Natures Head Composting Toilet Review | 4 months on a canal narrowboat
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- Опубліковано 22 лип 2024
- As promised, here is our story of the Natures Head composting toilet disaster ... and our review after living with it for 4 months on the narrowboat.
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Thank you ladies, as usual a fun & informative vlog. We are still on land, but having a widebeam built next year. I have been looking at the Compoost toilets.
I have watched your work since summer 2016. You have never let be down you are so entertaining , informative and I so enjoy watching you. Thanks so much.
+Sue Ba Thanks Sue, so kind of you to say
Love you two girls - so funny -enough to brighten the dullest day! From one whose narrow boating is still in dreamland. All the best for the winter preps
Thanks! We'll need it - its getting chilly early this year.
OMG, you made me laugh and gave me a check point on a Health Challenge this month in the column for "laugh real hard". I was in Scouts and know exactly what you went through!
You guys are awesome !!!
Thanks for sharing!!!
Literally belly laughing. It’s great to have you lovely ladies back. X
Great to have you back, that was a brilliant video made me laugh 😂 thanks .
Thanks
I appreciate your frank and fearless reporting on this trauma!
haha thanks
Rinse the Wee part with a couple of squirts of 50/50 vinegar water mix.
Hi, thx for this fun video. First time commentator/subscriber here. In my RV here in the US, I use a home made UDDT, which is an achronym for "urine diverting dry toilet", which is the correct term for these, since they do not compost at all. Composting takes at least six months, so requires a cubic meter or so of space, way too big for travelers. I got the urine diverter via ebay from a company there in England, and it works very well requiring no leaning forward or backward for me or my wife. I built a box from 1/4 inch plywood about half a meter tall using glued and screwed 1 by 1's in the corners and a little bit bigger than the toilet seat and cut down slightly 10 gallon plastic kitchen trash can used for #2. The glue must be water proof, and the inside and out painted with primer, then several coats of floor enamel. You are guaranteed to overflow the urine container. I used a 1 gallon plastic vinegar bottle with plastic funnel for #1 although there is room for much more. The top of the box is removable and has a wooden toilet seat and lid with a gasket around the bottom edge to make the box completely sealed to prevent insects from getting inside. An air inlet and outlet with 40mm muffin fan move air from inside to outside the RV to dry the material and remove odors using a 100 mm diameter dryer vent hose. No see um screens are used on both air inlet and outlet to prevent insect ingress, which will happen without these.
In use, the kitchen trash can is lined with two tall plastic kitchen trash bags, then a little peat moss added. After each use, a little 3 inch plastic putty knife is used to move the #2 around a bit if needed to keep the material more or less level, then about a cup of peat moss added on top of that. It lasts about a month for us at half full, while the #1 must be emptied twice day, and is as you say by far the most disgusting part. I will try the sugar. #2 is easily removed by taking out the trash bag and disposing, and is not offensive at all. Also, in use, there is no odor at all, unlike a normal water closet toilet used in a house. In my experience, the air fan is necessary for these. After being gone, run the fan for a few minutes before using. I believe these work better here in the southern Arizona desert than in rainy England.
It is a bit of work building these for about $75 in materials, but much cheaper than the store bought kind. Especially when you think about the simplicity of no moving parts other than the fan (and 100 mA at 12 volts current).
Cheers and happy cruising
Really interesting, thanks.
Appreciate this thorough and honest review. Thanks
Thanks.
Awww so glad to see you both laughing again !!
+Joanna Pocock You can't not laugh when talking about a boaters favourite topic!
Totally enjoyed your potty talk LOL! I have been watching van life on You Tube and learned that I need to learn about off grid, self contained and sustained systems for living off grid on land. Little beknown to me, moisture is a huge concern for RV's and van's on dry land. Finally after a month or two of cruising You Tube and not really finding the toilet solution I have been looking for, I stumbled on your composting toilet review. Your honest and amusing review as well as an RV composting toilet review have given me enough honest information to form a reasonably well educated estimated idea of what might be suitable for my needs in a van conversion. Thank you so much for the informative potty talk! LOL!
What did you decide is going to work for you?
Your bathroom and toilet review blogs have inspired us to do our own bathroom refit. Great channel. X
Good luck with the refit. Will keep an eye out to see how you get on.
Phew that's a relief! Thanks for the update on the composting loo it was very funny and really informative. I'll have to check out gongoozler's mug. Thanks.
