full time. The volume is much less. As far as grey water and urine, our grey water gets piped into a gravel trench well over 125’ long that is part of rainwater runoff management. The system not only controls the runoff coming down a mountain thru our building site, but it easily handles the small amount of grey water too. We do not let any food or grease into the grey water. It’s easy for us to do with the limited use. I was fascinated how similar our approaches are with custom changes to meet our needs. I wish you both all the best going forward with all the future projects. Thanks again for the great segments! Take care and stay safe!!
I must say that this was very educational, and you did a great job covering this subject.
I have this exact toilet and I have no problems with it. Even my 8 year old Son and 14 year old Daughter have zero problems. I kept it in its own room separately from the shower because of the humidity that the shower will put out. And as for smell? No smell at all, all of that goes outside because the fan runs 24 hours a day forcing any smells outside.
We have had issues with urine going into the waste area. We just started using hemp “hay” and has helped with clumping. We originally used Peet moss, which clumped at the bottom. We have separate urine bucket which can be a pain, but used to it now. Thank you for addressing the compost toilet. It’s daily part of off grid life!
OMG!!!!😂 smash that “love it” button or hit the thumbs up button! This video was Awesome! How yall kept a straight face is beyond me! Yall could do stand up!!! Yall are beautiful!! Keep up the phenomenal work! ❤ from Texas!
Informative and delightful episode. The blurred poop pile shot was hilarious and appreciated. Both my wife and I were totally cracking up.
I feel like that I am part of your family becuse your two are very loving people who are close to my heart..I have been watching all your videos for a long ,long ,time and you all have grown on me just the way you two are..I just want to say that I see that you two are very nice persons and I wish you all the very best..
Hi Katie and Greg. You covered the topic very well, with a good balance of humor and plain fact. It struck me when you said you were thinking of having Greg get the tractor forks to mix it all up - have you considered using a 6" - 10" auger bit used for drilling hole in soil. They have ones a little over 2' in length that you can put in a corded or battery powered drill. With the big discs on the auger it would do a great job of churning up the compost material. Just my 2¢ you might want to consider. Have a good week. Larry, Central Valley, Ca.
Spring has sprung! Animals look happy!... good job on filter!
Gives new meaning to dropping a steamer!
I have been using a composting toilet for 3 years. All of this is pretty spot on from my experience as well. One tip for folks - I save my charcoal and ash and mix that with my sawdust. Seems to lessen the smell even more
I bet I've said it a hundred times over the last few years but I'll say it again. You two are an amazing couple and such hard workers. Thanks for an entertaining and very informative video.
I have seen compost piles catch on fire so be careful with that. Even in winter time.
Very educational vlog guys thanks for sharing
Enjoyed the video. Thanks for sharing
When you make your new compost make at least three or possibly four bays. Simple concrete base and concrete block walls, you can add reinforcing steel and fill the blocks with concrete, it will last 100 years and be Greg and tractor proof. We all poop and pee, well covered sensitive to some topic. Onward and upward.
When I was 10 years old, 68 now, we had a septic tank we had to clean out by hand. All of it went into our garden after growing season was over. Dug a big trench in one end of the garden and buried everything. It was a year before we used that area. Always broke down in that time. Never got sick. Except maybe when we were scooping out the tank. 😄🤢 I have composted all my life. Like has been said, if it’s working properly the heat kills everything and makes great dirt. 😊
Brilliant. That was a really good update, guys. Can't wait to see how the old saw mill is coming along 👍🏼😊.
Tell it like it is. Nice job.
This is a great video on promoting a septic tank system.
Great that you addressed this issue- good job explaining and actually seeing how it works. The compost bin, the chickens doing their thing on their mess, all good recycle👌🌻
I like the idea of a propane toilet but you couldn't get him in Canada they were only in the states but after watching Van wives on youtube they had nothing but problem with theirs constantly breaking down replacing parts so I'm glad I never got one of those
OMG Katie, I’m cracking up 🤣I’m laughing so hard I have tears 😭 running down my face. You’re both killing me. Tough subject to talk about. I love your channel 😊
Electric incinerating toilets. Try and get sponsored they are expensive...but they are amazing. Cinderella Freedom (electric if you have the solar system to back it up) otherwise the gas (which doesn't use that much gas per "flush"). There is also a separate flushing toilet urinal you can get.
