Sunday is Mother’s Day. There are those of you out there that think of this as a ridiculous holiday that Hallmark created to sell more cards.  To those folks I say, fine…make a card instead. 

My mother kept a card for YEARS that I made as a toddler. My older brothers were old enough to write their own words, but at age four all I could do was copy letters. Too proud to ask for help; I copied the closest letters on our craft table. I copied “Happ Mohers Day” off one of my brother’s card – forgetting an occasional letter, and my inner message read: “Elmer’s Glue All” (copied from the bottle of glue in front of me!) My mother was kind and held back her laughter; it was the tears that streamed down her face that said it all.  She LOVED it!

In my eyes Mother’s Day is a great reminder to thank women everywhere that have raised children, cared for children and in some cases had the patience to simply be “around” some children.  So thank you to all of the daycare providers, teachers, lunchroom workers, bus drivers, coaches, nurses, doctors, grandmothers, neighbors and friends who help us raise our kids! It truly does take a village.

Some mothers never gave birth and yet found themselves raising “little monsters”. In my opinion being a step-parent is the hardest job in the world. Kudos to all the step-mothers out there – I especially hope that you enjoy your Mother’s Day!

Here is where I get to mention all the young mothers who have blessed our lives. You know who you are! I am so proud of each and every one of you! What a blessing to watch you interact with your newborn and to watch you both blossom into a cherished mother-child relationship. No one said it would be easy, but you make it look effortless.

Hey, we all know that there are those days! Hang in there and remember that those days are the reminders that make us appreciate the great days.  We love it when you bring your children with you to visit our Yurt Village. Thank you for brightening our day.

There are also “mothers” to pets. While some may attest that this doesn’t count…try telling them that as they pine over the loss of their baby after 14 years.  My brother used to give my sister-in-law a gift every Mother’s Day from “Art” and I know it still hurts to this day that he has passed. To couples who never had children, their pets become their children. So Happy Mother’s Day to you too!

This mark on the calendar is also an important time to reflect on our deceased mothers and grandmothers. I unfortunately am in this category as my mother passed away 8 years ago this spring and both of my grandmothers left this world over 18 years ago.

 
While I miss my mother and grandmothers’ terribly I live on knowing that they raised me right… I am kind and fair; and honest to a fault.  They all had a hand in my outcome as did your mother, step-mother and grandmothers.  Honor them.

 
 
Of course we must mention the almighty Diva herself… the Mother-in-Law! That was a joke! We like to joke about this fragile relationship.

I look at this as sort of a rite of passage.  Just like anything worthwhile in life, you will get out of this relationship what you put into it. If you look for “issues” you will certainly find them.  Best advice is to accept the inevitable and embrace the differences. That goes for both parties!  (And buy some Gortex for those intense storms!)

Here is to all the wonderful Mother-in-Laws out there who renounce the stereotype and are always there for the spouses of their children. By tearing down walls and tossing barriers you graciously bless these additions as true members of the family and love them as your own. What a great example you are!

 
And then there is Mother Earth. Seriously, you didn’t think I would forget to mention “her” did you? We all have to share this beautiful planet…why not thank our goddess and female spirit representing the earth. There are many ways to thank Mother Earth, if you do not currently compost; start your project on Sunday. You could plant a vegetable or herb garden this weekend (mine is doing fabulously – except for the basil! Augh!)

My ideal Mother’s day (Seattle weather permitting) every year for the last decade has been to work in the yard with no interruptions followed by a fabulous meal either home cooked or enjoyed at a local restaurant. All I ask is to not do the dishes on Mother’s Day!

So predictably this year I plan to work in the yard in the morning followed by a leisurely stroll through Pike Place Market and a seafood dinner on the Seattle waterfront. Sunday is supposed to be the first 80 degree day in the Pacific Northwest so far this year! All I can say is…It doesn’t get much better than that!

So please remember this weekend to thank the women in your life, whether they are your mother or not, and acknowledge (Hallmark cards are not necessary) those who have impacted you in some way.

Trust me, 90% of what they do never gets noticed or thanked and a tiny bit of appreciation goes a long way.

Lastly Happy Birthday to Rainier’s receptionist, Brandy, who is celebrating her birthday on Mother’s Day, and congratulations to our always smiling Elisa who is expecting and due on the  18^th of this month.

