Earth and Orchard Toilet Plans
Earth and Orchard Toilets can be the most sanitary, cheapest, most ecological excreta management system for the right context. There's a lot of Oasis Design original work in these designs.
How to dig an orchard toilet/ how it works
- Beneficial microorganisms bio-degrade pathogens
- Plant roots take them up
- A tight lid excludes flies and other vectors
- The soil naturally absorbs odors
- When the hole is full, bury it and move to the next spot
Design Examples
Deluxe Orchard Toilet
With tiled masonry base and throne, casita for privacy/rain protection, fabricated by indigenous craftspeople in Michoacán, Mexico.
Orchard toilet, fancy, square, with throne. Casita made of strips of cocobolo (extremely durable, beautiful hardwood). Masonry base is three pieces, and can be lifted assembled with four people via handles.
Orchard toilet construction photos
Cast Asian-style Cornfield Toilet
Hands-free handwash
Handwash water storage urn (sanitary handwash for earth toilet). Hose lowers, letting out a trickle of water (urn holds enough water for about 1,000 hand washes). Note ash, wood chips on side for flies, urine odor.
See also:
- Create an Oasis with Greywater-book
- Water testing-download
- Wild water wisdom-article
- Photos of Mexico past orchard toilet work [200 images] thanks to Lionila, Dora, and Amanda Sarkis for help on these
- Photos of current orchard toilet models [140 images] thanks to Betty Siemans, Ed Hachfeld, Michelle Logan, Barbara Wishengrad and Maya Shoemaker for help on these
- Orchard toilet drawings
- The Movie [partial draft]
- There's more info on toilets (in Spanish) in Maruata at the Crossroads (download)
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