... what about a NBX mug? ;-) Although I think Gongoozler's holds more tea - which is always a positive in my book!
I miss your videos during this latest lockdown so I am watching older ones. This one was just hilarious! Informative, too.
I feel for you, to come home after all that travelling to face the smell and mess must have been awful ... great to see you both smiling again.
Ah but you have to laugh about it! Everyone loves a boat toilet story!!
What a thing to have to deal with! I really felt for you both but I have to say that you can clearly make any subject informative and funny! X
It wasn't so bad... good for the cats because it meant we went to pick them up from their holiday a day early!
It's really good to see an honest appraisal of life with a waterless loo (because none of them really do much actual composting in the loo unit). And it shows that this is a completely different approach, it isn't just a case of swopping over and expecting it to all work the same. It takes some time to get used to and learn how to manage it. I have a very simple DIY system and I fully compost on the boat - the first bucket of solids was too wet, the second too dry, the third I started to get the hang of it and now, three years in, it's routine. Please do another after a year :-)
+Kate Saffin We are slowly getting the hang of it. Bigger learning curve than the cassette! Will definitely do a year on video if we are still going then 😉
Toilets aside, I love the bird fabric the curtains behind you are made of.
We just bought the Natures Head for our Casita fiberglass travel trailer, haven't installed it yet! Thanks for the guidence.
Best of luck with it.
Great information girls! Thanks for making me laugh!!❤
I will not say interesting but definitely informative. One thing I have noticed on the Rugby videos many boats have two spare cassettes so that takes the price even higher and closes the financial gap between the two systems. What we need is someone to invent a no 1 powered boat !!! 👩🦳👩🦰😺😽💩
you made me laugh
I have a natures head on my boat
and use peat moss as a base layer
rinse the tank once after emptying and some thin bleach
thanks for the sugar tip I will try that one
I couldn't find the Gongoozler mugs but I did look at yours! However, I decided to but 2 paintings instead. They'll look lovely on my boat 😀
+Sylvia Page I think he sent them to us as a joke :( Two lovely paintings. Which reminds me, I must go to the post office!
Great, informative. Trying to decide whether to go with a composter when we finally take possession of our boat, cassette in place at moment. I'd say it's been food for thought but...
We had the cassette for a years worth of boat ownership and find the composter much better. Yes we have to empty the liquids more often but it takes less time. Even better than that, we no longer have to cruise from Elsan point to Elsan point because liquids can be emptied in the hedge and solids just go in with rubbish. I think its been about 6 months with the composter now and we don't think we will go back to the cassette.
You two are hilarious. The natures head composting toilet is very popular with RV's in the states. I adore your curtain fabric with the birds...I enjoy your videos.
Thanks Eileen. The fabric is great. I had to drag Anna from one section of the shop before she bought all kinds of matching items - as it was we left with a lap tray with the same pattern!
Hello , I am an ageing lady that will be a solo boater eventually. Your vids are lovely and so practical , all the info that no-one tells you !!
So glad that it is helpful. Hope to you see you on the cut.
Another great hilarious vlog on a sensitive subject......
Thanks!
Greetings Path Finders, Another neat and informative vlog (and LOADS of FUN too). You two look radiant after your holiday. I don't have any problems discussing what amounts a completely normal process. Chucking the wee into a hedge doesn't thrill me as the nutrients get washed into the cut. Lady wee isn't too good for plants for some reason. Gentleman wee is fine, but still not good in the cut. Gandy used to have a glass of his every morning. I don't.
Ten years of working shifts and thirty of camping in a little tent with a tight fitting sleeping bag has led me to a lad trick using a four litre milk container. This was developed from drinking coffee all night to stay awake and then needing to go to the loo all day. It's only suitable for boys though. My boat has just been fitted with photon torpedoes (a new propeller), I've put a new boot-top on (anti-fouling along the water line) and the boatyard are doing some of the bits that the surveys flagged up. She has been formally named Mrs Mouse, whilst she is out of the water, a new pram hood has been ordered. All my friends and relations want to come and try the boat out. It is incredible the amount of interest it has created. I want to go cruising!!!
Hi,
I’ve had a Nature’s Head on my sailboat for five years. Admittedly, I only use it occasionally, but I love it as much as you can become emotionally attached to a toilet. I use plain old potting soil in the main #2 container and it has worked well, giving of a pleasant, earthy smell from close up, but does not make my boat’s small cabin smell at all - it’s not even properly vented! I do live in Southern California, where it’s a bit dryer than the U.K. I usually empty the liquid container at the end of each day’s use, but the sugar thing sounds interesting.
