Sh*t Happens
Daniel N Smith Jr
There is one event that happens daily, sometimes more, sometimes less, that is so powerful, so primal, so fundamental that it has the ability to shi*t our worldview and help each of us see ourselves as a part of, not apart from, nature. Every day you are alive and allowing the sh*t to happen in a way that is appropriate to life, science and the systems view of the world is a day where new things can become. Each sh*t brings you closer to your true nature. A part of the world, its master perhaps,
but its servant as well.
Recognizing that mindset is the wellspring that gives rise to our intentions and that it is also one of the most fundamental leverage points, it is imperative to facilitate mind-changing on a massive scale to prepare. I propose that the fastest way to solve the vast majority of humanities ills is to expose people to the fundamental rules of the earth system. The goal of sustainability is not typically framed as “humanity operating within the boundaries of natural systems,” but that is what it means, on a functional level. After the shi*t happens people will begin to see that it is not consuming that is the problem, it is the very concept of sh*t. That concept is man-made and does not exist in nature. When the shi*t happens you realize that waste = food and shed the flat-earth linear perspective in favor of the whole-earth systems perspective.
By building and operating composting toilets at temporary venues like concerts and festivals, we can quickly challenge the very concept of “waste” and expose it for what it really is: a organism-specific view, not “truth” in an ecological sense.
The cherry tree does not fret over an over production of buds and blossoms. It does not worry about sh*t, because it knows of no such thing. It does not exist. No waste ever occurs. Even at its death, the ultimate ‘oh sh*t’, the cherry tree is a part of something greater. Its death brings life.
When people say sh*t happens, it is generally understood that translates into “bad things happen.” Why is that so? Why is sh*t equated with bad? It was not always so. We are experiencing a fundamental disconnect with the cycles of life. We view the world through an organism-specific lense. We see our own sh*t as bad, no matter if it comes from your body or your industrial process. It is garbage to be disposed of as quickly as possible. We view everything in a generally linear fashion. We have a flat-earth view.
Biologists, ecologists and chemists know that sh*t is a matter of perspective. In reality, there is no ‘bad’ in the purely natural world. Bad is a human value judgement. In the earth system, everything is connected and a part of the whole. Waste from one is food for another. There is no such thing as ‘sh*t’ as perceived by humans. Can you go ‘in’ something without coming ‘out’ of something else?
In essence, waste exists in every sector of society as a result of an incomplete view of our place on earth. Some waste is from primary functions, others from secondary functions. Some waste is ‘created’ or ‘realized’ in the home or workplace, others far from view of the final ‘consumer’. Some symptoms of this view are manifest in aggressive production techniques that are ‘efficient’ in one measure, but not efficient, or productive in the total sense of the system.
Composting humanure on a wide scale would accomplish many, many things on the surface that would be very difficult to accomplish individually. If we can leap ahead closer to a preferred state and say that a critical mass of humans adopt this approach, it would be illustrative of some benefits. Since my future town would have copious, and ever-growing quantities of nutritious soil, it stands to reason that we would take an interest in growing things of use for ourselves. Whether local farmer, community garden or personal garden, fresh seasonal locally grown and more nutricious produce would dramatically increase and factory farming, topsoil losing, oil guzzling farming of distant lands would decrease. Water usage per household would decrease by nearly half, probably more by the elimination of the very concept of ‘black’ water. Greywater and rainwater systems would proliferate.
The big changes will emanate from this. What other patterns will reveal themselves to children who start with such a profound and ever-increasing connection to the earth? We will change mindsets of all involved. This will allow the changing the goals of all systems. People are missing the opportunity to know, at a fundamental level, what it means to be human and what it means to be a part of, not apart from nature.
When you live life within a system, you realize that strength comes from resilience, not any individual event that happens within a system. Freedom comes from pattern, not the false notion that you can do anything at anytime. After the shi*t, you realize that true freedom comes from knowing your importance within place, the fact that you fill a need. Things could not exist in the way that they do without your help, guidance, and your waste.
By facilitating the very elimination of the concept of sh*t, we will facilitate the most fundamental shi*t humanity has seen.
Goal: To have operational prototype portable compost toilets in 2008 with the ability to go commercial during the summer of 2009.