Happy Mother’s Day!
~Dana
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Another configuration is to have your kitchen against the outer perimeter, “in the round”.This is best accomplished by using several smaller base cabinets with the front edges touching but the back sides having pie-shaped areas of dead-space. Granite can be cut in any radius and the look is a seamless countertop!
 
 
Ikea also is a great source for modular kitchen components. That is what we have here in our Yurt Village Showroom in Seattle.  Check out their freestanding kitchens section for some great inspiration like this…

 
 
Be sure to also check out my custom created floorplans! You can find them by going to the homepage, up in the green band click on YURTS and scroll down to FLOORPLANS. These are all based on a 30’ diameter Eagle, but I can custom design your yurt too.  Just shoot me an e-mail or a call and let me know what your yurt dream looks like.

Bon Appetite!

~Dana

As a general rule, the more organized the municipality the more hoops you will have to jump through to permit your Yurt. Big towns = big mentality = bigger problems.  Likewise, smaller towns seem to embrace the thought of yurts dotting their countryside.

Just today I spoke with Mike, the Building Inspector for Coos Bay, Oregon, who was super helpful with snow load information and what he would be looking for in permitting a yurt.  Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and just call the closest building inspector to the property where you plan to place your yurt. They don’t bite, and will have lots of up-front valuable information to help you.  Nothing is worse than avoiding these guys only to have them come knocking with a red-tag because you didn’t conform.

Last week I spoke with Becky Kemery, the fore-runner in the yurt world about codes and yurts. First of all, I like to thank Becky for her dedication and knowledge in the round world of yurts. Author of, YURTS: Living in the Round, Becky is the ultimate yurt guru and foremost yurt enthusiast and educator.  Becky Kemery has lived in yurts for many years in the mountains of the American Northwest. Her book, YURTS: Living in the Round, was completed while living in her own portable fabric yurt on a permaculture homestead in Northern Idaho. Becky’s articles on sustainable building are available online at Alternatives Magazine and Hopedance.  Her website, Yurtinfo.org is a vat of knowledge and enjoyable details. The purpose of this site is to be a comprehensive educational website on yurts providing both information and inspiration, as well as assisting the worldwide yurt community in making connections.

Visit her online at her website, www.yurtinfo.org or at www.beckykemery.com and on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/yurtladypage

Becky was kind enough to let me borrow the following information from her book, YURTS: Living in the Round. She did such a wonderful job researching this information (and living it) that we agreed that it didn’t make sense for me to recreate the wheel and rewrite it. Again, huge thank you to my new friend Becky!

Yurts and Codes

Excerpted from YURTS: Living in the Round, pp. 96-97 and Apendix I.

One of the most complicated issues people face in using yurts as either a home or workspace involves the building permit process. Code requirements vary from state to state and within counties and local communities. Individual officials, even within the same locale, may interpret the rules differently.  Add to this the fact that many code officials have little or no experience with yurts, and the situation can become very confusing.

Before you buy a yurt, it’s a good idea to check with your local Building Department to see what the rules are in your area and how local officials are likely to respond to your particular yurt application. (The building department may be contained within your local Planning Department, or it may be connected to another office like the Fire Dept.) You also may need to check with your local Health Department regarding septic or sewer issues.

Here are some questions to ask your local officials:

• Which set of code regulations is the department using? Are they using the 2003 or 2006 ICC (International Code Council) codes, or are they still using the UBC (Uniform Building Code)? The two ICC rulebooks are: the residential IRC (International Residential Code) and the commercial IBC (International Building Code). The IBC is more comprehensive than the IRC and supersedes the IRC in the case of conflict.
• What are the local planning regulations (these vary per jurisdiction).
• What are the specific local requirements for snow load, seismic rating, and wind speed? Are there any other special requirements?
• What are the fire-rating requirements (for the insulation and outer fabric)?
• Has the department previously approved yurts in this city or county? If so, which manufacturers have been approved?
• If the building department hasn’t previously worked with yurts (or with your prospective company), is there a licensed engineer to whom your company can send engineering specs for review?
• Would it be helpful to have contact information for building officials in other places where yurts have been approved?

Here are some things to keep in mind as you go through the permitting process:

As a membrane structure, yurts are usually classified in the “alternative structures” category, which has a unique set of code regulations. (See “Building Code Excerpts” section below.)

If your yurt is classified as a permanent or long-term alternative structure, it will have to meet local requirements for snow load, wind speed, and seismic ratings. You will also have to show that the yurt materials are fire retardant. If your yurt is being set up as temporary structure, for six months or less, the requirements are much more flexible.