Yes. I’m fond of mine too. Lol
Hey there, I don't have a need for either a composting toilet or a cassette toilet, but watching you two talk about Pooh and wee, and catastrophes made it all worth sitting here and listening. Had a fun time. Take care of yourselves! 😂😂
Brilliant
fantastic . love you both . clive and jan
Hi K & AM what a video.🤣🚽💩. It really opens your eyes to narrowboat living. These are all the things you have to consider arn't they? Thanks for such an informative and entertaining video. 🤗👍x🐶🐾
+Julie Norton Toilets... a boaters favourite subject 😉 Thanks for watching.
Hi I'm a new subscriber and am loving your vlogs , thanks for so much valuable information.
Hoping to get a boat in the next two years ( very scary on my own ) will definitely get composting toilet!!
(And lots of sugar!)
Hi, welcome aboard! Buying a boat is so exciting - have you started windows shopping or planning on a new one?
Sugar is a must!!
The Narrowboat Experience lots of window shopping! But can't actually do it until I sell my flat in couple of years but watching all your vlogs is incredibly helpful! Thank you so so much
Very good video. After the comment about living in a hamster cage (a neglected one at that!) I paused the video so that I could stop laughing long enough to hear you both out. This was your funniest video yet.
Aw, what a wonderful compliment. We may have hit our peak!
A fun, interesting video. Great tip with the sugar - I’ll try that.
What made you chose Natures loo over the AirHead?
Thanks. We picked Natures Head over Airhead because we could get it from a U.K. supplier. I think that was the main reason. The NH might also have a slightly bigger capacity but I’m not sure on that one to be honest.
Hi Girls: Sorry if this is a bit of a daft question... But, do you take the solids to the elsan also? Seems to me that it might clog up the works, I know that cassettes are emptied there, but with the additives of wood product etc. ?? Thanks Wendy.
Love your video! You two are so cute
You both are very funny ladies.
Very funny listening to you both! but l bet it was not funny coming home to the smell!! your review was good.I know abit more about the composting toilet now..Thank you..x
We do try to be informative.... whilst also being honest.
Welcome back.
Thanks!
Hi! Interesting and entertaining video. Sorry if asked & answered before but I have a question. How do you empty the twos? Remove the unit and tip into a bag as I have seen others do (not what I'd want to do) or scoop out into a bag? #needtoknow :) Thanks!
+Dean Barnes Hi Dean, the top comes off and you attach a bag over the open lid, turn the base over and hope it all comes out into the bag. Which most of the time it does. No scooping. I think there are other toilets that you can line the base with a bag so changing is probably a bit quicker, easier and cleaner.
Hi Ladies - sorry you had the fly problem! Yucky! We use a cupful of white vinegar in our pee pot, and there's no smell. It also keeps down any crystallisation. Thanks for the tip about the kitty litter - v handy if you're running short of the usual medium. We use coconut coir as dry as possible. If Cath likes a nice smell, you could try dried coffee grounds in there. (It's free from coffee shops.)
+Julie Phelps Thanks for the tips about vinegar and coffee.
yes your video is disasterous, yes it is hilarious, but keep in mind... it is very informative !!! thanks again.
Have you tried baking soda, charcoal, or wood ash? I’ve Never used a composting toilet.
Go Poundland! Love the idea of the sugar. I guess, if you're constantly cruising, you could always store the one's in empty plastic milk containers and empty when you reach an elsan point. But that means you'd have to store it somewhere on the boat.
Someone else had the suggestion of topping up the ones with water then pouring on the towpath everyday so as not to have a build up of smell. We might give that a go when we get out next!
This was very informative, now I know how to start a fruit fly farm. Dare I ask, 18 months later have you any recommendations for the best "litter" to use. Any other tips? I am seeing a growing trend for diy buckets with a lid. Sorry for dumb question, what do you do with used compost? I'm guessing you can't give it away like the local donkey sanctuary!
Great video ladies,I am currently living on a boat in Ireland and have a portable toilet that is .... lets just say ...horrible (smelling ) I am planning on changing but not sure what would be the best. Would you recommend the Natures Head composting? I also worry about were could we empty and how long ( we are 2 living full time) Any advice would be appreciate .
