Tree bog

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A Treebog is a type of low-tech compost toilet. It consists of a raised platform above a compost pile surrounded by densely planted willow trees or other nutrient-hungry vegetation. It can be considered an example of permaculture design, as it functions as a system for converting urine and feces to biomass, without the need to handle excreta.

Permaculture agriculture practices using few energy resources and human intervention

Permaculture is a set of design principles centered around whole systems thinking simulating or directly utilizing the patterns and resilient features observed in natural ecosystems. It uses these principles in a growing number of fields from regenerative agriculture, rewilding, community, and organizational design and development.

Biomass Biological material used as a renewable energy source

Biomass in the sense discussed here is plant or animal material not used for food or feed; it can be purposely grown energy crops, waste from food crops, horticulture, waste from food processing, animal farming, or human waste from sewage plants. Biomass is used for energy production, heat production, or in various industrial processes as raw material for a range of products.

Etymology

The term "Treebog" was coined Jay Abrahams of Biologic Design. Bog is a British English slang word for toilet, not to be confused with its other meaning of wetland.

British English is the standard dialect of English language as spoken and written in the United Kingdom. Variations exist in formal, written English in the United Kingdom. For example, the adjective wee is almost exclusively used in parts of Scotland and Ireland, and occasionally Yorkshire, whereas little is predominant elsewhere. Nevertheless, there is a meaningful degree of uniformity in written English within the United Kingdom, and this could be described by the term British English. The forms of spoken English, however, vary considerably more than in most other areas of the world where English is spoken, so a uniform concept of British English is more difficult to apply to the spoken language. According to Tom McArthur in the Oxford Guide to World English, British English shares "all the ambiguities and tensions in the word 'British' and as a result can be used and interpreted in two ways, more broadly or more narrowly, within a range of blurring and ambiguity".

Toilet Piece of hardware for the collection of disposal of human excreta

A toilet is a piece of hardware used for the collection or disposal of human urine and feces. In other words: "Toilets are sanitation facilities at the user interface that allow the safe and convenient urination and defecation". Toilets can be with or without flushing water. They can be set up for a sitting posture or for a squatting posture. Flush toilets are usually connected to a sewer system in urban areas and to septic tanks in less built-up areas. Dry toilets are connected to a pit, removable container, composting chamber, or other storage and treatment device. Toilets are commonly made of ceramic (porcelain), concrete, plastic, or wood.

Wetland A land area that is permanently or seasonally saturated with water

A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is inundated by water, either permanently or seasonally, where oxygen-free processes prevail. The primary factor that distinguishes wetlands from other land forms or water bodies is the characteristic vegetation of aquatic plants, adapted to the unique hydric soil. Wetlands play a number of functions, including water purification, water storage, processing of carbon and other nutrients, stabilization of shorelines, and support of plants and animals. Wetlands are also considered the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems, serving as home to a wide range of plant and animal life. Whether any individual wetland performs these functions, and the degree to which it performs them, depends on characteristics of that wetland and the lands and waters near it. Methods for rapidly assessing these functions, wetland ecological health, and general wetland condition have been developed in many regions and have contributed to wetland conservation partly by raising public awareness of the functions and the ecosystem services some wetlands provide.

History

The Treebog is a simple method of composting wastes. Abrahams claims that from 1995-2011, around 1500 Treebogs may have been built in Britain. [1] They have been on sites ranging from fruit farms, pick-your-own enterprises, campsites, an angling lake, festival sites, remote/low impact dwellings, holiday cottages, allotments, and church yards where there is no mains water supply.

In 2011, Abrahams claimed that the Treebog had attracted the attention of NGOs and aid workers who hope to develop its potential for shanty towns or refugee camps - anywhere that water is scarce and the population pressure on resources is high. [1]

Plant growth

A Treebog is simply a controlled compost heap whose function has been enhanced by use of moisture or nutrient-hungry trees. They use no water, purify waste as they create a biomass resource, and also contain the organic waste material, thus preventing the spread of disease.

The main requirement is that the planted species should be nutrient-hungry. It is a bonus if they can be harvested or coppiced for productive uses, e.g. willow cultivars. Apart from willow coppice, soft fruit such as black currants and sweet-smelling herbs such as mint will thrive around a Treebog. If left unmanaged, a Treebog will soon be surrounded by weed species such as nettles, but a little management and conscious planting can create a fertile and productive bog garden.

Both the solids and liquids are deposited within the Treebog base, where the solids compost and the liquids soak through the soil. The associated dense root zone enables the nitrogen to be rapidly absorbed and metabolized by the mycorhyzal species. The feces are contained within the treebog base, which is well ventilated to allow aerobic decomposition to occur, the mineralized material feeding the trees around it.

Construction

A seating platform/cubicle is mounted at least one meter high. The area beneath the seating platform is enclosed by a double-layer of chicken wire; this acts as an effective child-proof barrier and allows air to circulate through the compost heap.This allows for optimum plant growing conditions.

Sawdust, straw, woodchip, ash or other high-carbon matter is used to balance the high-nitrogen content of the urine. One design used Effective Micro-organism bran, which helped keep the Treebog virtually odour free. [2]

The space between the wire is stuffed with straw, which acts as a wick to help sop up excess urine, preventing the likelihood of odour problems due to incomplete biological absorption of the nitrogen from the urine. The straw-filled wire also enables the pile to be well-aerated whilst acting as a visual screen for the first year’s use.

The structure is surrounded by two closely planted rows of osier or biomass willow cuttings; this living wall of willow can then be woven into a hurdle-like structure and its annual growth can be harvested.

See also

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Composting toilet A type of toilet that treats human excreta by a biological process called composting

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Night soil Historically used euphemism for human excreta collected from cesspools, privies, pail closets, pit latrines etc.

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Human waste refers to the waste products of the human digestive system and the human metabolism, namely feces and urine. As part of a sanitation system that is in place, human waste is collected, transported, treated and disposed of or reused by one method or another, depending on the type of toilet being used, ability by the users to pay for services and other factors.

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Urine-diverting dry toilet Dry toilet with separate collection of feces and urine without any flush water

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Reuse of excreta Safe, beneficial use of animal or human excreta

Reuse of excreta refers to the safe, beneficial use of animal or human excreta, i.e. feces and urine. Such beneficial use involves mainly the nutrient, organic matter and energy contained in excreta, rather than the water content. Reuse of excreta can involve using it as soil conditioner or fertilizer in agriculture, gardening, aquaculture or horticultural activities. Excreta can also be used as a fuel source or as a building material.

Container-based sanitation Sanitation system where toilets collect human excreta in sealable, removable containers

Container-based sanitation refers to a sanitation system where toilets collect human excreta in sealable, removable containers that are transported to treatment facilities. This type of sanitation involves a commercial service which provides toilets and delivers empty containers when picking up full ones. The service transports and safely disposes of or reuses collected excreta.

References

  1. 1 2 "The Making of a Biologic Treebog". LivingWoods Magazine: 10–13. January–February 2011.
  2. ↑ Tim Green (18 May 2011). "A Loo with a View - Build your own Treebog". Permaculture Magazine. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
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