Großartig das Thema erklärt. Es gehört zum Leben. 😊
Today's video is about a very sensitive business, but you address it very well! I would probably build an outside toilet for everyday use and leave the other for night emergencies! 😁
Thank you so much for everything
An informative and kind of interesting video on a topic few people talk about. Good on you for making it real and demonstrating a working composting system.
Great episode guys! So funny!
90210, that was adorable.
Ever wonder what life would be like had you not jumped in with two feet? I'm so stoked for you.
You guys rock!! Love the humor. : )
Good job and y’all gave me few chuckles trying to explain the composting toilet.
I like the toilet seat for the 5 gallon buckets. really comfortable.
Great job covering the pooper! I think you have a great system!
Put vinegar in a spray bottle and spritz the piss tube twice every time you go! It clears the acidity build up as well.
Me encanto tu sistema de compostaje ,no me asquea forma parte de nuestra vida , los felicito !!
Great explanation!
Greg, you and Katie are awesome down to earth folks, I think it's great that you covered this as most folks don't even consider this when thinking about going off grid as what goes in must come out, I can imagine there are not a lot of spicy hot chili or spicy hot Mexican food dinners lol. I don't comment often however I've been a long time sub and really enjoy every episode, you both have worked so hard and it shows, you both have created a beautiful and awesome piece of paradise. Thanks for taking us along. Just keep a eye on that compost, it gets to hot it may spontaneously combust, there is a commercial mulch pile / yard by my range that has that happen multiple times a year. Saying hello and wishing you both all the best from sunny Florida USA..
Here's a suggestion for your grey water pit - the next time you change the filter, toss some wood ashes into the bottom. Wood ashes give off a natural form of lye (which is why they rot out the bottom of your stove and grills if you don't keep them clean). As the water runs through your filter, the lye will leach out and dissolve any organic materials that make it through the filter. And don't worry about it hurting your compost pile, because even if you do remember to change the filter every quarter, by then the lye will have been all leached out. And, as far as your grey water pit, lye plus fat equals soap. Natural, biodegradable soap. Okay, to make actual bars of soap, it's a bit more complicated, but the basic principal stays the same.
I would use a Outhouse most of the time.
Thanks for the info.
I am going to clean my toilet and buy it a new bib! I remember visiting family members that had outhouses! I will give thanks for my loo every time i use it after watching this! Thanks for the education Gregg and Katy! 👍💓✌️
Now the compost toilet looks to be best I think for this because once you do many buckets and have a few ready for what you and make a compost pile that dump it in and use for food for your plants it is good thing
very well done i actually learned a lot.
we catch rain water at the cabin buried 2- 55 gal barrels for septic tank use a shallow well pump to flush a regular toilet. works well for us.have used it for 10 years off and on with no problems.
Intersting Filter System 👍 Good Work 👍
Excellent explanation of your system. Well done. It’s something we all need and everybody has to poo. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Great video👍
Funny explanation 😂 good job
Awesome video just shows what it takes to live off grid
So I'm off grid in central PA and researched this topic in detail and found the DIY bucket system works without a urine diverter the key is DRY sawdust, put a little bit in the bottom of a clean bucket then sprinkle after each use works great,NO ODOR no kidding, made a nice cabinet for the bucket with a laminate top (easy cleaning)so you could spend a ton of money on a composting toilet or five bucks on a Lowe's bucket and according to this video get better results
I’ve used a 5 gallon bucket put a small garbage bag in it and put some cedar chips in it and a few drops of peppermint oil and empty it out every morning no smell just put the bag in the burning pit. Works good if you’re on a budget.
I get it having indoor plumbing but I would DEFINITELY have an outhouse to use for outside. I would only use indoor bathroom in the house if late at night or during inclement weather. Good job not making this too gross, jokes were cute made me chuckle.... all part of off grid living. Thank for sharing the nitty gritty...
I knew a couple that had a 75 foot garden hose in the bottom of their compost pile and they ran water thru it, it would heat up the water that sat in the hose so they would have a few gallons of warm water if needed, also used it for a outdoor shower.
A reminder that you two are amazing & work so hard! I’m afraid I have entered the spoiled phase of my life… so only flush toilets w/bidets for me😂😂
If the compost is warm, it is doing its job. Good for you.
Love your YouPoop video on composting.
Thank you Katie and Greg for the anser i am love to see you to you are so a nice happy to white your dogs and al you make so nice to here from you you are the first from al the you tube channels i looks how gife a feed back and i thank you for this take care and have great thime
Oh, so exciting!!!! But, thank you.
