Sawdust for Composting/Sawdust toilets

[craftychick]

We did it; we bought 4.5 acres in Texas County, MO!! InterCounty Electric is setting a pole and the electric service within the next two weeks, so we can use our power tools on our next trip down. We are so excited.

While we are getting the cabin set up as well as putting in the plumbing & septic, we will be using sawdust toilets.
I noticed down the road about 6 miles is a cedar sawmill that had huge piles of sawdust. Can I safely use cedar sawdust or does it have to be pine?

I don't know which kind of sawdust is best to control odors but also to compost out over a reasonable time.

Any help would be great.

[Seth]

In an imperative situation, don't be picky. Seth

[craftychick]

Originally Posted by Seth

In an imperative situation, don't be picky. Seth

I agree but if I have a choice of cedar or pine, which one composts out better? For some reason, I thought that cedar wasn't as affected by moisture(maybe it was cypress) so I wondered if it would be a problem in a sawdust toilet application.

thanks for the reply.

[big rockpile]

Should be someone sawing Oak around there, I always liked it best. I live in Laclede County give a holler if you need ideas or help.

big rockpile

[Forerunner]

Either will work great for eliminating odor in your immediate application.
The pine will break down a little quicker in the compost pile.
I wouldn't be afraid of the cedar....maybe just give it a little more time to break down before using the compost....maybe 18 months....

Rockpile is right....Oak would be the best choice all around, cuz it composts faster and still does a fine job eliminating odor. We use oak almost exclusively, for its availability here.

[craftychick]

Thank you Big Rockpile and Forerunner; I think I saw another sawmill in our local area and although I don't know what kind of hardwood logs they were, I know they weren't cedar.

Big Rockpile, once we get down there, we will give you a shout. My husband would appreciate making a new friend, not to mention someone to show him where there are good fishing areas. I would be happy to meet you and your wife. I will also have lots of questions while I'm learning all about gardening in the Ozarks.

[anahatalotus]

I would just fill barrels or trash bags at the local Amish mill for free. But then again I'm not to picky when it comes to what cn go in my loveable Loo, lol. I had never thought about it before but the might be w chance that pine or another conifer might be too acidic. I remember reading in a permaculture book that you do not want to use confess like pine in hugelcultures because they are more acidic than other trees. Anyways sawdust works best and wood chips work okay too. Good luck with your adventures in humanure

[big rockpile]

Originally Posted by craftychick

Thank you Big Rockpile and Forerunner; I think I saw another sawmill in our local area and although I don't know what kind of hardwood logs they were, I know they weren't cedar.

Big Rockpile, once we get down there, we will give you a shout. My husband would appreciate making a new friend, not to mention someone to show him where there are good fishing areas. I would be happy to meet you and your wife. I will also have lots of questions while I'm learning all about gardening in the Ozarks.

Truth most time I go the other direction but I'm wanting to explore MTNF over your way. You do have a Good Fishing river that way. Never fished it but heard all Good. Oh Gardening in the Ozarks isn't hard, get by the rocks and you have good soil.

big rockpile

[craftychick]

On our last trip down to TX county, we went over to Montauk State Park and watched many people catching trout on the Current River. Neither my husband or I have ever caught a trout other than at a pay lake so the thought of catching a few for dinner sounds like fun.
Someone said the Gasconade(sp?) River is good too but I have no idea where that is in relationship to Raymondville, Mo.

I noticed I'm already growing a good crop of rocks , in fact there is a beautiful rock ledge that looks like a rock ampitheater and runs the property north to south for about 200'. I am thinking it might be better to use raised beds at least until I have the soil built up and some of the rocks removed.

[big rockpile]

Ok I looked, your 75 miles from us and that is cutting across country.

Seems like your best fishing is Piney River West of Houston.

Must say your in middle of nowhere, last time I was there went looking for a Logging Truck. Spent interesting night with a family in the area. They was nice just interesting.

big rockpile

[craftychick]

Originally Posted by big rockpile

Ok I looked, your 75 miles from us and that is cutting across country.

Seems like your best fishing is Piney River West of Houston.

Must say your in middle of nowhere, last time I was there went looking for a Logging Truck. Spent interesting night with a family in the area. They was nice just interesting.

big rockpile

Yes, we found the 'end of the earth' homestead land. We definitely are out in the boonies but oddly, there is rural water available.

One thing we won't have unless we go with satellite is an internet connection. The nearest neighbors are so nice, helpful & welcoming and they did tell us, we have to get on a list for even dial up. Apparently, the lines for land lines are very, very old and none too reliable even for telephone service.
I will just use my cell phone since I did get a good signal even in the woods and the library is only about 8-10 miles away in Licking.

It's nice to chat with someone who knows the area.

[Jim-mi]

An inexpensive bag of lime will counter acidic sawdust. . . . . .small amounts.

[craftychick]

Thanks anahatalotus & Jim-mi

[Tabitha]

If you have a choice, take pine. It breaks down faster. It is not for nothing they use cedar for fence posts.

[jwal10]

Has anyone used the pellets that look the same as what are used in Pellet Stoves in composting toilets? They are not treated, people here use them for horse bedding....James

[anahatalotus]

Originally Posted by jwal10

Has anyone used the pellets that look the same as what are used in Pellet Stoves in composting toilets? They are not treated, people here use them for horse bedding....James

Not personally but I know some folks who did. They seem to compost faster than wood chips but a little slower than sawdust. The humanure pile they had was aged about one and a half years and it seemed to be mostly composed to me. However I opted to mix it into the animal manure pile and compost it again as the idea of using someone else's humanure was not as appealing as my own chickens poop, lol.

[cjean]

Just a little advice from personal experience....

If you can find fine-particle sawdust, like that from a bandsaw mill, it works much better than larger sized sawdust or shavings. The idea is to cover the toilet material (aka poo) with a layer that keeps too much air from circulating out of the bucket. Really cuts down on the smell.

[craftychick]

Originally Posted by cjean

Just a little advice from personal experience....

If you can find fine-particle sawdust, like that from a bandsaw mill, it works much better than larger sized sawdust or shavings. The idea is to cover the toilet material (aka poo) with a layer that keeps too much air from circulating out of the bucket. Really cuts down on the smell.

Thanks, that tip will help make life a little more pleasant.

[Nevada]

I was in that situation when I built my homestead cabin. I used a portable camping/RV toilet. Chemical kept it pleasant and I dumped it at the RV dump at a gas station (free if you bought gas).

http://www.electotronics.com/thetfor...ervtoilet.aspx



I picked mine up at Walmart for $69.99, but that was a few years ago.

[BlueRose]

I lived exactly 8 miles from Houston and 8 miles from Licking. Both Texas County Library system. Houston had more books but Licking had better internet. You said you where in Raymondville what part. Small town but lot of area.