Local stipulations vary. For example, a town might have a snow-load requirement of twenty-five pounds per square foot, and the nearby ski resort could have a requirement of one hundred pounds per square foot. When you talk with your yurt company, you might find that their standard snow and wind kit would work for the in-town requirement, and that for the ski resort you would need to purchase a yurt that had been specifically engineered for heavier snow loads.

If your yurt will be used for residential purposes, it will also have to meet local regulations for residences (like heat source, size and type of openings, egress windows in sleeping areas, and so on). If you are using the yurt for commercial purposes, you’ll have to meet an additional set of commercial regulations.

Here’s how your yurt company can help:

• You can use the promotional materials provided by the company to show your code official what it is you are planning to “build.” You might also take in the book YURTS: Living in the Round, and let the building official leaf through it to get a better understanding of what yurts are and how they are used.
• The company may be able to supply engineering specs, if necessary, to a local engineer certified by your state who can sign off the plans for the local building department. The engineering specifications must relate to the strength and stability of the yurt as a complete assembly, not just the component parts (like rafters).
• The company can give you contact information for other code officials who have approved their yurts and can advise your local building department.
• The company can give you the specific information about your yurt that you need for your locale regarding snow loads, wind specs, seismic rating, fire retardance and insulation.
• NOTE: Rainier Yurts conform fully to the International Building Code Specifications. Snow load and wind specs are available for all of our Raven and Eagle models. Furthermore, uses only the top-of-the-line marine grade fabrics for the outer shell which meets the stringent fire codes and rating for mildew and UV resistancy.

Yurts and the Energy Code

The biggest code challenge for yurts is insulation. Building codes rate insulation by R-Value alone. R-Value (resistance to conductive heat transfer) analyzes only conductive-type insulation like fiberglass; there are no guidelines in the codes for reflective insulation.

Reflective insulation will work only while your heat source is operating (reflective insulation reflects heat back into the space; it will not hold the heat in once the heat source goes out). However, while your heat source is operating reflective insulation is much more effective than conductive insulation.

Conductive-type insulation is up to 95 percent effective for reducing conductive heat loss; however, over 75 percent of heat loss is radiant. Reflective insulation reduces radiant heat loss by as much as 97 percent (conductive-type insulation reduces it by only by 5 to 10 percent). One test showed reflective insulation to be more than seven times as effective as R-19 conductive insulation.

Yurtco Manufacturing states it this way on their website:

It is a common misconception that insulation must be thick to perform well. It is also a common mistake to consider only a material’s R-Value when choosing insulation. It is highly possible for a thinner reflective material to provide better thermal performance than a thicker non-reflective product.

For the purposes of current building codes, reflective insulation does not exist. The type of insulation typically used in yurts can be rated only in conductive terms, which in the case of a layer or two of bubble wrap (the conductive element) provides a relatively low rating.

Your code official may understand the efficacy of your reflective insulation and be willing to figure in other factors, like your heat source.

It may be possible to get an exemption if you are incorporating a renewable heat source. Pellet stoves are an example of a heating method that utilizes a renewable resource (the pellets are made from agricultural waste products). Other examples are wood stoves using dead or thinned trees and electric heaters run with power generated by wind or water. People have been exempted when generating their own power to run heaters.

There is also the possibility of greater code flexibility if the yurt is not being heated continuously (such as when occupancy is “transient and intermittent,” as with camping rentals or a vacation retreat).

If, however, your building official feels compelled to stay within code parameters and you are planning a permanent residence, it may be difficult to get a portable fabric yurt approved. One final option is to provide your code official with the contact information for other building officials who have yurt experience and can point out ways to get around the apparent difficulties.

If yurts have been approved for resorts and parks from South Carolina to Alaska, and for uses as diverse as schools and offices as well as residences, a well engineered yurt should have strong potential for approval in most locales.

Building Code Excerpts

Some states use the UBC (Uniform Building Code), but many states, provinces and countries currently use the ICC (International Code Council) code books, which consist of the commercial International Building Code (IBC)and the International Residential Code (IRC). There are also sub-codes, such as the International Energy Conservation Code, which add to and modify the general code books.

These excerpted sections are drawn from the 2003 IBC (commercial code). Section 104 on the duties of building officials is the same in the commercial and residential codes; Section 3102 on Membrane Structures exists only in the commercial code; it defines the category for the residential code as well. The building code terminology for the fabric yurt is “membrane covered frame structure.”

