Fascinating conversation. A few points I'd like to make. We've used one for five years now, and use pine shavings, which as well as being anti biotic also seem to reduce smell. Our loo has a front opening door, I didn't build it, a good friend did, and a lid that fits tight. This reduces smells, and flies. The used shaving look as if they'd make a good mulch. They don't, as the urine will kill most plants. better to drain the urine off and dilute it to about five percent. At this concentration it makes a good feed- for the plants. The shavings and faeces will compost down if they are mixed with vegetable matter. the risk of E. coli infection is the same as using animal faeces. One thing worth considering is that any metabolites from your medication is excreted. Hope this helps.
I was trying to find a urine excluder but I think I will just pee in one place and poop(and when necessary pee) in another. I have a "night chair" for summer and a komode for winter for night time peeing. I think a urine excluder is a lot of work for me at the moment so that's why I use the night chair during the day too.
When I was introduced with the idea of a composting toilet several yrs ago I was like "ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!" but after trying and using one, it really is not as bad as it sounds. It's actually much easier and cleaner in my opinion. No overflowing, clogs, septic issues, etc. it's actually nice. ❤
What your friend said about the modern toilet configuration not being that old, really made me think. What did people use before modern plumbing? Heck, before plastic buckets?!! I remember an old camp my parents had when I was young. They had remodeled an old school bus for sleeping quarters but I don’t remember having a toilet. What I do remember was the slop jar. It was a small, enameled, metal pot with a lid. It was about 2 gallons. This is what we used and if you used it, you went to the woods to dump and clean it. It was efficient, as far as I remember, but again, I was just a child. I never cleaned it so it could have been a nightmare. Lol. Thanks for sharing✌🏻🤍🤞
@@ViKee010 Yes! Chamber pots were a big thing not that long ago in history, and outhouses were common for people’s properties. Thanks for sharing your experience.
The best compost system is illustrated by "off-grid with Doug & Stacy" they follow Joseph Jenkins "Humanure Handbook" the fixed location & proper covering (hay, leaves, grass) that "bin" is left to Compost for 2 to 3 yrs (set up 3 bins, each bin is for 1 yr of buckets) [look up "loveable loo" videos]
Up until 1970 the house I lived in had a flush toilet, at the bottom of the yard. We used a "china" pot, which fitted under the bed and had to be emptied every morning. No central heating, no hot water, and the tin bath hung on a nail outside. We were posh, because we had a single cold water tap inside. There were six of us in the house. When my mother was a child there were twenty living in the house. Teaches you how to cope.
@@robert-yv2yj WOW, that sounds like both an adventure that holds some wonderful memories for you! I’m sure that experience gave you a healthy and hardy perspective on how to take on the challenges life can bring.
I started off with a 5 gallon bucket and one of those camping toilet lids. It works great but it's not the most comfortable set-up. I just got one like the lady showed, the metal one but mine has a bucket that fits into the frame and has a lid. It's identical to portable toilets that they use in hospitals and works great. I use the coco peat in both toilets and have almost no odorl and it just smells 'Earthy.' lol After I get my solar set up, I'm thinking about getting an incinerating toilet, but they are pricey. But it burns everything to ash so it's easy to dispose of.
@@MississippiHomesteadJourney Your current setup sounds like it might be more user-friendly since you have a smaller basin to empty, albeit more often. It’s interesting to hear how everyone does their own version but it mostly all comes back to the idea of a bucket/basin and some medium to neutralize odor and absorb liquids. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing this. Seeing other people's compost toilets gave me a few ideas for how to improve upon the design I use currently when building others in the future. One thing I found interesting, was both of you commenting how heavy the buckets get. Being a guy, I just pee outside and only use the toilet for #2. Without the pee in there, my full buckets barely weigh more than just empty ones. Very good video.
@@TheBackwoodsHermit Definitely! Liquids make it so much heavier. I have friends who use one bucket for #1 and another for #2 for their family of 6 and they say it’s so much better for taking it out. What would you describe as your ideal bucket and box setup? I know yours has the hinge top, but what else would you do for your next box build?
@@miscellaneousme I did build mine to a height so the bucket comes up through the top of the box and hugs up to the bottom of the seat. That just required adjusting the feet on the bottom of the seat to go around the round bucket and still sit on the top of the box. That eliminates the problem of the bucket moving around mentioned in the video. Also putting a couple thick coats of stain (paint works too) on the entire box makes it much easier to clean than the bare wood shown here. I do like the ideas discussed of venting it out the back. Right now mine's in a tent so I don't worry about that, but when I build a bathhouse, I'll definitely incorporate a stink pipe that runs outside. Also, I would like to think further on how to seal it up better so flies don't get in. Not a problem in the winter, but annoying shooing them out before every use in the summer.
