What's Inside

Essential Composting Toilets is a streamlined, illustrated manual that takes a practical approach to system selection criteria, design, installation, and operation, while meeting universal health and safety objectives.

 

COMPOSTING HUMANURE

A walk through the process of looking after the compost processing pile for the batch commode (or humanure) system.  This is just one of many compost toilet systems described in the book. 

REGENERATIVE DESIGN:  FOOD, ENERGY, WATER, LIFESTYLE

Ann and Gord Baird walk their talk of resilient living at their Eco-Sense homestead located near Victoria, BC, Canada. Features of their home include solar PV with grid tie, solar thermal hot water, energy and water conservation, compost toilets, rainwater harvesting, grey-water re-use, living roof, earthen floors, natural finishes, and food gardens all integrated into their exceptionally beautiful and affordable example of earthen architecture. 

The Eco-Sense Homestead and farm is a nursery for perennial Edible Plants for food resilence in a changing climate.  They teach and host workshops and tours on a broad range of topics including food, water, and energy systems to build backyard and community resilience while teaching the hands on skills enabling successful outcomes.

​

Less Life Stuff, More Life Style!

AboutGord

Integrated Systems Design: Water, Energy, Buildings, Soil

​

• Co-Author of the book "Essential Composting Toilets" published by New Society Publishers in Oct 2018

• Technical editor for the Manual of Composting Toilets and Greywater Practice for the province of BC

• Accredited Professional with the American Rain Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA)

• Co-creator/builder of the award-winning Eco-Sense home; awarded Living Building Challenge petal recognition in 2010. 

• Councillor District of Highlands 2014-present

• Sits as a Water commissiosoner on both the Juan de Fuca and CRD water commissions

• Gord’s formal education is experimental (neural) psychology and business (accounting). 

AboutAnn

Regenerative Design: Food, Water, Energy, Lifestyle

​

• Co-Author of the book "Essential Composting Toilets" published by New Society Publishers in Oct 2018

• Grows and processes 100% of the family fruits and vegetables.  Radical Homesteading.

• Co-creator/builder of the award-winning Eco-Sense home; awarded Living Building Challenge petal recognition in 2010. 

• Councillor District of Highlands 2014-present

• Involved with Adaptation, Mitigation, and local Resilience in the face of a rapidly changing climate

• Ann’s formal education is a BSc in Biology '91

  • Worked in forestry, respiratory medicine, microbiology, and entomology. ​

• Worked for many years in bookkeeping and financial management for small business