Starting in September, MCM members have worked to rebuild a compost privy tank at our Bishop Darlington on the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania. The current plywood tank shown on the left side of this photo was badly deteriorated, with holes in the plywood on the inside and outside. Rather than attempt extensive repairs or replace it with a similar tank, MCM received permission to replace that tank with a new moldering privy bin that allows air to circulate into the human waste pile. Since this construction consists mostly of pressure-treated lumber with very little plywood, it should greatly reduce the need for ongoing repairs.
A total of thirteen MCM volunteers participated in one or more of the work days needed to carry out the project. Since the Darlington privy location is more than 100 miles from Baltimore, for many of our volunteers each work day involved a 2-hour drive, followed by a one-mile hike to the shelter carrying tools and materials, before the hands-on work could begin.
Over the 6-week period, the following 13 club members helped with tasks such as dismantling the old privy tank, carrying in lumber, digging post holes, and construction.
Judy Bennett
Diane Buckley-Maidt
Jay Gordon
Daniel Hernandez
Mike Kreft
Christina Lanford
John Lasbury
Dennis LeCompte
Dave Maidt
Bill Parsons
Chuck Randall
Bill Saunders
Gerry Sneeringer
A photo of the completed moldering privy bin is shown below. Many thanks to all our volunteers for their dedication and hard work!