Use a separate container for liquids. Empty that container daily. Empty the solid container when it's half full. It's easier to Cary without the liquids. 🙂
@@MississippiHomesteadJourney My husband’s goal was to have his own property where he could go pee wherever he wanted to. You guys are living the dream! 😅
Im a bucket and chuck it kinda girl too. I live alone lol (by choice) I have a bucket under one of those toilet frames that go over a flush toilet. I have a big fly problem, but minimal smell because it's completely vented but definitely fly accessible. I dump it often away from everything so im not worried about flies-more often in the summer than in winter. I haven't done a video of my system yet but I may do one soon lol it's not that big of a deal to me. Everybody poops 😂
@@acornhomestead3575 I like your perspective about it. I agree that it’s really not that big of a deal. I think people get a little too in their heads about it because modern culture is so overly sanitized. Keep it up!
@@chrisnichols9884 A friend of mine has one. When a large group of people use it for a couple of days, it’s so filled with ammonia that it burns your eyes. Granted, he doesn’t put lime during the gathering. Also, a small child almost fell down the hole one year. Was hanging on to the seat calling “help!” until someone ran in 😅 So a hole and outhouse is great for some families, but not all.
@@Frenchiezy Very true! Oftentimes it is “out of sight, out of mind” but you’re right- someone still has to deal with it at some point. I still think it’s crazy that from some of those water treatment plants it goes back to our drinking water supply. Thirsty anyone? 🥴🤢😂
@@anibor99 Most people go #1 and #2 in the same bucket. As long as you cover your business with a good layer of sawdust, there’s no smell. Everyone in the household uses the same bucket for a toilet. Though, I do have friends who use one bucket for urine and a second bucket for #2. They have to empty the #2 bucket less often for their family of 6 and it’s not nearly as heavy.
Fascinating conversation. A few points I'd like to make. We've used one for five years now, and use pine shavings, which as well as being anti biotic also seem to reduce smell. Our loo has a front opening door, I didn't build it, a good friend did, and a lid that fits tight. This reduces smells, and flies. The used shaving look as if they'd make a good mulch. They don't, as the urine will kill most plants. better to drain the urine off and dilute it to about five percent. At this concentration it makes a good feed- for the plants.
The shavings and faeces will compost down if they are mixed with vegetable matter. the risk of E. coli infection is the same as using animal faeces. One thing worth considering is that any metabolites from your medication is excreted. Hope this helps.
@@robert-yv2yj Great points. Thanks!
I was trying to find a urine excluder but I think I will just pee in one place and poop(and when necessary pee) in another. I have a "night chair" for summer and a komode for winter for night time peeing. I think a urine excluder is a lot of work for me at the moment so that's why I use the night chair during the day too.
When I was introduced with the idea of a composting toilet several yrs ago I was like "ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!" but after trying and using one, it really is not as bad as it sounds. It's actually much easier and cleaner in my opinion. No overflowing, clogs, septic issues, etc. it's actually nice. ❤
@@bigfamilyexpedition Good on you for giving it a try in the first place!
What your friend said about the modern toilet configuration not being that old, really made me think. What did people use before modern plumbing? Heck, before plastic buckets?!! I remember an old camp my parents had when I was young. They had remodeled an old school bus for sleeping quarters but I don’t remember having a toilet. What I do remember was the slop jar. It was a small, enameled, metal pot with a lid. It was about 2 gallons. This is what we used and if you used it, you went to the woods to dump and clean it. It was efficient, as far as I remember, but again, I was just a child. I never cleaned it so it could have been a nightmare. Lol. Thanks for sharing✌🏻🤍🤞
@@ViKee010 Yes! Chamber pots were a big thing not that long ago in history, and outhouses were common for people’s properties. Thanks for sharing your experience.
The best compost system is illustrated by "off-grid with Doug & Stacy" they follow Joseph Jenkins "Humanure Handbook" the fixed location & proper covering (hay, leaves, grass) that "bin" is left to Compost for 2 to 3 yrs (set up 3 bins, each bin is for 1 yr of buckets) [look up "loveable loo" videos]
@@LiberLady Thanks for sharing the resource!
Up until 1970 the house I lived in had a flush toilet, at the bottom of the yard. We used a "china" pot, which fitted under the bed and had to be emptied every morning. No central heating, no hot water, and the tin bath hung on a nail outside. We were posh, because we had a single cold water tap inside. There were six of us in the house. When my mother was a child there were twenty living in the house. Teaches you how to cope.
@@robert-yv2yj WOW, that sounds like both an adventure that holds some wonderful memories for you! I’m sure that experience gave you a healthy and hardy perspective on how to take on the challenges life can bring.
