Following last spring’s ecological sanitation gathering, community members, researchers, and organizers came together for a weekend of conversations focused on resilience, sustainability, and practical responses to sanitation challenges during droughts, disasters, and infrastructure failures. The event explored safe, low-cost, and community-centered alternatives to conventional waste systems, with discussions ranging from municipal infrastructure and failing septic systems to composting toilets and decentralized ecological sanitation approaches.
Featured speakers included Nick Kawa, author of After the Flush: Rethinking the Future of Sanitation, and Alisa Keesey, founder of Design4Earth, who shared insights from decades of research and hands-on experience in both local and international contexts. Through presentations, open forums, and community strategy sessions, participants examined how ecological sanitation can support public health, environmental stewardship, and long-term community resilience while rethinking society’s relationship to waste and resource systems.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who attended and helped make the weekend such a meaningful and engaging experience. Special thanks to the volunteers who provided delicious vegan snacks and helped create a welcoming community atmosphere, and to Nick Kawa and Alisa Keesey for their inspiring presentations, insight, and dedication. The conversations sparked throughout the event left many participants feeling energized, inspired, and motivated to continue working toward resilient, sustainable, and community-centered sanitation solutions. We look forward to continuing these important discussions through future gatherings and events.
