Make your own toilet and human fertilizer for big green savings

As we celebrate Earth Day this week, Joe Jenkins wanted to remind people of one of our most accessible, money-saving natural resources. Jenkins is the father of the Humanure human composting toilet, a non-flushing, all-natural commode that allows you to save your excrement and use it for fertilizer.

It has become a must-have for certain eco-warriors, but perhaps isn't so well-known for its economizing properties. On the 15th anniversary of Jenkins' manifesto,"The Humanure Handbook," WalletPop wants to change that.

Jenkins has raised six children using the device at his Grove City, Pa., home. He estimates that you can save between $5,000 and $20,000 on the installation of a conventional porcelain toilet and the plumbing infrastructure to support it.