In India there is an "appropriate technology" (think Schumacher's Small Is Beautiful) where the waste from the toilet moves into a domed tank that allows methane to collect and be piped back into the house for cooking. It would make a lot of sense for anyone who has a septic system to capture gases and save on buying LP, because chances are if you're in the country and have to use a septic system, you also have an LP tank out in the yard.

I have friends in West Texas who have adopted a technology found in a lot of backcountry areas in state parks, the composting toilet. It uses a solar panel on top to operate some of the mechanism. There's also one that burns waste, I'm not sure what it's called, or if it is simply an advance on the composter.

I've enjoyed getting back to yard work (I was in an apartment for a couple of years) and am starting up the compost heap in the back yard. I may have to augment this with an under-the-sink earthworm system, because we have so many small animals around here I could end up with the compost being an attractive nuisance. So far they're not intrigued by garden clippings and leaves. But once the rinds from canteloup, egg shells, banana peels, and other household foodstuff discards go out, that might change.

I'd love to put up a windmill, but I am at the bottom of a hill and don't think I'd be in the most productive position. Solar is a possibility, though, up on the roof.

SRS