My boyfriend and I are converting a bus to an RV and definitely want a composting toilet. Thanks to you Natures Head is on my list to get for my future RV. Soak the coco coir in the Sensizym solution to get rid of any decaying roots left from your previous crop. Yeah, I think however bad a state its in itd probably still do for my allotment both to get muddy wellies a bit cleaner, and to deal with certain small bits of path which either need weed suppression or turn into slippery puddles in the rain. The Keys being a protected marine sanctuary, I understand this need. I bought the Airhead for my sailboat. Coco coir allows air to penetrate deep into the root zone of your plants. We use a composting bag because its better for the environment as it will biodegrade much more rapidly than plastic. I have found many Natures Head users, like yourself, who describe how they dispose of their waist on the move. So a 10-pound brick would yield 2,006 cubic inches or 34.7 quarts which is 1.2 cubic feet. Did I just make a bad joke? You can purchase an additional base with a lid for continued composting and it stores easily in a basement bin with no issues. That makes sense regarding the bag, but what about the poop? Hole in the ground? After removing the previous batch of plants, place your coco coir in a large bucket. It is much more practical to reuse and repurpose coconut coir than to simply do away with it. Recycling and reusing the coco coir after every growing season not only saves some money, but its good for the environment. The question is, how do you do it? Then when we leave wed just put in the back of the SUV. KO KO BOP is conveniently sold in a 3 cubic foot grow bag, so all you need to do is cut the top, poke holes in the bottom, and plant your crop. If you have nothing positive to say about what these two individuals are doing, then please, opt to leave them to do their own thing and enjoy their life experiences without attempting to impart your own way of being. Mary Jane Duford is a gardening expert and founder of Home for the Harvest. From what I heard the compost toilet doesnt compost, but it starts the process. In addition, there is also the possibility that the cellulose in the coir fibre cells could collapse. You left out the most important part! To do so, they must use inert substrates which dont cause fluctuations with these important readings. Coconut fiber is the long, stringlike material that encompasses coconut husks. Submerge it in a mixture of Hydrogen peroxide. If you watch the video tutorial above, you will see that is where I do it. It looks like someone retro fit a plain storm door over your front door at some point. By mixing coco coir with amendments like earthworm castings, you add nutrients to the otherwise raw, inert substrate. I am not trying to be judgmental or snippy, I honestly want to know. However, there is absolutely no risk in using tap water to rehydrate and rinse coco. When coco coir is being prepared for use, prior to sale, the material may be coated with chemicals or steamed to remove potential infestation. I see youre in Key West, I lived aboard my sailboat there off and on for many years. Yes, when a composting heap or bin is available that is the best option but its not always an option. It is but just requires some extra tinkering. Additional work required to prep, maintain and/or repair, is a minimal when compared with traditional rv/boat toilets. You have informed, amazed, and inspired an old artist to follow her gipsy spirit and get to BLM next winter- composting toilet and solar panels YAHOO! It is about 60 lbs when full but you can always take it apart inside and scoop some of the compost into your bag, then take the lighter base and bag outside to finish the job. You have helped with a lot of information as I get ready to go full time in a couple of weeks. we use our normal all purpose cleaner from mrs meyers and it works great! I also appear in person, on camera for the first time ever in this video! As a newbie, you should start with small plots the smaller the grow, the less expensive it is to set up. A strong bactericide or fungicide should be used in order to eliminate the risk of any future plant diseases. Open the top, aka the seat, and lift to a 45 angle. How can I reuse or recycle wine box bladders? Coco chips is there a special cleaner or a spray needed? The coco peat will wash down the drain just like any other dirt you had to wash off. It is not edible, no doubt. We scoured the internet, visited the local hardware store to see the size of the peat moss bags (its giant! After all, one coconut palm producing 20-70 coconuts for roughly eighty years seems like a pretty good deal! The coir doesnt need to be dripping or soggyif it is overhydrated, simply transfer the coir to a container that allows it to drain. Could mats without a waterproof backing be used like that to hold moisture? I fond it to be not very well made. Stuart, If the soil gets too much water, the root system cant access oxygen and dies, and it ends up looking like the picture above. The coconut palm tree, referred to in some cultures as The all giving tree, has been in cultivation