Composting Outhouses

Composting outhouses are a land stewardship practice

This icon indicates substances extracted from the Earth's crust. Click to learn more about The Natural Step

using no water means we don't need to burn fossil fuels in order to run a pump

This icon indicates substances produced by society. Click to learn more about The Natural Step

building with fewer and simpler materials means fewer pollutants are emitted through industrial processes

This icon indicates degradation of nature by physical means. Click to learn more about The Natural Step

no water is being flushed down the toilet. We are also enriching this land with nutrients processed in the human digestive system

This icon indicates meeting basic human needs. Click to learn more about The Natural Step

living more simply reduces human suffering brought on by climate change and resource scarcity

In addition to regular flush toilets, we encourage residents and guests to use our scent-free composting outhouses. Each deposit contributes to the natural wealth of the farm.

Unlike conventional toilets, these use no water, and allow "humanure" to be returned to the land to fertilize trees and shrubs (it is not used on food crops). These outhouses are built from our own wood.

This innovative outhouse was designed at Windhorse Farm and is now being used in many other places. For a more extensive discussion of the logic and the detailed plans, write to jim@windhorsefarm.org