As was stated above, in order to be permitted a yurt may have to meet requirements in the areas of snow load, seismic rating, wind speed and fire safety, but these are dependent on location and the information has to come from the local code official. Other requirements like egress and occupancy are dependent on the use of the yurt (e.g., residential or commercial).

For further reading on codes and appropriate techonolgy, see this excellent article by David Eisenberg.

The Captain (yes, that’s what I call my sweetie), and I live on the same small Island that I grew up on in a home that belonged to my family for decades.  All of our kids are grown and our baby is now in college.

We only have furry “kids” at home now.  Meet “Curley” the cat and our newest addition, “Harrison” our 10 month old Yellow Lab.

On the weekends we can be seen about the Island in ‘ol Blue – a mint condition ’54 Chevy Truck. Harrison gets to ride shotgun as we parade about town looking for adventure.  All the time, strangers with big smiles, point, wave, give thumbs-up and honk (the good kind of honk not the mean kind… what’s up with that! Don’t get me started on mean people and rude drivers…augh!) I digress…We are teaching Harrison to wave back. Curley stays home to guard the fortress, or sleep in the sunshine – whichever suits him at the moment.

While I have been fortunate to have experienced many things on my “Bucket List”, I still enjoy the simple pleasures…a hot tub in the morning before work, gardening – preferably not in the rain, cooking and eating, camping, traveling, spending time with my family and helping people like you with your Yurt Dreams! BTW… My Yurt fantasy is to have a second home in Mal Pais, Costa Rica…
 

Many people have questions about yurt financing, so I did a little research and here is the answer:

Yes, but ONLY if you are a business!

Business-to-Business financing is available in all 50 states if you are using your yurt as a commercial business location.

For example if your business is a yoga studio,  hair salon,  art gallery, a message retreat or holistic venue…then you have a good chance if you have decent credit.

If you are a private home owner I suggest that you talk to your local Credit Union or Banker and find out about a Personal Line of Credit, using the yurt itself as collateral.

I have recently had conversations with two companies that will finance Business-to-Business Yurt loans.

These are not recommendations, nor do we have any affiliation with either business, but I am providing their contact information in case you want to find out more…  Give either or both these guys a call/e-mail to discuss your business yurt loan needs:

Kevin VanWagner with Full Circle LLC
888-223-2600
kevin@fullcirclellc.us
http://www.fullcirclellc.us/template.aspx?name=Rainier+Yurts

ClearView Financial ask for Mike
888-408-8805
mike@clearviewfinancial.com

Tell ‘em Dana at Rainier sent you!

Biolet 10 Standard Waterless Toilet

We’ve been getting lots of questions lately about alternative toilet technology, so we decided to do a little research and found these three articles to help answer some basic questions.

The opinions are those of the authors and we make no endorsement of any of the information.

Warning: If you click on one of the links and buy one, somebody will probably make an affiliate commission, but its not us…

Also please reference Biolet’s great Resource page: http://www.biolet.com/resources/

Thanks for reading and please send me your feedback!

~Dana

Compost Toilets Explained

Courtesy of Envirolet

http://compostingtoilets.org

An Introduction

Many people now know about composting toilets, particularly those in the alternative movement who are quite familiar with composting in their gardens, and who understand the advantages of recycling and simplification of our needs.

But to the many others who have not really thought about where their sewage goes after flushing, the thought of composting their own waste is a little uncomfortable.

Objectionable questions are fired at you when you first introduce the concept to someone, and many persons leave the subject still thinking that a composting toilets is a old pit (outhouse) toilet, remembered unpleasantly from camping trips.

Well, composting toilets are far from being pit toilets! They range from simple twin chamber designs through to advanced systems with rotating tynes, temperature and moisture probes and electronic control systems.

They are effective biological converters of human and household “waste,” saving money and energy for the person and community. They start the regeneration of the Earth’s precious environment that is long overdue.

The Benefits of Composting Toilets

Making a Big Difference

The advantages of natural waste treatment systems are many and varied.

The following section shows the benefits of the system in comparison to existing waterborne waste treatment systems. These benefits improve conditions for the individual, the community and the environment.

An understanding of how your system benefits the individual and the community will help you to maintain it and confidently explain it to others.

Benefits to the Individual

There are many great reasons to use a composting toilet!

Water Use Reduction (20-50%)
A significant savings in water storage will result if the household is not on reticulated water supply. Combine this with wastewater re-utilisation in irrigation and other household water reduction techniques and water storage costs can be cut by up to 60%.