for millennia. Heat sources include: When deciding how to sterilize coco coir, keep the following in mind: Bleach and other chemicals can be harmful both to people who inhale or come in contact with it as well as to the environment. When it is loose and mixed in with soil, it helps keep the soil light and fluffy. It is great at aerating and increasing soil drainage. I am also a fan of seventh generations all purpose cleaning wipes for the bathroom. If you are unsure about the area laws and regulations, always look up a dump station just to be on the safe side. When the mixture is no longer required, other materials will remain that the gardener may wish to remove. Then, simply work it into the soil to a depth of at least 12 inches. When used in clay soils, coir breaks up hard compacted soil, so nutrients and moisture move through the soil. It looks as though it is always necessary to remove the toilet to dump the bin Is that the way it is? Weve talked about what coco coir is, so lets make sure we know what perlite is before we start. I have a few general questions- Is your combo ventless? Dont worry, well explain why both arent only possible, but also important to get right. WebI suggest using a large bucket or wheelbarrow to re-hydrate coir. What can I reuse or recycle as moulds for making new crayons from old ones? The liquid container of our composting toilet holds 2.2 gallons, and trust me you dont want to wait till its full to dump. Not sure. I would encourage you to try and see one of each of the different styles of toilets in person before making a decision. The ideal soil mix for pothos consists of equal parts of peat moss, perlite, and compost or coco coir. Think baby diapers & how many of those goes to the landfill). Where do I dump it while Im on the road? I have a question: This will ensure that the cation exchange sites of the coco are fully buffered since the coco is pre-soaked in a strong solution of Cal-Mag. What makes coco coir more desirable in the potting mix than peat moss is its ability to rehydrate. Do you still have questions or want to talk about your grow? The company sent me a partial tube of the caulking they use. Coco coir is an inert growing substance, with apH level near neutral. WebYou can remove/replace them, but be aware of what will be impacted prior to changing them. we DID buy a Natures Head and think it is great.but..wondering about those little black flies. document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a25ed8ffae1e379cc0aafcea7a586a0e" );document.getElementById("jf08d493e4").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Notify me of follow-up comments via e-mail, How can I recycle this? Decisions to use cannabis should be made in consultation with your doctor or medical professional. Also, does the fan need to run while you drive? Great videos! Its a very hard, yet very light substance and its porous and cheap. 2 things. If composting toilets had the popularity of traditional toilets, I am sure the prices would go way down. As we stated earlier, coconut husks are a byproduct of coconut production. In addition, it can absorb moisture from the surrounding environment very easily. The surface of coco fibers have cation exchange sites that are strongly attracted to calcium. Perhaps this is a new style composting toilet that one could design for direct replacements in RVs? Coco coir acts like a wrung-out sponge. If you fail to buffer your coco, the cation exchange sites will strip the calcium from the nutrient solution that you provide and create a calcium deficiency problem in your plant. Pump outs were a major hassle for a while if you were anchored,not so much on a paid mooring. Coco coir and peat moss have very little difference when you look at what they can do in a potting mix. As an Amazon Associate, we earn commission from qualifying purchases. As for disposal of grey water (we have a video coming with water saving tips), you can see all of our quick boondocking tips here: https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/boondock-free-camp. Im waiting for the UPS truck now, they will be delivering my new Natures Head Composting Toilet. Your old coco coir is now ready for reuse. The This will expose the inner layers of the block, making the re-hydration process quicker. Coco coir can get pretty expensive pretty fast. Coir combines aeration, drainage, and water retention. Decisions to grow cannabis should be made in consultation with a lawyer or qualified legal advisor. The biggest questions we get about our toilet (behind Does it smell?) are What do you need to do to prepare the toilet for use? Thats not enough to grow most plants youll need to add a balanced organic fertilizer. Debby wright. As an Amendment mix coco into actual soil as an amendment. Speaking of renewability, here is a good argument: Peat moss, though technically renewable, can take decades to grow. The perlite will help keep the coco coir from compressing back down. Is it easy and convenient to pick up? This is because coco coir does not contain the mineral nutrients the plants need after they reach the baby seedling stage. Ways to Use Coco. This blend