Hi there, yes we recommend the one we have. the liquid waste we fill every day and the solid every month. there are some composting groups on facebook with lots of advice if you google them.
Hi Guys great vid I have thought for a long time as to what toliet to replace the pump out and I think I will go with the Cinderella Motion that is a incinerator but very expensive.
Peter Rutter I wouldn't recommend the incinerator type. My then husband got us one when we lived in the Alaskan Bush. Didn't work very well, but many funny stories about the fires of hell.
I just looked them up and I see what you mean about expensive!! If you do get one, I'd be interested to hear how you get on. It wasn't an option I was aware of until recently (because I'm not in charge of toilets!)
Ha ha, hilarious. You've made a very dirty topic very interesting and entertaining. Thanks girls.
Ha ha, thanks Nick
Utterly fantastic video. Though I had just munched into a Tesco cheese pasty,not a good idea! I buy Tesco every day cat litter, my Maggie has never had issues with this, and its dirt cheep. Mix your wee with shower waist. Its all natural. Oh I did'nt say that! You both look so much better. Anna your Australian lingo is so much better than bog standard English which I hate. Cheers
Oops, sorry about that. Hope you still enjoyed your pasty
Just not the best product. Either way, Pasty and numbers 1's and 2's in subject! Your utterly right Anna, they are to dam narrow but the larger it is your to restricted in on the canal, Jasmine "Snotty!" Went through 13 or so 6' locks around Oxford? last week. So with a 10' you get well stuck! on the canals? I would need two boats this would be my starting point 1 for 7 months of the year the small narrow for the rest. Holiday travel.
Private moorings will be needed. The ability to work on the canal vegetarily! Also Selling worms. Cheers
I'm dreading what I'm going to find when I get home. Our pump out is busted again and Monty likes to use the toilet. I think I still want a compost after watching this, but every two days sounds too frequent to empty for someone as lazy as me
+London Boat Girl I think with 2 of us on work days it stretches to 3 days. And with fewer people it would last longer still. The emptying takes only minutes and even I get up and do it (lazy Kath)
The Narrowboat Experience I do wee a lot! But I definitely want to do it when I have the funds
Emptying a litre or so of wee every day is about on par with rinsing out a juice or milk carton. Takes about 40 seconds. I usually do it last thing at night so that the container can dry overnight as that seems to be the thing that makes a difference to any smell in my experience.
when something goes wrong, the gut reaction is "i hate this, i don't want it". a few sleeps on it will usually resolve the mind. i agree with your overall thaughts, composting is best for live aboards. they do need more attention than the other 2, but not that much. i get the impression that they are like wood stoves, one has to "get to know them" to get the best results.
I think we are getting used to the composting. At first it was a learning curve. I'm still getting used to the stove a year in....
Drosophila melanogaster (Fruit flies) love the sugar in the wee pot, the moisture in the shower might be an attraction.
You probably need to set Fruit fly traps, a quick Bing search has a plethora of ideas as you probably have found out.
In Genetic class, we raised them and did our gene transfer studies.
You ladies are a great source of information for Narrowboaters and Off Griders, keep up the good work. rlb
Thanks, good to know about the sugar and the fruit flies. We'll know for next time!
Alcohol, Fruit, Vegetables, Meats, or anything with a source of food and higher moisture levels.
I found that using wood ash is excellent for odor control in my out house...might be worth a try?
Thanks for the suggestion
Wood ash and water is lye. While it may work in some situations it will also be caustic and will eventually damage metal surfaces.
Anna and Kath Although you didnt say it if you are going away for more than a week would you completley empty the composting toilet and then turn off the fan next time?
Knowing how rushed we normally are when we go away, we'll probably end up leaving it full again and just seeing what happens!
That`s a hell of allot of trouble with a compost toilet, i will be happy with the standard port-a-potty :), im so relieved you not selling the boat, omg nooooooooooo!, what do you mean not selling the boat "YET" :O
Its not so bad. I think the empty takes about the same time in the end - but you aren't reliant on stinky elsan points - says the one thats only emptied the porta-potty once ;-)
You two are a hoot. So glad you decided to stay on the narrowboat vlogs on apt living would be seriously boring. Just by the by what do you do with the ah uh do do? signed...laughing as I drink my tea...Kittyman laughing as well.
Thanks Diana.
Due to space limitations and speed of breakdown, we black bag the waste and dispose of it with our other rubbish.
