Comments?
For the basics, see
- Website & Privacy Policies
- How To Get Involved
- The Role of the Park
Search options:
Department Site Map
Custodians:
Printer friendly version
Biotoilet News 2008
Bio-Toilet News 2008
From the August 2008 Newsletter:
BIO-TOILET UPDATE
Summer 2008 is another year when there will be no kids’ bio-toilet near the playground. Although the City gave cob builder Georgie Donais a building permit, the design worked out between City Parks supervisor Peter Leiss and the architect he retained was for a small steel-beam bunker that was unsuitable for community-built construction. And cob construction is not yet explicitly recognized in the Ontario building code. However it is recognized in other jurisdictions, and there may be progress here soon. Meantime the $8000 bio-toilet donated to the park is in storage.
The construction fence is gone for now and the top of the rammed-earth foundation has been turned into an oval cob bench. (A recent visitor from New Mexico said that similar low benches around excavations can be found in his state – prehistoric holy sites!) Hopefully the oval bench will be the sitting-place for many good conversations. And when permission comes to build the cob housing for the bio-toilet, park users like those who helped build the cob courtyard (500 pairs of hands by the end) will be able to help create another shapely, ecologically ingenious building.
From the July 2008 Newsletter:
BIO-TOILET UPDATE
Summer 2008 is another year when there will be no kids’ toilet near the playground. Although the City gave cob builder Georgie Donais a building permit, the design worked out between City Parks supervisor Peter Leiss and the architect he retained was for a small steel-beam bunker that was unsuitable for community-built construction. And cob construction is not yet explicitly recognized in the Ontario building code. However it is recognized in other jurisdictions, and there may be progress here soon. Meantime the $8000 bio-toilet donated to the park is in storage.
The construction fence is gone for now and the top of the rammed-earth foundation has been turned into an oval cob bench. Hopefully it will be the sitting-place for many good conversations. And when permission comes to build the cob housing for the toilet, park users like those who helped build the cob courtyard (500 pairs of hands by the end) will be able to help create another shapely, ecologically ingenious building.
News of Earthen Buildings in Public Space
from the April newsletter:
The unsightly snow fence and clay piles around the bio-toilet foundation: No building yet – the Parks-sponsored plan that the Building Department approved with a permit is too much like a bunker to work for anyone, and vastly adds to the cost. The City is not currently willing to contribute to that cost at all. So it’s back to the drawing board. Local, cutting-edge architect Rohan Walters is generously giving very good, intriguing advice on this. But that will take more time to work out. In the meantime, Georgie Donais has been making plans with recreation staff, on how to secure the foundation so that no snow fence is needed. That cleanup will start as soon as the ground dries out enough. The area will be transformed – for this year – into a sitting-place with interesting signboards, and some on-site summer film nights about alternative building techniques and environmental stewardship of public space.
Simon, Greg Sarah and Silvie are building a false
floor. Livia is watching
Almost done. Emily, Heidrun and Mario holding out
despite of wintery temperatures
posted May 18, 2008
We are transforming the bio-toilet site into earthen bench seating and a conversation area.
We are almost done the cobbing. Tomorrow, Victoria day, 12-4 we will finish shaping the bench.
The next task is cover the big bench with Earthen Plaster.
Please come by, help and learn by doing the whole process: mixing, applying and burnishing.
- Wednesday May 21 3 - 7
- Thursday May 22 3 - 7 only interrupted by grocery shopping at the Farmer's market
posted May 22, 2008
We finished the scratch layer now will plaster the second and last layer giving the bench it final look.
- Friday May 23 1 - 5
- Saturday I am taking off
- But Sunday May 25 12 - 4
- Monday May 26 12 - 4
- And Tuesday May 27 3 - 7
Nick and Heidrun are cobbing
posted June 04, 2008
Yes, we are almost done,we only need some sunny and warm days to let the cob and plaster completely dry. Then we will cover the new bench with linseed oil for rain protection.
posted July 07, 2008
Yes we are done.
News of Earthen Buildings in Public Space. Other Sites
posted May 01, 2008
Toronto Botanical Garden
Earth Building Workshop
Lecture: Fri., May 2, 7 to 9 p.m.
Workshop: Sat.& Sun., May 3 & 4, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Toronto Botanical Garden Website
posted May 01, 2008
Everdale Farm & Learning Centre
Cob in the park is partnering with Everdale Environmental Learning Centre to participate in
Toronto Renewable Energy Co-op’s Kidtricity Festival May 7 - 10, 2008. at Exhibition Place in Toronto.
On Saturday May 10th The Kidtricity is open for the public.
Here are the flyers:
Everdale Farm & Learning Centre Website
posted May 01, 2008
The Village Building Convergence 2008
is a 10-day event from Friday, May 23rd – Sunday, June 1, 2008 in which neighborhoods activate to build shared public places that they have envisioned, designed, funded, and will maintain for themselves.
posted May 01, 2008
Natural Building Colloquium East
The fifth annual! ~ * ~ Seven full days!
Sunday, July 27 through Saturday, August 2, 2008
hosted by 'The PeaceWeavers'
Thunder Mountain — Bath, New York
Natural Building Colloquium Website
posted May 01, 2008
by Georgie Donais:
Doni & Kaki: earthbagging success
A hearty thank you to all those who came out to hear these two speak at the park about their earthbagging work around the globe. Attendees were so inspired that they bought every copy of their book that Doni & Kaki had brought to sell. And there were lots of autograph requests!
posted April 18, 2008
Earthbaggers Extraordinaire are coming to Dufferin Grove Park
Saturday April 26, evening, at Dufferin Grove Park rinkhouse. Public dinner at 6:00pm (donation), Speakers at 7:30 (free)
See event's poster
From Georgie Donais:
I'm thrilled to announce that earthbaggers extraordinaire Doni Kiffmeyer and Kaki Hunter are coming to Toronto next weekend. We have invited them to give us a presentation at the park about their work around the globe next Saturday (April 26). More details to come. If you have an interest in seeing interesting and successful examples of natural building shared by two very interesting and entertaining people, then please come on by the rinkhouse next Saturday evening.
See the website of Doni and Kaki at www.okokok.org