Re: national organic standards, the sewage sludge issue

Alex McGregor (waldenfarm@sprintmail.com)
Fri, 13 Nov 1998 11:38:24 -0500

Loren,

Well written! My thoughts exactly- it's not the sustainable and/or the organic
farmers' responsibility to redo our sewage system.

You said also, "I would disconnect from my own sewer in a heartbeat if I could
do so
legally.  Nothing goes down the drain in my home that I wouldn't put on my own
compost heap." You can do so, legally speaking. Check with your local Health
Department (probably the same office that issues septic tank permits) to see
if NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) approved composting toilets are
permissible in your county. Or you can just put a composting toilet in and use
your existing septic tank or sewer for gray water. If you're in CA or other
water-short areas, chances are there's approved gray water systems that you
can use for irrigation.

Or, you can just put a composting toilet in and not tell anyone. How will they
know?

We have a self contained unit in the house and a 1 pint flush toilet/multrum
in the farm apprentices' living space. The composted poop goes through our
"household" compost bins and then is used in flower beds and landscaped areas
that are away from food growing areas. (Organic standards and food safety laws
do not currently allow use.) By the way, you ought to see the difference in
the flowers!

There's a large number of manufacturers of different designs. And there's at
least one book out about building your own.

Let's not wait for another government solution to our problems. (We all know
how well that works!) We can each seek out the information we need and start
taking responsibility for our own crap.

Alex
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