How much of tank 1 would be absorbed by the fruit flies, perhaps they could be trained to either drink more or less as req'd ?
Good idea!
can't wait to live on a water borne narrow hamster cage . yum yum
So,,,, It's true, A Spoon full of Sugar helps the stench go down.
Hilarious! Informative, but hilarious!
+Marty Rule thanks
Can't wait to see the new boat will you be taking the loo too? Did you mop up well or will the new owners need wellies ? lol
A very interesting and informative video; maybe should not have watched whilst having my tea. I supposed men could always get around the "number 1" problem by using the sink. Maybe a small step would enable women to bypass the bottle as well? Would a small amount of bleach help prevent any ammonia pong? I never would have thought of sugar but its good to know (and it will be ok for the environment).
+C Cooper You aren't supposed to empty your ones into the water as it encourages weed growth. But towpath is ok as they don't mind the weeds there.
@@TheNarrowboatExperience : Ähm, just for clearence: nearby the towpath - not on it! ;-) There where the dogs use to do it.
i have a spray bottle with water, vinager, lemon juice in it and spray after each use. also i put bicarbonate soda, vinager and sugar in the bottle, dont empty for about 5 days and is fine. was also told that if you put a little eco type cleaner mixed with water this would make everything smell fresh
+djembeboyzach We also have a spray bottle though just vinegar and water in that we use. Good to know what others are using so thanks for the info about other things to add.
It’s a letterbox for people. On my sailboat I had. I didn’t use chemicals in my head dumped it after I used it at my marina when I got back. I lived on her for about two and half years in Illinois in the United States and yes apartment in the winter. I had no heat, hot water or ac. I love her she was a good boat. She was a 1978 North America Spirit 23ft sloop. My sister has her now.
Yes, the cats were very suspicious when they saw us loading it with kitty litter one of the times. Funnily enough, way back when we first got the boat, one of our friends came on board, saw the cat litter (which was a box with a hole in the top), looked at us with horror and asked if that was our toilet.
Do you still get to go out on the boat if your sister has her now?
My compost toliet is called Vinda............after Vindaloo :)
Great video, thank you, you both are lovely.
Got three questions id like to ask if i may,
1-How confortable is the sit? Nobody really talks about it except in one video where two youtubers share their discontent on that particular matter. They returned it and instead bought the airhead composting toilet. They say the sit in the NHCT is uncomfortable.
2- How nosy is the fan? Im planing to instal the NHCT in my RV. And i worry at night while trying to fall asleep, the noise might be a bit too much.
3- Let me get that straight, if i pour 5 spoons of sugar into the wee container every time after emptying it, that will take the smell away?
1. Like the 'sit' more on the composting than the casette- it is taller. 2. The fan is not noticeable during the day and you could in probability turn it off at night. 3. Sugar does seem to lessen the smell- the amount you use could be personal to your own waste - we find 5 spoonfuls, but to be honest we don't bother anymore- it's a 'waste' of sugar imo
The Narrowboat Experience thank you so much for your reply! :)
Hello wee is full of natural nitrogen., after twelwe hours it starts turning to amonia, hence strong smell. Pour it along the hedge row, the plants that grow there will love you for doing that.
Thanks for the info. So we need to get rid of it before the 12 hours is over.
I use a spray bottle with a very dilute bleach soln to spritz the bowl after peeing. No smell (even after weeks). I've heard sugar works as well tho'.
... releasing in the nature: Don't put it on the same places again. It will kill the plants. (The pee will "burn" them.)
Hello Ladys there a question i like to ask. I any body falls ill and needs a doctor what do you to see a GP Geoff
Glass of orange juice every day can’t smell of the year and the added sauce. Don’t know if it’ll help you gals with your composting toilet but might be worth a try! LOL
Sorry you're typing doesn't make complete sense here. Are you recommending orange juice as a drink?
You can't beat sweet wee...Oh hang on, that should be sweet tea!
haha, thats great!
Hillarious, but informative.
What I'd pay to see the unedited version of this video!
Kath lookout, Anna wants another boat. Don't believe anything she does doesn't have an ulterior motive!
Anna - what you need is a suicidal fruit fly free boat and your darling wife really wants to make that happen for you. Remind her of this regularly. Video the results.
As someone who has seen the unedited version, no, you really don't want to. It would be 40 mins of your life you'd never get back!!
