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Compost

This is probably one of the most essential parts of creating a sustainable community. Composting waste allows us to repurpose or waste while also thinking about the sorts of materials we bring in. As you’ll soon see, there are several compost systems that need to be tended to. For now, we’ll look at the compost bin outside the kitchen.  Unlike home systems, we compost on a scale that allows all food waste to disintegrate into healthy soil. When the bin is full, it can be taken down to larger containers located near the toilets. Empty the contents into a container that isn’t filled, and don’t forget to cover it with a nice layer of mulch to aid in the process.

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Gray-water systems

As our fresh water resources become more and more depleted, a great way to conserve water is to reuse it. All of the sinks and showers in Eco, rather than running straight back into public sewage, spill into simple filtration systems and irrigate plants. Our grey-water is pretty low maintenance, but it’s important to keep it free of clogs and running smoothly. Another thing to take note of is the outdoor sink, which spills out into a vermi-compost system, which is essentially a large container filled with mulch, food scraps, and worms. The worms consume the food and quickly create airy, nutrient rich soil.

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Kitchen

Aside from the grey-water, there’s little about the kitchen that’s different from any other kitchen. As long as it’s kept tidy, there’s little to worry about. Also, while there are gas stoves, the only ovens are wood-burning and made of mud. To cook with them, you’ll need to start a fire at least an hour before putting food in. The upshot to this is the great smoky flavor it leaves.

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Compost Toilets

Ever seen an animal poop in water? Of course not. That’s where the compost toilets come in. Rather than flush away our waste with clean water, we repurpose it for planting. Like most of the elements in Eco, the toilets are also low maintenance, but they do require the occasional sweeping. You’ll also notice a bucket of mulch inside. That’s for covering up after you’ve done your business so you can both prevent unwanted smell and add some carbon material to the compost. There’s a large pile of mulch outside the bathroom in case the bins inside are running low. Last but not least, the large green bins underneath the toilets will have to be switched out when full. There should be empty bins nearby. Just make sure that they have a 50-centimeter layer of mulch on the bottom before going in. It’s also best to have someone else stand in the stall above while you’re adjusting the bins so you know that they’re properly aligned with the toilet seat. The bins usually fill up every two weeks or so.

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Showers

Showering outdoors might just be one of life's greatest pleasures. Just make sure that the drains are clear and the floors are clean, because leaves and debris are unavoidable. Also remember to only use biodegradable products, since the gray-water systems recycle the water for plants, which can’t handle some of the harsh chemicals in many commercial products. 

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Solar Panels

Don’t fret. You don’t have to be an electrician to manage these. As long as they’re clean and don’t have leaves on them, they should be producing energy for charging and showers - depending on the amount of sunlight, of course.

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Big Dome/Meaningful(l) Tree/Zula

These three spaces are essentially the living rooms of Eco. You’ll find yourself rotating between them depending on the weather. Since the Meaningful Tree and the zula are both outside, they require regular, light cleaning. The Big Dome has the only fireplace in Eco, so during the winter it’s good to have a constant supply of wood to keep warm. Laundry is about once every two weeks, and is picked up and dropped off in the Big Dome.

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Clothing Exchange

Short on shorts? Got anything you no longer want or need? Drop it off here and make a trade. Just try and keep similar articles of clothes together so things are easy to find. Otherwise, happy hunting!