Loo with a View

A toilet might not sound like the most exciting thing to write about, but ours isn’t your average bathroom setup. It’s eco-friendly, it’s resourceful, and, best of all, it comes with a view that makes the whole experience unforgettable.

Now, before you start worrying, yes, we do have normal toilets with water too! The compost toilet is just one of the options here, and it’s a surprisingly great one. It’s simple, low-maintenance, and fits perfectly with our permaculture lifestyle. Plus, it’s satisfying to know we’re turning something most people flush away into something useful.

Not only is our compost toilet functional, it’s also versatile. Consisting of two chambers, one serves as the toilet while the other is used as a shower. When the hole in the toilet chamber fills up, we simply move the throne to the shower chamber, turning that into the new toilet. The filled chamber is left to quietly work its magic, transforming waste into nutrient-rich humanure that can be used to nourish flowerbeds. No chemical fertilizer is needed; nature does all the heavy lifting. And meanwhile, the old toilet-chamber doubles as the new shower.

The current toilet chamber (left), and the current shower chamber (right) can easily switch places.

What really makes this setup special, though, is the view. Both the toilet and the shower overlook a stunning valley, offering sweeping vistas that make even the simplest routines feel remarkable.

A beautiful sunrise as seen from the toilet, and a lovely sunset as seen from the shower.

Let’s address the obvious concern: the smell. It’s easy to assume a compost toilet would stink, but that’s not the case here. A scoop of sawdust after each use keeps odours to a minimum and helps the composting process. The scent is more like wood shavings than anything severely unpleasant.

The shower is just as simple and efficient, heated entirely by the sun. Depending on when you shower, it might be brisk and cool in the morning or comfortably warm in the afternoon. Either way, it’s an experience that connects you to the elements.

Our compost toilet might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s taught us so much about sustainability, resourcefulness, and appreciating life’s simple pleasures. If you’re sceptical, just give it a try - you might end up a fan. And if not? Well, the flowers sure seem to appreciate it. By Alberte Bech Elholm