Shock Loading Capacity
Loading shock for large gatherings is achieved easily with correctly sized composting toilet systems.

Odour Problems Reduced
The suction air flow in most composting toilets takes toilet and bathroom odor out of the room and acts like a constant extraction fan.

Lower Household Maintenance Costs
Sewage rates and water rates (metered) can be in the order of $500 per year, a significant cost. This will only increase if the demand for sewage system upgrading increases. Other on-site systems have annual maintenance costs that are obligatory. Local authorities will be increasingly paying rebates to households who own composting toilets.

End Product Recycled
While only small in amount, the solid end product is a valuable humic fertiliser that can be utilised around trees and gardens.

Reduced Greywater Loading
Where composting toilets are installed instead of septic and mini-treatment systems, there is a large reduction in the “loading” on the effluent treatment system by the removal of “blackwater.” Smaller, less maintenance, greywater systems are possible.

Independence
A household with a composting system is independent from potential problems of the waterborne sewage system. If future water shortage or system backup problems occur with conventional systems, there is not much that you can do personally about it. On-site composting systems are much more flexible, they are easier to fix and have less damage potential if operated incorrectly.

Recycling
The composting toilet possesses the ability to recycle much of your household waste. Food scraps, paper, lawn clippings and grease from you grease traps and greywater systems can be composted back through the toilet. If you choose to put in a reed bed greywater systems, the annual clippings can also be composted. There is no wastage in this system.

Unusual Sites
Composting toilets can be installed in many different situations which would not accommodate other systems. Rocky sites, high water table, no water storage, environmentally sensitive, close to running watercourses, and swampy ground. All these difficult site situations can be accommodated with a small amount of alteration to the basic system design.

Benefits to the Community & the Environment

Together with the personal benefits of the composting toilet there are overall benefits to the society and the environment.

Water Use
A reduction in water use allows the large capital costs of dams and reservoirs to be spread over a greater population. It also enables decentralised water sources to be used.

Reduced Marine Pollution
Nutrient load on streams and rivers is almost negligible. This results in more oxygen being available in the water and a return to improved activity of marine life.

Pollution Detected Quickly
Without sewage systems to flush away wastes, It would be easier to ascertain where toxic wastes are being leaked into watercourses. Industry would be more willing to rectify these problems if it were easier to identify the sources.

Damage Limited
Miscalculation in individual composting systems has a much smaller impact than the same mistake in a large centralised system. It is also easier to rectify and return to normal operation.

Flexibility of Planning
Composting toilet systems are built only when the need arises. The high headwork and treatment costs of conventional sewage systems must be borne by the community ahead of development. If development does not go as planned, then money is wasted.

Less Environmental Impact
Compared to sewage systems, on-site composting and greywater treatment has less impact on the environment:
• Large effluent releases into watercourses and oceans are avoided.
• Disruption to soils systems through pipeline installation is eliminated.
• Leakage of raw sewage into groundwater through pipe deterioration and breakage is eliminated.

Flexibility in Estate Planning
By eliminating the planning constraints of the sewage system underground piping and infrastructure, housing developments can be designed with more emphasis on environmental and social considerations, rather than how best to situate the blocks to make pipes run straighter.

For such a simple technology, the benefits to the individual and to the community are quite amazing!

What is a Composting Toilet?

On Site Waste Treatment Plants

Composting toilets are toilet systems which treat human waste by composting and dehydration to produce a useable end-product that is a valuable soil additive.

They come in a variety of models and brand names as well as different shapes and designs to enhance the natural composting process.

They use little or no water, are not connected to expensive sewage systems, cause no environmental damage and produce a valuable resource for gardening.

The systems can be broadly divided into two different types:

BATCH SYSTEMS

With the batch systems, a container is filled and then replaced with an empty container. The composting process is completed inside the sealed container. The system may have a single, replaceable container. Or it may be a carousel system where 3 or 4 containers are mounted on a carousel and a new container is spun into the toilet area when the other is full. After a full cycle is complete, the first container is fully composted and ready for emptying.

CONTINUAL PROCESS SYSTEMS

These systems are in a constant state of composting. Waste enters the system, composting reduces the volume and moves it downward where it is harvested after 6-12 months as fully composted material.

All systems are designed to treat the waste material by composting, worm processing, micro- and macro-organism breakdown, and by dehydration and evaporation of moisture.