Next steps:
- Identify state rules and regulations governing the transport of “humanure”
- Identify potential recipients of “humanure” among local organic farms and other like-minded organizations
- Build a prototype toilet system, use regularly and compost humanure.
- Enlist local university or college for testing composted humanure to assure safety
Recognizing that mindset is the wellspring that gives rise to our intentions and that it is also one of the most fundamental leverage points, it is imperative to facilitate mind-changing on a massive scale to prepare. I propose that the fastest way to solve the vast majority of humanities ills is to expose people to the fundamental rules of the earth system. The goal of sustainability is not typically framed as “humanity operating within the boundaries of natural systems,” but that is what it means, on a functional level. After the shi*t happens people will begin to see that it is not consuming that is the problem, it is the very concept of sh*t. That concept is man-made and does not exist in nature. When the shi*t happens you realize that waste = food and shed the flat-earth linear perspective in favor of the whole-earth systems perspective.
By building and operating composting toilets at temporary venues like concerts and festivals, we can quickly challenge the very concept of “waste” and expose it for what it really is: a organism-specific view, not “truth” in an ecological sense.
The cherry tree does not fret over an over production of buds and blossoms. It does not worry about sh*t, because it knows of no such thing. It does not exist. No waste ever occurs. Even at its death, the ultimate ‘oh sh*t’, the cherry tree is a part of something greater. Its death brings life.
When people say sh*t happens, it is generally understood that translates into “bad things happen.” Why is that so? Why is sh*t equated with bad? It was not always so. We are experiencing a fundamental disconnect with the cycles of life. We view the world through an organism-specific lense. We see our own sh*t as bad, no matter if it comes from your body or your industrial process. It is garbage to be disposed of as quickly as possible. We view everything in a generally linear fashion. We have a flat-earth view.
Biologists, ecologists and chemists know that sh*t is a matter of perspective. In reality, there is no ‘bad’ in the purely natural world. Bad is a human value judgement. In the earth system, everything is connected and a part of the whole. Waste from one is food for another. There is no such thing as ‘sh*t’ as perceived by humans. Can you go ‘in’ something without coming ‘out’ of something else?
In essence, waste exists in every sector of society as a result of an incomplete view of our place on earth. Some waste is from primary functions, others from secondary functions. Some waste is ‘created’ or ‘realized’ in the home or workplace, others far from view of the final ‘consumer’. Some symptoms of this view are manifest in aggressive production techniques that are ‘efficient’ in one measure, but not efficient, or productive in the total sense of the system.
Composting humanure on a wide scale would accomplish many, many things on the surface that would be very difficult to accomplish individually. If we can leap ahead closer to a preferred state and say that a critical mass of humans adopt this approach, it would be illustrative of some benefits. Since my future town would have copious, and ever-growing quantities of nutritious soil, it stands to reason that we would take an interest in growing things of use for ourselves. Whether local farmer, community garden or personal garden, fresh seasonal locally grown and more nutricious produce would dramatically increase and factory farming, topsoil losing, oil guzzling farming of distant lands would decrease. Water usage per household would decrease by nearly half, probably more by the elimination of the very concept of ‘black’ water. Greywater and rainwater systems would proliferate.
The big changes will emanate from this. What other patterns will reveal themselves to children who start with such a profound and ever-increasing connection to the earth? We will change mindsets of all involved. This will allow the changing the goals of all systems. People are missing the opportunity to know, at a fundamental level, what it means to be human and what it means to be a part of, not apart from nature.
When you live life within a system, you realize that strength comes from resilience, not any individual event that happens within a system. Freedom comes from pattern, not the false notion that you can do anything at anytime. After the shi*t, you realize that true freedom comes from knowing your importance within place, the fact that you fill a need. Things could not exist in the way that they do without your help, guidance, and your waste.
By facilitating the very elimination of the concept of sh*t, we will facilitate the most fundamental shi*t humanity has seen.
Goal: To have operational prototype portable compost toilets in 2008 with the ability to go commercial during the summer of 2009.
Next steps:
- Identify state rules and regulations governing the transport of “humanure”
- Identify potential recipients of “humanure” among local organic farms and other like-minded organizations
- Build a prototype toilet system, use regularly and compost humanure.
- Enlist local university or college for testing composted humanure to assure safety
Login to add/view comments
