A treebog is a type of low-techcompost 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.
A Treebog could be built with a bench-type seat, as in this ArborLoo, only there is no hole in the ground and it is raised one meter above the ground. The excrement is surrounded by a barrier of mesh, straw, and trees, such as willows.
Defecating in nature is frowned upon in most countries, as it pollutes the environment and causes health problems. High levels of open defecation are linked to high child mortality, poor nutrition, poverty, and large disparities between the rich and the poor.[1][2]: 11 Human faeces normally take about a year to biodegrade outdoors.[3] In the UK, a system like this is potentially legal, so long as it not in a public place, i.e. on a large private estate.[4]
The term "Treebog" was coined by Jay Abrahams. Bog is a British English slang word for toilet, not to be confused with its other meaning of wetland.
Historyedit
Plastic mesh would be preferable to avoid rust and the release of heavy metals. A mesh could potentially even be woven from strips cut from plastic bottles rescued from the garbage.
The treebog is a simple method of composting wastes. Abrahams claims that from 1995-2011, around 1500 treebogs may have been built in Britain.[5]
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.[5]
Plant growthedit
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 pollarded for productive uses, e.g. willow cultivars. Apart from willows, mint will thrive around a treebog. If left unmanaged, a treebog will soon be surrounded by weed species, such as nettles.
Both the solids and liquids are deposited within the treebog base, where the solids compost and the liquids soak through the soil. The roots and associated mycorrhizal species allow the nitrogen to be absorbed. The faeces should be well ventilated to allow aerobic decomposition.
Constructionedit
Coppiced willows or other species of trees help to contain the feces and create a place where they decompose quickly.
A seating platform/cubicle is mounted at least one meter high. The area beneath the seating platform is enclosed by two layers of chicken wire or plastic mesh, which act as an effective child-proof barrier and allows air to circulate through the compost heap. Plastic mesh or chicken wire coated in plastic would prevent problems with rusting.
Sawdust, straw, woodchip, ash or other high-carbon matter is used to cover the excrement and balance the high nitrogen content of the urine. One design uses bran to help mitigate the odours.[6]
The space between the two layers of mesh 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 Salix viminalis or other willow cuttings; this living wall of willow can then be woven into a hurdle-like structure and its annual growth can be harvested.
See alsoedit
Arborloo , a similar concept, in which excrement goes into a hole in the ground and, when the hole starts to fill, the outhouse is moved to another hole, and a tree is planted in the old hole.
^Clasen; Boisson; Routray; Torondel; et al. (2014). "Effectiveness of a rural sanitation programme on diarrhoea, soil-transmitted helminth infection, and child malnutrition in Odisha, India: a cluster-randomised trial". The Lancet Global Health. 2 (11): e645–e653. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(14)70307-9. ISSN 2214-109X. PMID 25442689.
^Progress on drinking water and sanitation, 2014 Update. WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP). 2014. ISBN9789241507240.
^Martineau, Chantal (5 June 2019). "Nature is calling: Here's how to poop properly in the great outdoors". Roadtrippers. Roadtrippers, LLC 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
^"New Clause 16 - Summary offence of urination or defecation in a public place". TheyWorkForYou. mySociety. 6 March 2001. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
^ ab"The Making of a Biologic Treebog". LivingWoods Magazine: 10–13. January–February 2011.
^Tim Green (18 May 2011). "A Loo with a View - Build your own Treebog". Permaculture Magazine. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
"Woodland Toilets or Tree Bogs". WoodlandsTV. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
External linksedit
Build your own Treebog
February 26, 2024
treebog, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citati. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Treebog news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2007 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article possibly contains original research Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations Statements consisting only of original research should be removed February 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 A Treebog could be built with a bench type seat as in this ArborLoo only there is no hole in the ground and it is raised one meter above the ground The excrement is surrounded by a barrier of mesh straw and trees such as willows Defecating in nature is frowned upon in most countries as it pollutes the environment and causes health problems High levels of open defecation are linked to high child mortality poor nutrition poverty and large disparities between the rich and the poor 1 2 11 Human faeces normally take about a year to biodegrade outdoors 3 In the UK a system like this is potentially legal so long as it not in a public place i e on a large private estate 4 Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Plant growth 4 Construction 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEtymology editThe term Treebog was coined by Jay Abrahams Bog is a British English slang word for toilet not to be confused with its other meaning of wetland History edit nbsp Plastic mesh would be preferable to avoid rust and the release of heavy metals A mesh could potentially even be woven from strips cut from plastic bottles rescued from the garbage The treebog is a simple method of composting wastes Abrahams claims that from 1995 2011 around 1500 treebogs may have been built in Britain 5 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 5 Plant growth editA 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 pollarded for productive uses e g willow cultivars Apart from willows mint will thrive around a treebog If left unmanaged a treebog will soon be surrounded by weed species such as nettles Both the solids and liquids are deposited within the treebog base where the solids compost and the liquids soak through the soil The roots and associated mycorrhizal species allow the nitrogen to be absorbed The faeces should be well ventilated to allow aerobic decomposition Construction edit nbsp Coppiced willows or other species of trees help to contain the feces and create a place where they decompose quickly A seating platform cubicle is mounted at least one meter high The area beneath the seating platform is enclosed by two layers of chicken wire or plastic mesh which act as an effective child proof barrier and allows air to circulate through the compost heap Plastic mesh or chicken wire coated in plastic would prevent problems with rusting Sawdust straw woodchip ash or other high carbon matter is used to cover the excrement and balance the high nitrogen content of the urine One design uses bran to help mitigate the odours 6 The space between the two layers of mesh 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 Salix viminalis or other 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 editArborloo a similar concept in which excrement goes into a hole in the ground and when the hole starts to fill the outhouse is moved to another hole and a tree is planted in the old hole Ecological sanitation Reuse of excreta Urine diverting Dry ToiletReferences edit Clasen Boisson Routray Torondel et al 2014 Effectiveness of a rural sanitation programme on diarrhoea soil transmitted helminth infection and child malnutrition in Odisha India a cluster randomised trial The Lancet Global Health 2 11 e645 e653 doi 10 1016 S2214 109X 14 70307 9 ISSN 2214 109X PMID 25442689 Progress on drinking water and sanitation 2014 Update WHO UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation JMP 2014 ISBN 9789241507240 Martineau Chantal 5 June 2019 Nature is calling Here s how to poop properly in the great outdoors Roadtrippers Roadtrippers LLC 2020 Retrieved 1 December 2020 New Clause 16 Summary offence of urination or defecation in a public place TheyWorkForYou mySociety 6 March 2001 Retrieved 1 December 2020 a b The Making of a Biologic Treebog LivingWoods Magazine 10 13 January February 2011 Tim Green 18 May 2011 A Loo with a View Build your own Treebog Permaculture Magazine Retrieved 23 February 2012 Woodland Toilets or Tree Bogs WoodlandsTV 15 May 2009 Retrieved 23 February 2012 External links editBuild your own Treebog Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Treebog amp oldid 1145061537, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