There are a wide variety of systems including:

• Owner-built, two chamber mouldering systems that are basic, but effective.
• Owner-built from concrete blocks and concrete inclined base. Constructed in with the house foundations.
• Manufactured, small, self-contained and remote systems suitable for vacation and full-time home use.
• Manufactured, large tank, inclined base models suitable for heavy loadings.
• Wide variety of small units which fit into existing bathrooms. Many have dehydration fans and heaters.
• Vacuum flush unit for production of worm castings.
• Full flush systems with centrifugal action to deposit wastes into composting chamber.

Off-grid Toilets

Not all of us live within the city limits and this means we either have to use a septic tank or be creative when it comes to eliminating our waste. Neither do we want to touch it nor do we want to impact the environment any more than it already is. Septic tanks work fine if you aren’t in the city’s sewer system, but depending on the restrictions of your health department, you might have lagoons or sprinklers or chlorinators all tied up in this “simple” system – and it’s suddenly not so simple anymore.

This got us thinking about the various types of chamber pots available and thought we’d offer our readers a couple of alternatives.

Composting Toilet

As the name implies, composting toilets take waste, both fecal and liquid and turn them into compost. How it works is actually rather interesting, if this sort of thing fascinates you. First it separates the solid from the urine – solid stuff falls into a composting chamber and the urine is sent to tank called a gray water system. Earthworms, microorganisms, air and heat all work together to start decomposing the solid matter. Meanwhile, the urine (as you may remember from your biology and chemistry classes) is comprised mostly of nitrogen. If you were to look at the ingredients of most fertilizers, you will notice that they contain lots of nitrogen. When you are ready to add your new batch of compost, having stored your urine, sprinkle it all over your plants and watch them drink it up.

Now all the rage in England, parts of Europe, Australia and New Zealand, one might assume this is a new concept; however, a rather crude version dates back to the late 1800s. The notion of using excrement as a form of compositing is controversial. Many countries allow this, and even in the USA there are areas where “sludge” (human waste) is sold to farmers for fertilizing crops, but is that really healthy? The Chinese have devised a system for using human waste, but part of that system involves high heat for about a month to kill off deadly bacteria and organisms. There are too many diseases that can be transmitted via human waste if the composting is not done right. If you choose to go this route, make sure you’re composting properly and applying it to your crops in the prescribed manner.

The nice thing about composting toilets is that they use almost no water to operate.

Who Sells These?

Ecotoilets

Envirolet

Biolet

Sun Mar

Incinerating Toilet

Available in both electric and gas powered, these are toilets that burn excrement rather than flushing it. These are seemingly ideal in remote areas, for people who live off the grid and/or have unreliable plumbing. They are available in various sizes and can run on electricity, diesel, propane or natural gas. The diesel versions boast the ability to burn between 1 and 7 gallons of waste an hour. The model you purchase will determine how many gallons can be incinerated. Another of their advantages is that unlike a septic, enzymes are not required to kill bacteria – another euphemism for human waste.

The logistical difference between the gas and electric version is that every so often you will need to empty out the ashes that are burned – the level accumulated that requires emptying varies by manufacturer.

A few manufacturers make these incinerating toilets in gas powered:

ECOJOHN

And for the electric powered ones – I recommend you consider an alternate source of power (such as wind or solar) if you are going go this route, as your utility bill will likely increase and not decrease:

Ecolet

Incinolet

Eco Toilets

Other Alternatives to Traditional Flush Toilets

After a careful review of the other alternatives available, they really didn’t turn out to be viable alternatives after all. Perhaps easier to install, they appear to be damaging on the environment, non-hygienic or wholly inconvenient.

Perhaps if you live in an RV park or on a boat, the portable toilet, a.k.a. the port-a-potty, might be a solution for you. Enzymes are required to control odor and more importantly kill bacteria that could be harmful. Once the tank is full, somebody has to come and haul your waste away.

Digester tanks work by breaking down waste to be used as fuel and/or make humus. Nearly as I could discern, great as they look, they seem to work best in highly industrialized areas (due mostly to their size). They can hold up to 1000 gallons of waste. Most of us don’t have the land to house something that large.

We hope this article was helpful to you. If you own one of these systems, we’d love to hear your feedback. It’s okay, as the story goes, everyone poops…

We may as well talk about it.

