Separate & collect
A urine diverter sends liquids to a separate system. Solids and toilet paper collect in a removable can beneath the seat.
WATERLESS TOILETS. ROOTED IN PERMACULTURE.
A better
way to go.
Clean water starts at home. Meet the Willow Feeder: a waterless toilet system that keeps solids out of wastewater and returns nutrients to trees.
The eBook, movie & both building plans.
All together for $65.
REAL BUILDS. REAL POSSIBILITIES.Small footprint.
Big ripple effect.
Zero water used for flushing
14 years of development captured in the film
2 designs for indoor & outdoor living
THE PROBLEM
Flush toilets use clean water to move a concentrated mix of nutrients, pathogens, and chemicals away from the place that could use them. The Willow Feeder keeps the cycle visible: separate the streams, handle them responsibly, and return nutrients to trees instead of sending them down a pipe.
01 / THE IDEA
What if your toilet
could feed a tree?
A Willow Feeder separates solids from liquids, collects the solids in a ventilated container, and gives them time to age before they feed nutrient-loving trees. No flushing. No pit under the seat.
Protected storage is part of the system.
Let the air do its work
Ventilation draws air from the bathroom through the collection space and outside. Keeping excess moisture out is central to the design.
Give it time
Full cans are covered, dated, and moved to protected storage. The Wheaton Labs method uses at least two years of aging after the last addition.
Return nutrients to trees
The aged material, nicknamed “willow candy,” feeds non-food plants such as willows, cottonwoods, and poplars.
A different approach to composting toilets. The system focuses on separation, drying, and long storage instead of managing a hot compost pile.
Read Paul’s explanation02 / SEE IT FOR YOURSELF
Less theory.
More real life.
Walk through the systems at Wheaton Labs with Paul Wheaton. See the builds, the everyday details, and the thinking behind a different relationship with our water.
03 / FIND YOUR FIT
One idea.
Two ways to build it.
A cabin bathroom or a stand-alone outdoor structure? Both designs use the same Willow Feeder principles, with different approaches to the building and ventilation.
THE OUTDOOR DESIGNWilloWonka
58-page PDFA roundwood structure on skids, made for an outdoor setting. Its Trombe wall uses solar warmth to encourage airflow, without an electric fan.
- Roundwood frame, skids, roof & access hatch
- Passive ventilation & urine diversion
- Materials list, 3D drawings & build sequence
THE INDOOR DESIGNCooper Pooper
39-page PDFThe first fully indoor Willow Feeder at Wheaton Labs, built into Cooper Cabin. A raised seat platform and solar-powered ventilation fan bring the system inside.
- Seat box, raised platform, steps & access hatch
- Solar-powered fan & urine diverter details
- Materials list, 3D drawings & build sequence
THE WHOLE COLLECTION
READ THE WHY. WATCH THE HOW. BUILD YOUR OWN.
THE COMPLETE WILLOW FEEDER BUNDLE
From curious
to ready to build.
Get the full picture in one place. Understand the approach, watch the systems come together, and keep both sets of plans on hand. The eBook, movie, and both designs together in one place, so you can understand the system and choose your next step.
- The Willow Feeder eBook140-page PDF
- The Willow Feeder movieHD streaming
- WilloWonka outdoor plans58-page PDF
- Cooper Pooper indoor plans39-page PDF
$65$130Original value of all four resources.
Get the complete bundle One purchase · All four digital resources · Checkout on Permies
04 / START YOUR WAY
Just need one thing?
Start with the big picture, watch the movie,
or choose the plans for your next project.
THE FIELD GUIDE · 140-PAGE PDF
The Willow Feeder eBook
Get to know the philosophy, the system, and the designs. A readable reference to return to as you plan.
- The case for a waterless approach
- System explanations & design breakdowns
$9.50$10
Get the eBook THE MOVIE · HD STREAMING
See the system in action
Cleaning our Rivers and Oceans from Home brings 14 years of development and real builds into one film.
- Indoor & outdoor construction
- Operation, storage & tree planting
$15$30
Get the movie OUTDOOR PLANS · 58-PAGE PDF
Build your WilloWonka
A guide to the skiddable roundwood design, from the first structural pieces to the ventilation details.
- Materials, hardware & step-by-step drawings
- Frame, roof, stairs, hatch & Trombe wall
$24.50$45
Get outdoor plans INDOOR PLANS · 39-PAGE PDF
Build your Cooper Pooper
Bring the Willow Feeder inside with the Cooper Cabin design, including access, seating, and ventilation details.
- Tools, materials & step-by-step drawings
- Platform, collection can, diverter & fan
$24.50$45
Get indoor plans Is this the same as a composting toilet?
The Willow Feeder is a dry collection and aging system. It separates liquids from solids and focuses on ventilation and long storage. It does not rely on maintaining and turning a hot compost pile. The eBook and movie explain this distinction in detail.
What about smells and flies?
The designs manage odors by drawing air from the room, through the collection space, and out a vent. The indoor design uses a solar-powered fan; WilloWonka uses a Trombe wall. Close-fitting components and a vent fly trap are part of the system. Good construction, airflow, and maintenance matter.
Why store the material for two years?
Long storage and drying are central to the Wheaton Labs method. Containers are dated and aged for at least two years after filling before their contents are used around non-food trees. Storage time alone does not establish that material is safe in every climate or situation. Follow the detailed handling guidance and get site-specific sanitation advice before building.
Do I need willow trees and a lot of space?
The resources also discuss nutrient-loving plants such as cottonwood, poplar, and bamboo. Choose species appropriate to your climate and site. You need space for collection cans, protected aging storage, and a suitable planting area, plus a separate plan for urine and greywater.
Can I build this at my home or cabin?
There are indoor and outdoor plans, but suitability depends on your building, climate, available space, and local requirements. Before construction, check with your local building and sanitation authority about permits, liquid management, and use of aged material.
What do I get, and how do I access it?
The eBook and both sets of plans are PDFs. The movie offer on this page is HD streaming on Permies. The bundle contains all four resources. Purchase and access are handled through Permies; keep the account and purchase email you use at checkout so you can return to your content.
Which resource should I start with?
Choose the eBook for an affordable introduction, the movie to see the system and builds in action, or a set of plans when you know which design you want. For the explanation, the film, and both designs, the $65 bundle saves $8.50 compared with buying all four at their current individual prices.
A SMALL CHANGE. A DIFFERENT CYCLE.
Good things
start at the roots.
Bring the idea home. Get the knowledge and plans to explore a Willow Feeder of your own.
Get the complete collection eBook + movie + both plans · $65