Great ! thank you on the lesson on crapology ! Found it interesting and reminded me on emptying the toilet bucket on my C-47 airplane during my Military stay in the Air Force, We called it the "Honey Bucket " lot's of fun ! But part of my job maintaining the aircraft !
If I lived there one of first builds would be a septic tank way down the hill.
Here they had a composting company that did it with the city sewage but the big problem was they would sell the topsoil a buddy of mine got some put on his front lawn and he had tomato plants popping up in his front lawn I heard that if you use human waste in the garden compost you could get E coli
I think I will continue to enjoy my regular toilet. Hugs from Santa Barbara. 😷😎🙌🙏❤
I like to watch you live off grid
Post hole digger on the tractor could be used to mix compost. A hand held ice auger could be used as well.
Let them learn. This is life!
We have been using a diy 5 gallon style with diverter and wood shavings for almost 2 years while we build a house. It works just fine but TBH we can't wait to have a proper flushing toilet again. 😂
My wife puts her pee toilet paper in a small garbage can next to our composting toilet. That way we really cut down on how often we have to empty. I like that gray water filter idea! I will be doing something similar soon, thank!
I think I would dig a six foot deep hole and build an outhouse and use it for summer and just use the compost toilet during the colder weather.
Muy bien, eso es aprovechar los recursos naturales. 👏👏👏👏
I understand that this is a necessary step in this type of lifestyle and I take it seriously but this was kinda hilarious in beginning as well towards the end. But overall nice explanation of the solution to this shall we say by product
Very interesting. A whole side of off grid Inever really thought about.
I guess my reaction is at this point I'm glad I'm a city girl on the city sewer system but this was a very interesting, well done video.❤
When possible, outside is best for the guys.
90210, now that was funny Katie 😂
Having been raised with an outhouse in the early 60's, this is a walk in the park..lol 😂😅 I've often thought about composting toilets, but have found a 5 gallon bucket with a lid works great. Peeing into a funnel attached to a garden hose for a diverter is easy to master too. Male and female. 😊 Love ya'll ❤
When I was a kid we used an outhouse at night we used a 5 gallon bucket. For toilet paper we used newspapers and magazines sears and roebuck catalogs whatever was available. We were fine with it today's world most would find that harsh. To us it was the way it was done nothing more nothing less.
So I decided to watch this episode while having my dinner and it did not gross me out so its not that bad. 😂😂😂😂. watching from Cape Town, South Africa. ❤
Brings new meaning to being called a "Honey Dipper." So I think Greg is the Honey Dipper on your property. I would perfer a septic tank instead, i had one for my house. Outside of having a service come and empty the tank every 7 years or so it was easy. We built a new one about a year after we moved in, all of us kids hauling gravel, cement blocks. My Dad was a firm believer in diying all projects around the house. The goats didn't take long to breach the fence, little devils. 💖💖
I keep getting unsubscribed…. I now check on every video, which I Love 😊😊
@ 17:35 if you had multiple buckets you could leave one out to soak ( which should make much easier to clean ) while using the other
hello Katie & Greg & it's is Randy and i like yours video is cool & Thanks Katie & Greg & Friends Randy
Lol, very good and funny but realistic video.
When you pee on it in the winter, also cover it with a tarp to help keep the heat in.
Katie u should sow u some grass seed again u had a pretty green yard last summer! Also plant some flowers a Rose of Sharon grows fast and the flowers are editable and make tea! A snow ball bush would be pretty..I dont know what the big flowering bush was at the corner of ur house was last summer was pretty to will it come back? 😊
A small auger attachment might make mixing the compost alot easier
Nothing to get embarrassed about, everyone does it regardless of who you are
You should get two 55gal drums cut the tops of with a plasma cutter and wield the two together then cut Large area out of side wield some hinges on and away to Lach it shut make a frame put a couple of pieces of pipe and a crank handle and put all your biodegradables in and just crank the the drum and that will break up everything and mix it up 😊😊😊😊
Hilarious! Even though every human on the planet has to crap and urinate, we humans still find it uncomfortable talking about it! Great job (bum intended, I mean pun)! As a male, at home, I also sit when I pee to reduce any overspray. ❤️🇨🇦
My wife and I are from the uk and found this video extremely interesting we watch all your videos ps my wife thinks you should build a proper lid for the grey water tank ❤❤❤❤
i been using a 5 gallon bucket for years and cant wait for the septic to b done. so over lugging poop buckets out.
Hello from Germany from Kakenstorf Hans and Oci...have a good time ❤❤❤👍👍👍❤❤❤