Composting Toilets

Courtesy of www.comparethebrands.com

http://www.comparethebrands.com/compare/134

Composting toilets have come a long way in the last two decades. The first composting toilets were outhouses, at one time the ubiquitous outdoor bathrooms used by most western families. Here are some of the best composting toilet systems around, each with their own modern-day twist on an age-old concept:

Sun-Mar Composting Toilets

Sun-Mar is probably the best-known composting toilet maker in all of North America. Their design puts the toilet unit inside the bathroom with the composting chamber and ventilation pipe sitting outside of the house. Another unique part of the Sun-Mar system is the composting chamber, which rotates like a cloths dryer. This allows oxygen to get to all of the contents, thus keeping the compost aerobic, which speeds up the rate of decomposition.

Like most composting toilets, there is a separate chamber called the “finishing drawer” where the aged compost sits awaiting removal. Some online reviews claim that sometimes fresh waste falls into the finishing drawer in Sun-Mar composting toilets, which results in finished compost that may still contain pathogens and retain an odor. However, due to the design of their system (the drum only turns one way) I don’t see how that could be possible. Furthermore, Sun-Mar systems are certified by the National Sanitation Foundation International, which requires finished compost from toilets to contain less than 200mpn/gm of oderless fecal matter.

BioLet Composting Toilets

BioLet makes an interesting composting toilet. It differs from others in several ways, such as requiring an electric source for heating and evaporating the liquid and a set of “trap doors” that automatically open when you sit on the toilet. For women, this might sound like a great idea. Who wants to look down at the “compost” after all? But for guys – who don’t sit down to urinate – it might take some creative foot placement to apply enough pressure on the seat for the trap doors to open.

BioLet composting toilet designs are compact and put the composting chamber inside the house, directly under the toilet in a “bucket-like” design. They do have a tendency to over-dry the compost, which makes it difficult sometimes to stir the compost (which is necessary to prevent anaerobic conditions) using the externally-accessible stirring rods.

Clivus Multrum Composting Toilet

The Clivus Multrum composting toilets require a large accessible space below the toilet itself, typically located in the basement. Their waterless design (they also have a foam flush) relies on gravity to move the “compost” down a ramp. It includes an automatic moistening system, which requires the system to be connected to a water supply, even those it is a “waterless flush” design.

It also has to be connected to power in order for the liquid removal system to work, which removes liquid from the main chamber of the composter and sends it to a separate storage tank. Due to the size, complexity and cost of this system it is not on the top of our list in this review. But that is only because this review is focused on home-use toilets. For industrial purposes, Clivus Multrum may end up coming out on top.

In this review we compare composting toilets from what we believe to be the best manufacturers, each with their own unique design to human waste compost.

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Sun-Mar Composting Toilets

- Outdoor Composting Chamber
- Rotating Drum for faster composting
- Requires electricity for heater
- Widely available
- Many sizes

Avg. Price: $1,500 (and up)

Learn More: See SunMar Composting Toilet Models

   

BioLet Composting Toilets

- Single Unit System
- Larger models require electricity for heating
- Trap doors

Avg. Price: $1,300 (and up)

Learn More: See more BioLet Toilet Models

    

Clivus Multrum Systems

- Large system
- Waterless and Foam-flush designs
- Requires electric and water

Avg. Price: $10,000 ? Company does not list prices

Learn More: Clivus Multrum Site

  

EcoTech Carousel Composting To

- Multi-chamber composting
- Separate composting chamber
- No heating element
- Ability to age compost up to two years

Avg. Price: $2,700 (and up)

Learn More: EcoTech Website

   

Envirolet Composting Toilets

- FlushSmart Vacuum Flush
- No gravity required
- Modern, elegant design
- 10 persons per day for vacation use and 8 persons per day for continuous use. (Based on 3 uses per person per day.)

Avg. Price: $3,500 (and up)

Learn More: See Envirolet Models

   

I love getting questions!

Donna from Texas asked recently if yurts are chemically friendly:

Dear Donna,

I appreciate your question and your concern for a chemically friendly environment.

In order to conform to the International Building Code we must meet certain requirements for code and we choose to produce the most appealing, most weatherproof and most secure yurt available.

Construction requirements for yurt fabrics are stringent to meet our engineering criteria. Having said that, we pride ourselves in setting the bar high for sustainability and achieving high marks for our environmental commitment. With a rich history dating back to the Alaskan Gold Rush in 1896, Rainier continues to break new ground as an industry leader in the area of environmental stewardship.