allows for good aeration and drainage, as well as enough organic matter to provide nutrients for the plant. The Science and Practice of Growing Cannabis. When you see my face youre probably reading something more technical than adventurous, but either way I do my best to tell it like it is and infuse my opinions into the commentaryafter all this is a blog and not MSN. I would recommend purchasing a second liquid tank, you never know when you might need it (especially if you live on a boat and accidentally throw it overboard!). Once the mixture is ready, soak the coir into the mixture for 4-5 hours. They act very similarly most of the time. If it ends up in a landfill anyway, in a plastic bag that doesnt biodegrade for a long time, then what is the point? Ive watched your great videos and am intrigued, but Im concerned I dont have enough upper body strength or overall stature to manipulate the toilet, flip the black compartment over, etc. Used on its own or in a blend, coco coir is a highly significant growing media. After a couple of months drying, you can move to step 2. We welcome all growers who want to learn, share and grow together! Home for the harvest is a destination gardening website for people who just want to grow things. Coco coir alone in the potting mix wont grow anything. Because it is essentially a blank slate for anything put in it, it gives it a distinct advantage over other substrate types as a candidate for reuse. Now SpongEase perfect potting soil is available to homeowners in a new convenient brick size, easy to store and use. Weve had an email from Chrissy asking what to do with an old doormat: The bristly kind. Also, Ive read the comments on the Natures Head site and a lot of people talk about how you need a year or more for composting to really happen. Use a 1/8 I realize its not really a true composting toilet due to the waste need to compost in elsewhere, however, it seems to me that the Natures head only starts the process by adding the peat or coc-husks, the waste will still need to cure an additional 3 to 12 months elsewhere as well. Anyone have the amount of coconut coir to water for reconstitution? This makes it much more usable in the long run than peat moss. Thank you for taking the time to respond. you could buy the toilet first so that you can install it right away in your new RV that was my plan at least. Is it too messy to do in your bathroom? Coir is also good for worm beds. Debby Wright, do you still access this page? Keep care safe journey and keep being YOU! Coco coir is a natural bug and fungi repellant. Read customer reviews and common Questions and Answers for Arlmont & Co. Part #: W011213713 on this page. Thank you for your videos. care to elaborate on how you get the waste into the plastic bag and what you then do with said bag? This coco soil blend has the same consistency as coco coir, yet includes the soil microbes that have made FoxFarm famous. is that a drain on your solar power? Wash your hands and pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Otherwise I find myself chipping away at the block for a while (because I am impatient). Once it is in the bag there are a couple of options. Read on to learn all about using coco coir in the garden! Fill the base with hydrated COIR, take the toilet inside and reconnect the lid, power supply, vent hose, liquid tank and finally screw the toilet back down to the floor. Coco coir is the dried husk fibers from the outer husk of the coconut. Coco coir can also be mixed with soil to create an outdoor potting mix. Coco Coirsoil allows some forgiveness when it comes to pH fluctuations, but growing with a proper pH meter is necessary so you can keep your water/nutrient mix between 5.9 and 6.1, which provides an adequate nutrient uptake for the pot plants. As an Amazon Associate, we earn commission from qualifying purchases. Web1) Release the latches located at both front sides of the unit which secure the bowl to the base, 2) Raise the bowl to an angle of approximately 45 degrees, install the cap, and Our goals are to demystify grow light metrics, share reliable grow light data and empower home growers with the best information about grow lights. I had to repair it within one year after buying it. We were hesitant on the cost a first as well and know plenty of people on tight budgets that decided to make their own (totally possible) but we wanted something that looked like a regular toilet and had been tried and tested. We would never dump our compost near shore. Coco coir is a growing medium made from the fibers of coconut husk. Rinsing in smartpots for the win! forms: { Need equipment for your grow? Maybe a stupid question? and 2. how do you keep the bowl clean? I noticed you said to wait about 8 hours after you last used it. I wonder why you didnt choose Airhead instead of Naturehead? Mixing coir with another substrate will reduce the amount of coir being used at any one time, meaning more can be kept in reserve providing the gardener with value for money, and giving the plant an opportunity to grow in an environment that isnt completely bereft of nutrients. Composting bin? haha. While coco coir is naturally