Anna has been watching so many of the Rugby boat videos that when she did the tour of the catamaran I suggested she apply for a job there!
We've had a composting toilet since 2003 in our family Kleingarten (like an allotment, but bigger and with a little house on it). It has supported between 2 and 5 adults and is still going strong. Like yours, it works on a separation principle. Unlike yours, the wee container is huge (it sits separately from the loo rather than under it) and we empty when it fills, which is generally after a week or two. More often in the summer. It's kinda difficult for parties (empty immediately before and immediately after 30 people descend on us!) because you have to explain the sit forward vs sit to the back thing. Maybe yours does the separation itself? Ours is a 15-year-old model with literally separate containers that you have to aim for. If anyone misses by accident, it's usually fine after a few hours. But if you have someone just sit in the middle for everything, it's disgusting - and it ruins the compost. Having a composting toilet certainly makes me appreciate water-based toilets. Friends of ours got a cassette toilet, which smells very chemical. If I ever get another unsewered house or Kleingarten, I'd definitely go for a composting toilet again. But I'd probably want one that separates the stuff for you, rather than the "careful aim" sort. I wrote this because you asked for information. Not sure it's helpful or has a point, it's just my experience with composting...
Also - we deal with the compost and thoroughly clean the toilet monthly.
Thank you. This is so helpful.
Well...if you went away again for a sustained period, what would you do differently with the composting toilet?
Knowing us, we'll probably leave it again to see if the same thing happened!
Hi, a new sub here. How are you supposed to legally get rid of the composted solids?
Also, what's with the fruit flies, what attracts them? My wife and I did a fortnight on a narrowboat with another couple about 40 years ago. The boat had a 'racasan' bucket
toilet - very heavy when full. Not recommended. I'm looking forward to your visit to
Cassiobury Park boat market. Shame you didn't video going through Denham Deep.
As a gongoozler now, it's a place we visit sometimes and enjoy a tea and a piece of cake
if we're lucky. Good luck with your Adventure!
Hi there new sub. The solids can be black bagged. Or you can compost in non vege gargen. The fruit flies seem to be attracted to the neighbours tomato plants and then conveniently to the toilet.
Denham Deep lock was a bit grey and cold today, sorry.
Legally you can double bag it and put it out with the landfill waste. Alternatively if you have a garden you can bury it there as long as it’s not near anywhere you grow food.
We think the fruit flies might have been attracted to the vinegar we left in the pot.
I think Denham deep might be in one of our other vlogs as we’ve done this section 4 times now. It was raining when we passed so we had to keep the camera inside. I always eye up the tea shop there.
Welcome aboard. Hope you stick around as there are lot of new videos to come.
Thanks for watching.
Thanks for your replies, appreciated.
your relating the story about fruit flies made me laugh I was in Australia a few years ago on the train going across the Nulabore to Perth when we stopped at a town called COOK it's in the middle of nowhere, population three people but twenty million flies, everyone leaving the train got covered as soon as you left, walking around was a nightmare but the strange things was like your boat there were none in the public toilets, not one fly.??
So true, I have been to exactly the same situation camping at the foot of the snowy mountains. lol
Fruit flies on a suicide mission. LOL. You two are hilarious.
Thanks, we do try ;-)
OK at least you share your mistakes, thanks. But any negative comments were all operator error.
Why can't you put a bilge pump in the 1s container and pump it overboard as grey water?
Sold on the composting, over the cassette.
I've heard that cheap and cheerful pot pourri (or, should that be "pot poo-ree"?) is supposed to be ok for putting into the solids bin ...
Thanks for the suggestion. We haven't really had any issues with solids smelling (other than the cross contamination incident).
what about bi carb or baking powder
To neutralize the urine odor, have you tried baking soda or hydrogen peroxide?
Sugar works well for us.
Don't rush for me, the boat doesn't get surveyed until next week. Go when you get time I'm fine.
+Sylvia Page That's exciting, let us know how the survey goes.
Thank you for the shout out!
+ThisNarrowboatAdventure Haha, you're welcome
One think that puts me off composting is what happens when you are not well? As in when your number twos are not as firm as usual. Separation must then be difficult/impossible and the object defeated?
Its a good point - I think the twos would have to go into the solids bin anyway and maybe put in some extra material to dry it out. Otherwise you have to change it more frequently. I did read a blog someone wrote about a similar thing a while back but can't remember where.