In 2007, we developed Rainier’s Sustainability Initiative and are working toward going green in all aspects of our company, from how we manage our plant to the manufacturing of products, the shipping and installation of our products and ultimately what happens to our products at the end of their useful life. In 2008 we launched a formal Environmental Management System and we became certified in ISO 14001 in May of 2009.

We strive in our daily operations to use environmentally friendly products that will protect our natural resources, to reduce our energy consumption and to recycle the bulk of our solid waste. Rainier also encourages employees to be more environmentally sensitive away from work and to do their part in reducing our carbon footprint by using alternative methods of transportation for commuting to and from work.

Rainier is the only yurt manufacturer with a formal Environmental Management System. We are committed to respect and protect our environment. We are the only yurt manufacturer that has an established program to recycle your roof fabric at the end of its useful life and we recycle all unused cuts in production.

While we must use vinyl fabrics to achieve mildew repellency and fire retardant certification the acrylic top coating helps to reduce outgasses. We recommend at least a single layer of insulation with every yurt purchase which creates an aluminum barrier and then the natural canvas (or poly) liner is what is exposed to the inside.

We use 100% cotton army duck in our Eagle Model Yurt. Because this is a natural fabric, it absorbs moisture, and then dries out naturally, preventing condensation inside your yurt. The Raven uses a more typical, long life polyester liner. Both fabrics are mildew resistant and flame retardant.

The wood products we use are chosen for their sustainability.

Douglas Fir timberlands are the most productive softwood timberlands in the United States in terms of volume per acre. The northwest region of the U.S. is governed by environmental laws for protection of habitat, watersheds, soils and biological diversity. Stands of timber in the northwest are managed primarily in natural stands on long rotations.

The many square miles of forests set aside permanently in the National Parks and Wilderness Areas are not a part of the harvestable stand mentioned above. Furthermore, we decline to use any wood products that have formaldehyde in them. All of our wood is then treated with a natural rosewood oil and not a chemical stain.

I sincerely hope that this is what you were looking for in a response. Can I provide you with any more details or information? Are you interested in receiving a brochure in the mail and a materials sample card which has actual cuts of the materials we use? If so, send me your address and I will put one in the mail today.

I look forward to helping you learn more about yurts and the “Round Lifestyle”. Have a wonderful weekend.

Best regards,
Dana
 
 

Why? Because the date (3-14) makes up the first three digits of Pi (can’t wait for 3/14/15!).

At Rainier Yurts we obviously take every opportunity to celebrate roundness (because Yurts are round, that’s kinda their thing). So how did we celebrate this year? Where to even begin…

• We used only round pens and pencils…
• We only drank out of round coffee mugs…
• We rounded corners, instead of just turning them…
• Some of us daydreamed about a round of golf…
• Others just daydreamed about a round of drinks…
• We tried to convince the accounting department to round every number they encountered, unsuccessfully. (Apparently not everyone shares our enthusiasm.)

Happy Pi Day, everyone, hope yours was totally circular!

]]> http://www.rainier.com/yurts/2012/2012-pi-day-a-success/feed/ 0 http://www.rainier.com/yurts/2012/eagle-yurt-raising/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=eagle-yurt-raising http://www.rainier.com/yurts/2012/eagle-yurt-raising/#comments Sat, 03 Mar 2012 00:04:19 +0000 Rainier Administrator http://www.rainier.com/yurts/?p=2461 Continued]]> Here’s a great video of an Eagle Yurt raising.

This gives you an idea of what is involved in putting a yurt up on your property.

Be sure to check out the dogs and llamas!

As they shared their vision for the property, it became evident that our Eagle Yurt was the perfect compliment to the unique characteristics of their beautiful setting.

Designed to take advantage of the outstanding views of the Winery and Columbia River, the architecture of the yurt fits perfectly into the natural beauty of the area.

The 25 yurts are located adjacent to Cave B Estate Winery, an award-winning winery in the Columbia Valley region with a broad range of varietals.

They offer a rustic take of the luxury “Cave B experience”  – overlooking the Colombia River and the popular Gorge Amphitheater, which offers a wide range of concerts throughout the summer.

Each 18 foot Eagle Yurt has a King-size bed, a private bathroom with shower, WiFi and an outdoor seating area.

Talk about the perfect Glamping experience!

The next time you are in the mood for a luxuriously rustic experience, check them out.

To learn more about Cave B Inn & Spa and the Chiwana Yurt Village go to www.cavebinn.com