I started off with a 5 gallon bucket and one of those camping toilet lids. It works great but it's not the most comfortable set-up. I just got one like the lady showed, the metal one but mine has a bucket that fits into the frame and has a lid. It's identical to portable toilets that they use in hospitals and works great. I use the coco peat in both toilets and have almost no odorl and it just smells 'Earthy.' lol
After I get my solar set up, I'm thinking about getting an incinerating toilet, but they are pricey. But it burns everything to ash so it's easy to dispose of.
@@MississippiHomesteadJourney Your current setup sounds like it might be more user-friendly since you have a smaller basin to empty, albeit more often. It’s interesting to hear how everyone does their own version but it mostly all comes back to the idea of a bucket/basin and some medium to neutralize odor and absorb liquids. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing this. Seeing other people's compost toilets gave me a few ideas for how to improve upon the design I use currently when building others in the future.
One thing I found interesting, was both of you commenting how heavy the buckets get. Being a guy, I just pee outside and only use the toilet for #2. Without the pee in there, my full buckets barely weigh more than just empty ones. Very good video.
@@TheBackwoodsHermit Definitely! Liquids make it so much heavier. I have friends who use one bucket for #1 and another for #2 for their family of 6 and they say it’s so much better for taking it out.
What would you describe as your ideal bucket and box setup? I know yours has the hinge top, but what else would you do for your next box build?
@@miscellaneousme I did build mine to a height so the bucket comes up through the top of the box and hugs up to the bottom of the seat. That just required adjusting the feet on the bottom of the seat to go around the round bucket and still sit on the top of the box. That eliminates the problem of the bucket moving around mentioned in the video. Also putting a couple thick coats of stain (paint works too) on the entire box makes it much easier to clean than the bare wood shown here.
I do like the ideas discussed of venting it out the back. Right now mine's in a tent so I don't worry about that, but when I build a bathhouse, I'll definitely incorporate a stink pipe that runs outside. Also, I would like to think further on how to seal it up better so flies don't get in. Not a problem in the winter, but annoying shooing them out before every use in the summer.
Use a separate container for liquids. Empty that container daily. Empty the solid container when it's half full. It's easier to Cary without the liquids. 🙂
@@DLBard-bv2nd Great suggestion. I have friends who do that and they said it makes taking out the potty so much easier!
I have 40 acres and just go number one wherever I happen to be. Of course that's not as easy for ladies. lol
@@MississippiHomesteadJourney My husband’s goal was to have his own property where he could go pee wherever he wanted to. You guys are living the dream! 😅
Growing up with "back-to-the-land" parents, I cannot tell you how many different versions of these toilets I used as a child!
@@FarmASMR Do you have a favorite?
@@miscellaneousme Anything that's stable and has a toilet seat is most comfortable for me. Many were over holes dug for the purpose.
Im a bucket and chuck it kinda girl too. I live alone lol (by choice) I have a bucket under one of those toilet frames that go over a flush toilet. I have a big fly problem, but minimal smell because it's completely vented but definitely fly accessible. I dump it often away from everything so im not worried about flies-more often in the summer than in winter. I haven't done a video of my system yet but I may do one soon lol it's not that big of a deal to me. Everybody poops 😂
@@acornhomestead3575 I like your perspective about it. I agree that it’s really not that big of a deal. I think people get a little too in their heads about it because modern culture is so overly sanitized. Keep it up!
Dig a hole, a deep hole build an outhouse. Use lime. No dumping. All done
@@chrisnichols9884 A friend of mine has one. When a large group of people use it for a couple of days, it’s so filled with ammonia that it burns your eyes. Granted, he doesn’t put lime during the gathering. Also, a small child almost fell down the hole one year. Was hanging on to the seat calling “help!” until someone ran in 😅 So a hole and outhouse is great for some families, but not all.
Great video! Dealing with waste has to be done by someone, either yourself, or some poor sap working at the municipal water treatment plant.
@@Frenchiezy Very true! Oftentimes it is “out of sight, out of mind” but you’re right- someone still has to deal with it at some point. I still think it’s crazy that from some of those water treatment plants it goes back to our drinking water supply. Thirsty anyone? 🥴🤢😂
Does #1 & #2 go in the same bucket or do you have different buckets for each? Does everyone in the home use the same?
@@anibor99 Most people go #1 and #2 in the same bucket. As long as you cover your business with a good layer of sawdust, there’s no smell. Everyone in the household uses the same bucket for a toilet.
Though, I do have friends who use one bucket for urine and a second bucket for #2. They have to empty the #2 bucket less often for their family of 6 and it’s not nearly as heavy.
@@miscellaneousme thank you for your reply, very helpful 🙏🏻