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Plants grown as a Toilet Paper substitute.

 
Larry Jackson
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Does anyone else have experience with this?  Plants You Can Grow That Make GREAT Toilet Paper Substitutes?
I found an interstein video on youtube titled "10 Plants You Can Grow That Make GREAT Toilet Paper Substitutes!"
Important note, NEVER USE POISEN IVY as toilet paper. I haven't, but I do know someone that did by accident, and
it was a very uncomfortable experience for them that lasted for days.
Be Blessed all.

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Hugo Morvan
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I've used Mullein, which grows here in abundance. Don't remember how it was, so probably wasn't too bad. I think i'll opt for the waterbottle method half the world uses.
I saw this Indonesian man do it on a video, he didn't like toiletpaper. It went something like this.
He sat on the bowl just like one does. He had the bottle in his right hand, put it behind his back while still sitting down, put the pooring bit leaning against his crack and slowly poured some water down it while moving his left hand where the dirt was. He didn't get the toilet wet.
I haven't tried yet i must say. But like he claimed, he felt much cleaner, which i can imagine, since washing is better than wiping.

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Tyler Ludens
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I read that Mullein may be irritating to some people's skin.  I have not tried it.  When I was on a wilderness program decades ago we used sticks, rocks, snow, etc.  No TP for a month.


If one keeps old cotton, silk, wool, or linen clothing, one could cut small squares for individual use and then bury them in the garden.

Idle dreamer

 
Ellendra Nauriel
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There's a weed that's common around here, called "butterprint". I'm sure it has other names. The leaves are big, soft, and velvety. It makes outstanding TP.

A few years ago I tried growing a type of gourd that had big soft leaves, much softer than the squash growing nearby. I think it was cuccuzzi. It would make a very nice TP, and it grows quickly enough to keep up with usage.

There are some types of beans that have big enough leaves it might be tempting to use them, but don't. They exude an acidic compound that can irritate the skin.
 
Lana Weldon
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Been in India quite a few times, many years ago, and didn't use toilet paper, I did as all the other low budget travellers and locals, with hand and water.  While you do get a very clean behind, your left hand might not be 100% clean, and things could hide under the nails, even if washing with soap and water. I personnally would not do it anymore. The dirty water has to go somewhere, and I prefer dry toilets as water won't get contaminated.
 
Su Ba
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I have gourds growing on the farm and have in the past used the gourd Ieaves as toilet paper. These gourds are a large edible type, but they don't have a variety name since they are a landrace. But their leaves are large and soft feeling.

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Ben Skiba
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I have used mullen and can say it works well.It's like using 10 ply.Maple leaves work,oak leaves.I've used smooth rocks in a pinch.I wonder how comfrey works?

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Mallow?
 
John F Dean
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Mullein....otherwise known as Coyboy Toilet Paper.  My property is covered with it.

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bruce Fine
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I would think banana leaves would work well
 
Skandi Rogers
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I think banana  leaves would be to shiny and stiff to work well. grass works brillienty and is very common and fast growing.
 
Anne Miller
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The only plant that grows where I live that I would consider using would be plantain, plantago.  The leaves are soft.

If a person had plantain the banana-like plant, the peels might work.

I do have turks cap, a mallow and the leaves might work.

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
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Nathan Watson
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Larry Jackson wrote:Does anyone else have experience with this?  Plants You Can Grow That Make GREAT Toilet Paper Substitutes?
I found an interstein video on youtube titled "10 Plants You Can Grow That Make GREAT Toilet Paper Substitutes!"
Important note, NEVER USE POISEN IVY as toilet paper. I haven't, but I do know someone that did by accident, and
it was a very uncomfortable experience for them that lasted for days.
Be Blessed all.



Anything with large, fuzzy leaves will work well. I agree with the suggestions to use Mullein. You may also want to consider thimbleberry. Thimbleberry has the advantage of being a perennial, whereas mullein is an annual and may need reseeding and weeding each and every year if it doesn't naturally reseed and outcompete the weeds. Mullein does, however, have the advantage of being a quick growing plant and able to grow in drier places than where a thimbleberry would grow. Thimbleberry normally only grows in somewhat moist locations. If growing thimbleberry for leaves, I would recommend harvesting leaves at the very end of the growing season in fall as the leaves are starting to lose their color, this will minimize harm to the plant when you harvest leaves it was just going to drop anyways, and allow for good strong regrowth the next year.
 
Ben Zumeta
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Thimbleberry would be my go to in the NW. Lamb’s-ears and mules’-ears are good plants for the hurried hole digging hiker, particularly further inland.

This is all just my opinion based on a flawed memory

 
Joylynn Hardesty
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Ahem. All you cowboy toilet paper lovers... Before you put that mullein near that sensitive area, you may want to rub a leaf over your face for a trial run. The hairs on mullein cause major itch extravaganza on my skin. Even harvesting it carefully with this in mind, the hairs can still find my bare skin. I end up with a rash. This is not a use of it for me.

Mullein does have a place in my herbal medicines though! My oils and teas get strained, removing the hairs first before use, and all is well!!!

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