Add Row 
Add 
This article examines the idea of growing plant-based alternatives to toilet paper and what it reveals about sustainable living, household waste, and resource use. Using a real-world example, it explains why this practice is often dismissed as impractical and how it instead highlights broader environmental questions relevant to communities like Sacramento that value low-impact living.
When Toilet Paper Became a Plant Instead of a Purchase
There’s a moment in the video “Man Growing His Own Toilet Paper!” when curiosity quietly replaces disbelief. The man speaking isn’t trying to shock anyone. He’s calm, practical, almost casual as he explains that he hasn’t bought toilet paper in about five years. Instead, he walks into his garden.
At first, the idea feels absurd. Then it starts to feel unsettling. And finally—if you let yourself sit with it—it feels strangely logical.
In a world built around disposable convenience, this story isn’t really about toilet paper at all. It’s about what happens when someone pauses long enough to ask, “Is this the only way?” And in a city like Sacramento—where backyard gardens, composting, and sustainability conversations are already part of daily life—that question hits closer to home than we might expect.
In the video 'Man Growing His Own Toilet Paper!', the discussion dives into a unique approach to sustainability that inspires deeper analysis on how individuals can contribute to a greener future.
Not Every Plant Is a Good Idea — and That Matters
The plant shown in the video is often referred to casually as “blue spur flower,” though that name isn’t botanically precise. What matters more than the nickname is the type of plant: soft-leaf, non-toxic, and gentle on skin.
Historically, people have used plants like lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) and common mullein (Verbascum thapsus) for wiping long before commercial paper existed. Their leaves are thick, velvety, and surprisingly durable. Anyone who’s brushed their fingers across lamb’s ear in a garden knows how soft it feels.
That said, this is where accuracy matters.
Not all soft-looking plants are safe. Some cause irritation. Others can trigger allergic reactions. Proper identification is essential, and this practice is not recommended by medical or public health authorities for general household use—especially for people with sensitive skin or compromised immune systems.
This story isn’t a prescription. It’s a personal experiment.
Why Toilet Paper Has a Bigger Footprint Than We Realize
Toilet paper feels harmless because it disappears quickly. But its journey before and after use tells a different story.
Dr. Jenna Jambeck, an environmental engineer known for her work on waste systems, has long emphasized how everyday products quietly accumulate massive environmental costs.
“Many single-use products seem insignificant on their own, but when you consider how frequently they’re used and how many resources go into making them, the impact becomes massive.”
Trees, water, chemicals, energy, transportation, packaging—every roll carries invisible weight. Even recycled toilet paper requires processing and distribution. Growing a plant instead doesn’t solve global deforestation, but it does interrupt personal demand, which is where meaningful change often begins.
The Compost Toilet Question — With Important Context
The video also shows a compost toilet system, which is where most viewers instinctively recoil. And understandably so.
Composting human waste—often called humanure—can be done safely only under very specific conditions: proper carbon balance, temperature control, containment, and extended composting time. Many systems require years, not months, to neutralize pathogens.
The simple bucket setup shown in the video reflects one individual’s personal system, not a universally safe or legal solution.
In many cities, including Sacramento and surrounding counties, humanure systems are not code-compliant and may violate local health or zoning regulations. Even where composting toilets are legal, the resulting compost is often restricted to non-food landscaping only.
This distinction matters. The article isn’t endorsing this approach—it’s documenting it as part of one man’s broader experiment in waste reduction.
Zero-Waste Isn’t About Copying — It’s About Questioning
One of the most important takeaways from this story isn’t what he does, but why he does it.
Bea Johnson, a leader in the modern zero-waste movement, has long emphasized that refusal is the most powerful sustainability tool.
“Refusing what you don’t need is the most powerful step, because it prevents waste before it exists.”
Most readers will never grow their own toilet paper—and that’s okay. Zero-waste living isn’t about extremes. It’s about awareness. It’s about noticing which habits are automatic and asking whether they still make sense.
Why This Idea Resonates in Sacramento
Sacramento already sits at the intersection of agriculture, innovation, and environmental awareness. Backyard gardens are common. Native plants are encouraged. Composting bins sit beside recycling carts across the city.
In that context, this story doesn’t feel outrageous—it feels like an edge case of something familiar. A reminder that resilience often starts small, quietly, and personally.
When supply chains falter or prices rise, people who know how to meet some of their needs feel steadier. Not superior. Just steadier.
The Emotional Shift That Happens When You Step Off the Conveyor Belt
People who experiment with low-waste living often describe an unexpected emotional shift. Less urgency. Less consumption-driven anxiety. More connection to cycles instead of transactions.
You stop asking, “What do I need to buy?” and start asking, “What do I already have?”
This story resonates not because it’s practical for everyone—but because it invites imagination. And imagination is where sustainable change begins.
If You’re Curious, Start Here (Safely)
You don’t need to adopt unconventional sanitation systems to learn from this story.
Start smaller:
Grow a plant you’ve never grown before
Switch one disposable product for a reusable option
Compost food scraps
Attend a local Sacramento gardening or sustainability workshop
Learn proper plant identification before experimenting with anything skin-related
Curiosity leads to knowledge. Knowledge leads to better choices.
What This Story Is — and Isn’t
This story is:
A personal sustainability experiment
A thought-provoking challenge to consumer norms
An invitation to rethink everyday habits
This story is not:
Medical advice
A sanitation recommendation
A legally compliant guide for urban households
That clarity doesn’t weaken the story—it strengthens it.
The Question That Lingers
Growing your own toilet paper isn’t the future for most people. But the question it raises matters deeply:
What everyday systems have we accepted without ever reconsidering them?
In a city like Sacramento—where community, land, and innovation intersect—that question might be the most sustainable place to begin.
Sometimes the future doesn’t arrive with new technology.
Sometimes it grows quietly, leaf by leaf, in the backyard.
Explore practical ways to live sustainably and protect our planet in the Eco Living category, or visit Sacramento Living Well for more wellness, lifestyle, and community content.
---
Authored by the Sacramento Living Well Editorial Team — a publication of DSA Digital Media, dedicated to highlighting wellness, local living, and inspiring community stories throughout Greater Sacramento.
Write A Comment