To survive we must adapt...

Our survival as a species as well as many other species depends on us doing things differently and not relying on the broken models of waste and consumption that has driven America to the point of collapse. We need to start structuring our lives on those third world countries who will continue to exist when America is just a footnote in the history books.

Here is a response I got today about my various experiments in waste reclamation. I think that the post completely captures what is wrong with America today.

What is wrong with you? Are you not aware of the fact that A. septic systems exist? B. They are required? C. In most places, you can do it yourself? and D. After getting the perk test done, and permit for the septic system, and the system installed, you're problems are over?

I'm sure your neighbors really appreciate your kindness to the their wells in that area also. Being a "survivalist" means putting some thought behind each situation for the long-term. I'm talking about intelligent thought processes. True "survivalists think about the environment. Chump, you are in America, not some 3rd world country so all I'm saying is if you are going to put forth the effort to become a survivalist, you should put forth the effort to do it properly!

Actually I am thinking about the environment and survival in a finite system. All a septic system does is traps nutrient dense waste underground where it can never be used again if you compost this waste it can be recycled back into crop production this is especially helpful in arid areas such as mine. Nitrogen is a main component of fertilizer and of urine. Our waste should be recycled back into nature not locked away in an underground vault.

Plus if you have a septic system you will be using 3 to 5 gallons of water with each flush just to get rid of waste which is completely unacceptable. I am currently existing on about 2 gallons of water every day. There are deep wells out on the valley floor going dry as I write this. Once we have exhausted our finite supply of well water it's over folks. It will take millions of years to replenish the aquifers and frankly we will be gone by then.

Septic systems and your attitude towards them is what is wrong with America today. The reason septic systems are required is because not so long ago some plumbing contractor decided he could make a ton of money by convincing the state legislature to mandate septic systems at $3000 a pop. The state loved the idea because they get $500 for each inspection.

Composting toilets and urine recycling systems are the way of the future. Think about the tons of nutrient dense crap and nitrogen that are flushed out of a business skyscraper every day not to mention the billions of gallons of water wasted. The future will see this waste collected, composted and sold as fertilizer or topsoil to grow crops. Not to mention the fact that the composting process produces tremendous amounts of heat which could help offset heating cost in the winter reducing dependence on natural gas. Or we could go so far as to collect the methane from the composting process and use it to cool and heat our building. This American waste cannot continue.

Being a survivalist does not mean we take our sanitized/monetized lifestyle of city living and replicate in a small cabin. The old ways of consumption and waste have failed us and to survive we must adapt.

PortaPee

I do not pee in my composting toilet. The sawdust composting toilet is great...no smell and easy to maintain. If you add urine though it becomes a sloppy mess that requires twice the cover material reducing the number of times you can use the 5 gallon unit between trips to the compost pile.

So I took to peeing outside which is fine in the warmer months but really a drag in winter plus remember pee stinks. Wherever your pee spot is there will be a horrible smell. You can spread it around but eventually the area will become saturated with the stink.

I have a urinal/hose/hole in the ground contraption but still need to run the hose under the house and frankly since the 40 foot snake incident I haven't really had a desire to go crawling under the place...at least until it gets colder.

Basically the urinal attaches to a hose which runs under the house to a 6 foot deep by 1 foot round footing hole that I never used. The hole is filled with pea gravel and the urine leaches into the ground from there. If the stank gets bad I just dig another hole and move the hose. Might freeze in the winter but I will cross that bridge when I get there.

Anyway the picture above is a stopgap device to deal with pee. It is a five gallon water jug with a screw on top and a funnel in the top. The screw on top is very important. Simply pee in the funnel until the barrel is full. You then screw on the cap, take the jug away from the house then dump the thing. If you can't get out to dump the urine just leave the capped jug in a corner and put a backup under the funnel. You can even dump the urine on your compost pile adding needed moisture to the mix.

You may not be able to see it in the picture but there is a small plastic cup inverted over the hole in the bottom of the funnel. Again pee stinks and if the hole is not covered you will smell it. This portapee will hold me anywhere from 4 to 7 days depending on the beer consumption.

This device may not be of much help to the ladies but it still reduces the amount of urine in the compost toilet by half for a couple.

Debtors Revolt

Tea Parties will not work. Marches on Washington will not work.

A Debtors Revolt will work