Copyright Bruce Loxton No parts may be copied without express approval
Composting Medium
First off, it’s important to know that coconut “coir” is preferred as the “composting medium” compared to peat moss. Coconut is easily renewable (it’s coconut husks) while it takes millions of years for peat to form. Coconut coir has to have water added to it and then be crumbled up before use. It expands tremendously as water is added. So here’s the dilemma: add too much water and you’ll have a foul seepage around the crank handle; don’t add enough and it will absorb water from the waste deposits and expand and overfill the compartment so that the handle won’t turn. Use just 1 cup of water per 1 kg brick , and initially fill the composting bin about 50mm short of the agitator . It’s also important to use less coconut in the initial fill than peat moss, as coconut swells as it absorbs water and peat doesn’t. How Often To Change Once you get the procedure down and aren’t having to clean up a mess because of too- watery coconut, it takes about 30 minutes to change it. People ask about the “yuck” factor of dealing with emptying the urine bottle and changing compost. You will find both to be far less objectionable than emptying a chemical or maceration toilet. Replacement seals and valves also cost considerably more than the coconut you use. Finally, dumping urine or changing coconut are relatively quick jobs compared to the alternative.
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