Inodoro Seco

As much as I like to dig holes to poo, those days are behind me since the baño seco is done (Thanks to Isac and Bolivar)! I remember the outhouse that was near the house where I grew up in and I always thought that it was a spider-infested, ghost closet. Now that I live in a place where water availability is sporatic and privacy is limited, I am a big fan of the `dry toilet´ concept. In retrospect I wish I would have appreciated that rickety out house (even though it´s long been demolished) in it´s efforts to be environmentally friendly and sustainable.

My dry toilet is a simple construction of bamboo, wood planks and posts, paja tocilla for the roof, a 30 gallon bucket for the feces and a funnel/hose combo for the urine. The idea was to make a more sanitary bathroom that uses local materials and could be easily reproduced. Previous Peace Corps volunteers have tried and used other styles and assure me that it won´t have a foul odor (I toss in wood chips or dry leaves every time) and that after 6 months of decomposing, I´ll also have a rich garden fertilizer free of charge. Along with my house...the door is open for you.