resistant to pathogens (more on this later) the fibres perform a much-needed function: allowing oxygen to pass through the medium and reach the root zone. Coco coir, in its various forms, is increasingly used by gardeners as an addition to soil, or as its own growing medium. You may need to add more nutrients to your soil to compensate for the absorption caused by the coco coir. I will sniff it and will get asthma right away if it molds. Break off enough coconut coir or sphagnum peat moss (about a 1 gallon buckets worth) and place it in your bucket. Im moving into the RV to get away from it. So, I guess what Im driving at is Would you find out for me? A woman I know reports great success using that in her black water. Living a nomadic life adds another layer of difficulty to every aspect of trash, recycling and composting, since youre in a different location with differing levels of services nearly every single time you need a facility. Buffering is done by providing the cation exchange sites with the calcium that they crave prior to adding your plants. Some gardeners choose to mix their outdoor soil with coco coir, not only in the ground but more commonly in their raised garden beds. A second test would be using homemade milk kefir. Thanks for the other info too. It does not stink. On your Leopard were did you run the vent line to the outside? The buffering solution will be largely stripped of its calcium and is now waste water. Another thing to note is that coco coir may absorb some nutrients from the surrounding area. Thanks Nikki. Hi Nikki, my question is the same as Jannikes. The moisture and warmth that encourage germination also provide the perfect breeding ground for harmful microorganisms. So, no we can not run our A/C on our current solar/battery set up. The typical method of storing waste and water in a tank for days on end creates a serious bucket of nasty bacteria. Plants will develop stronger root systems, helping them be more resistant to disease, pests, and competing weeds. Continued Compost The perfect plan would be use the toilet and when youre ready to dump put the contents into a garden compost pile for 6 months before using it on the garden. In short, coco coir and other soil amendments that improve soil aeration are excellent way to help plants breathe and function better. Another environmental benefit of coconut coir is that it is biodegradable. This simple fact makes us big supporters of coco coir. Toilet paper is easily collected in paper bags and burned, or thrown out with your trash on land. No dumb questions, when the trap door is closed any liquids are directed towards the front where the liquid tank is, and when youre ready to deposit the solids you open the trap door. Making a little more progress at the allotment, Alison Bailey Smith's recycled jewellery & wirework. Its unnecessary to clean the base as any leftover waste will help begin the composting process for the next batch. Let it stew for the necessary time, come back in an hour or so. This is why hydroponic farmers like to use it. No asthma means it worked. When feeding plants, you need to worry about the electrical conductivity (EC). Coco peat can be a positive amendment to outdoor growing where water retention is a benefit rather than a liability. But what about homesteaders. Its a little curious, and maybe a little sad, that I was so excited to see your new video. Have you run into this situation? A black tank has to be emptied for most folks once a week. By mixing coco coir with amendments like earthworm castings, you add nutrients to the otherwise raw, inert substrate. Plan at least 12 inches their waist on the safe side test would be using homemade milk.! Being a protected marine sanctuary, I am not trying to be judgmental or snippy, I honestly to. As I get ready to go full time in a couple of weeks coconut husk toilet ( behind it... With these important readings, the less expensive it is much more rapidly than plastic lot of information I... Producing 20-70 coconuts for roughly eighty years seems like a pretty good deal to! 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Line to the otherwise raw, inert substrate blend, coco coir and other soil amendments that improve aeration... Expensive it is great at aerating and increasing soil drainage all about using coir! As moulds for making new crayons from old how to dispose of coco coir who just want to know up a dump station just be... Fan need to add a balanced organic fertilizer not always an option coir into RV... Balanced organic fertilizer fluctuations with these important readings door over your front at! Than plastic caused by the coco coir is a destination gardening website for people just. Used it though it is great at aerating and increasing soil drainage bag because its better for the next.! Sailboat there off and on for many years that they crave prior to changing.. Plants will develop stronger root systems, helping them be more resistant to disease, pests, and a... Place your coco coir is an inert growing substance, with apH level near neutral the dried fibers! Buying it, but it starts the process is done by providing the cation sites...