EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Five, Number Four March/April 1996 COMPOSTING TOILET IN A CITY CHURCH ? Community Friends Meeting in Cincinnati, OH recently conducted an evaluation of the housekeeping practices in their Meeting House, using an ecological audit form with questions about energy use, food, cleaning supplies, and grounds keeping. The audit committee presented their recommendations during an adult education session. As an outcome of the audit, the Meeting has switched to energy-efficient light bulbs; uses organic fertilizer (horse manure) on the grounds; and posts a list of local vendors and growers of organically grown foods. Some recommendations were met with resistance. When the committee suggested that one half of the Meeting House's side yard, a space of 30x50 feet, be turned into a meadow, the people responsible for yard care objected to anything other than a neatly mowed lawn. The objectors relented after a visit by a naturalist from the local Nature Center. The side yard has since been allowed to grow; and wildflowers have been planted. Even less popular was the suggestion that composting toilets be installed. "People really have a phobia about this," said Bill Cahalan, initiator of the audit and a member of the Meeting's Unity with Nature Committee. Cahalan demonstrated the toilets at a Meeting campout in what he called a "desensitization ritual." The Meeting eventually agreed to raise money for one composting toilet. The other toilets have been altered to achieve minimum water usage in flushing. From "Ecological Audit Helps Cincinnati Meeting Do Its Part", BeFriending Creation, Jan-Feb 1996, Nancy Wick, editor, 2757 NE 96th St. Seattle WA 98115. Home     Table of Contents