I finally took the plunge and installed a composting toilet in my cabin last year. Honestly, I was pretty skeptical at first—like, is this thing really going to handle everything without smelling up the place? But it’s been surprisingly easy and, dare I say, kinda satisfying knowing I’m not wasting water every time I go. Maintenance is way less gross than I expected (the peat moss helps a lot), and I’ve barely had to empty it. Plus, my water bill dropped noticeably.
One thing I didn’t expect: the compost actually looks like regular dirt after a while. Still not sure if I’m ready to use it on my veggie garden though… maybe that’s just me being squeamish? Anyone else using one and have thoughts on the whole compost reuse thing? And do you ever miss having a regular toilet, or is it just me?
One thing I didn’t expect: the compost actually looks like regular dirt after a while. Still not sure if I’m ready to use it on my veggie garden though… maybe that’s just me being squeamish?
I get where you’re coming from on the veggie garden thing. Even after seeing that “dirt,” it’s hard to shake the mental block, right? I’ve got composting toilets in a couple of my rentals, and honestly, most folks are surprised by how little they miss the old flush. Maintenance is way less of a hassle than people expect. As for using the compost, I stick to ornamentals and trees—just feels safer, even if it’s probably fine. Water bill savings are no joke though.
Honestly, I had the same hesitation at first. Even though the compost looks and smells like regular soil, there’s just something about knowing where it came from that makes me pause before putting it on anything edible. I’ve read that with proper temps and time, it’s supposed to be safe, but I still stick to using it for shrubs and flowers. Has anyone here actually used their compost on veggies and noticed any difference in growth or taste? Just curious if I’m overthinking it...
there’s just something about knowing where it came from that makes me pause before putting it on anything edible
I get that feeling, but I’ve actually seen a few folks run into issues when they weren’t careful enough with composting temps and timing. One guy I know ended up with tomatoes that looked fine but just didn’t taste right—maybe it was in his head, but still. Personally, I’d rather play it safe and keep that compost for the ornamentals. Just not worth the risk if you ask me.
Title: Swapping Out The Flush: Living With A Composting Toilet
I hear you on the “knowing where it came from” thing. I keep joking with my partner that our flowers are thriving on poop power, but I’m still not brave enough to try it on the tomatoes. Maybe one day, but for now, the roses can have all the glory. Honestly, I don’t really miss flushing—except when guests come over and look at me like I’ve lost my mind.