Extra cover material to soak it up - I think the biggest problem with that in a Natureshead is that the mixing thing could get get gummed up. I have a very simple system with no moving parts so the only time I've had an upset stomach I just added more cover and it was fine.
Wood kitty litter. I use 20kg bags of 6mm wood fuel pellets from a farm fuel supplies place. Under £5 a bag. It is identical to kitty litter, but is cheaper and has only 5% VAT!!!
We haven't been about to make wood kitty litter work for us, thank you anyway
Being a boater I am thinking there is no where to compost the Pooh contents, I was wondering if you can put the contents in the elsan, or would it block it ? Also perhaps you compost on the roof, but that would take up a lot of space and 3 years worth ? I am not really comfortable with the binning it solution and would rather put human waste in the sewer.
You shouldn’t put anything in an Elsan that isn’t toilet paper or human waste. The composting medium will definitely block it.
The waste that comes out is just like a hot soil mix as long as there is enough medium added and it is mixed after every use.
I could never empty the porta potty but I empty the solids bin with no issue. It feels a lot cleaner and doesn’t really smell.
I’m not a big fan of the liquids pot as it fills up too quickly and smells. Luckily there is too of us so it falls to Anna to deal with on a daily basis.
The Narrowboat Experience Thank you for the clarification,, I suppose that you have a space to compost, not sure if I can work that out yet. I have been looking into it and the space needed might be less than I first thought.
Am I right in think you two wonderful girls have decided to have 2 made to measure" Hamster Outfits" in preparation for those WTFruit Fly Happened!!! Haha :-))
I'll get Anna on it right away!
Poohhh, Hilarious! pleased your not selling up
Thanks :-)
Why did you choose Natures Head, above the other makes?
We liked the design and there were positive reviews.
I must admit I wondered if you were going to change to a wide beam (after the boat in Australia) and move to a tropical location too lol. And trade in the cats. Relieved none of that is happening.
We'd never trade in the cats!!! Although we nearly weren't allowed to have them back...
You two crack me up!!! Hope you fixed your smelly #1's hahahahaha
:-)
Have you already asked the two of "Minimal List"? They use a compost toilet. They installed a ventilator in the wall, because of the odors.
+Juergen Taddicken We probably would have chatted about it at the BBQ had we not missed it. As long as the pipe stays out the window there aren't any odours (that we notice) but we do need a longer term solution as the open window lets in lots of cold air.
here is their working video for installation of the tube: ua-cam.com/video/mO-jognRMi8/v-deo.html
Very funny Girls between your Kamakazi fruit flys and stinky pee i had a good laugh you couldn't make this up.
+Peter Wilson Thanks glad you enjoyed it
I do have something to add, but can't do it from here
A completely sealed system is probably best so a cassette toilet is the way to go. It smells the least and it's the least hassle when you need to empty it. Pet bedding is processed crap. Go to your nearest lumber mill and get an entire trash bag full of saw dust and you've not only saved money (you'll most likely get it for free), but now you also have a natural material that works better than any processed (and overly expensive) crap you buy in the store.
Hi there, we use coconut coir now and it is great. We really wouldn't change it at this point as we can buy one brick for £1, which lasts about a month, and then store over a years worth on the boat. Also can use for planting vegetables and flowers. Thanks for the tip though.
I'd never use a cassette again. It was heavy and it absolutely STANK whenever I emptied it. Couldn't stop gagging!
Not shure how it would go in yout toilet but I use a mix or saw dust and peatmoss 50/50., and deposit a hand full after each no2. In Australia you can get both in large bail size from you local agricutraual shop much cheeper than from other sorces. Also most composting cumponies have a starter formulation that can add all the goodies needed to process the no2s when it is new. Once up and running by not compleatly emptying the no 2 container the organisums that eat the sawdust and no2s are ready for feeding with your new deposits. The peatmoss helps digest the no 2 but in my envirolet the no1 goes in with the no2 so they help absorb the no1s as well as feed and digest the no2s. Temperature is important too it is my understanding that there are two different types of organisums in the peatmoss but they work at diferent temperatures. So sudenly turning up the heat to evaporate off the no1s when I had extra gests actually killed off my best firends rather than get them to digest faster. And that is when it smells. Whilst the other organisums will bread up that takes time. Oh and the flies probably fed and bread on your no2s escaping while they had access via the vent. Hope this helps.
Thanks for sharing that with us, that was a really helpful post.