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  #1  
Old 07/24/06, 06:05 AM
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Another outhouse thread

I have a neighbor who sells used 50 gal plastic barrels for 6.00 each. I thought if you cut out the bottoms of two and stacked them it could be the makings of a new outhouse. Did someone else present that idea on this forum?
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  #2  
Old 07/24/06, 09:12 AM
 
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Why stack them? I would fill, or partially fill, one at a time, and then switch to an empty barrel and let the filled one compost for 6months to a year, or whatever time it seems to take. If you stacked 2 barrels, it would be difficult to deal with that much potoential compost.
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  #3  
Old 07/24/06, 10:50 AM
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No, you misunderstood me....

Quote:
Originally Posted by WisJim
Why stack them? I would fill, or partially fill, one at a time, and then switch to an empty barrel and let the filled one compost for 6months to a year, or whatever time it seems to take. If you stacked 2 barrels, it would be difficult to deal with that much potoential compost.
No you misunderstand me. The barrels would be used as the walls and roof of the outhouse and the toilet placed inside. A door would have to be cut on the outside. The stacked barrels would then be placed over a dug pit. I don't even know if they would be wide enough to be used that way.
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Old 07/24/06, 11:56 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blufford
No you misunderstand me. The barrels would be used as the walls and roof of the outhouse and the toilet placed inside. A door would have to be cut on the outside. The stacked barrels would then be placed over a dug pit. I don't even know if they would be wide enough to be used that way.
Wouldn't be enough room!

Plus you might want to check State Regs.Not legal here in Missouri.

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  #5  
Old 07/24/06, 02:00 PM
 
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In AR the state law allows outhouses if you have at least 10 acres and it's 200 feet from your property line. Trouble is, most of the counties have their own toilet police laws. Not a problem in my county, but the toilet police were just created in the county north of us.
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  #6  
Old 07/24/06, 03:03 PM
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Well, I can tell you that I could NOT fit in there!
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  #7  
Old 07/24/06, 08:39 PM
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Exclamation On the subject of outhouses....

The 1st thing I did when I got my first tractor with a loader was destroy the outhouse and fill in the hole. They are vile nasty things that harbor all kind of strange creatures that bite you, they stink, and are unsanitary.
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  #8  
Old 07/24/06, 11:46 PM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wilderness1989
The 1st thing I did when I got my first tractor with a loader was destroy the outhouse and fill in the hole. They are vile nasty things that harbor all kind of strange creatures that bite you, they stink, and are unsanitary.
If properly carried for they don't stink long after use and are sanitary. It is my understanding that if you dump lime directly on the poo the smell will not linger beyond your initial discharge.
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  #9  
Old 07/25/06, 02:23 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Devil
Well, I can tell you that I could NOT fit in there!
That makes two of us we have two septics on the property but I prefer my out house and I am on two acres hope my county does not have toilet police that read the internet, Red devil your in AL right? I figured AR would be the last place to outlaw out houses guess they have something to proove to people (were not hill billies anymore)
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  #10  
Old 07/25/06, 02:24 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wilderness1989
The 1st thing I did when I got my first tractor with a loader was destroy the outhouse and fill in the hole. They are vile nasty things that harbor all kind of strange creatures that bite you, they stink, and are unsanitary.
How ignorant and sad another old out house bites the dust.
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  #11  
Old 07/25/06, 05:23 AM
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An American Tragedy

Quote:
Originally Posted by wilderness1989
The 1st thing I did when I got my first tractor with a loader was destroy the outhouse and fill in the hole. They are vile nasty things that harbor all kind of strange creatures that bite you, they stink, and are unsanitary.
I do hope that you did a study to see if there were any endangered species living inside that outhouse. How about all the necessary permits for the demolition job. I would hate to think that you may have destroyed an historically significant piece of American history. PETA is goin' to get you!
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  #12  
Old 07/25/06, 08:47 AM
 
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Arrow Out_house

Quote:
Originally Posted by blufford
I do hope that you did a study to see if there were any endangered species living inside that outhouse. How about all the necessary permits for the demolition job. I would hate to think that you may have destroyed an historically significant piece of American history. PETA is goin' to get you!
My MIL went to her out house one nite. Heard a noise,used her flashlight there is a opossum living in hers.When it rains hard. It comes out and sits on the closed lid!!
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  #13  
Old 07/25/06, 09:55 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dixiedoodle
My MIL went to her out house one nite. Heard a noise,used her flashlight there is a opossum living in hers.When it rains hard. It comes out and sits on the closed lid!!

Now that would scare me bad enough i probably wouldn't ever use it again. I would always have nightmares of a possum biting my rear too lol
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  #14  
Old 07/25/06, 10:49 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bnlfan
If properly carried for they don't stink long after use and are sanitary. It is my understanding that if you dump lime directly on the poo the smell will not linger beyond your initial discharge.
Now I've heard that lime is not what to use as it just turns to a hard crust. Peat moss will help it to break down faster and absolutely no paper in the hole. It also needs to be vented for air exchange. As I said this is just what I heard.
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  #15  
Old 07/25/06, 11:00 AM
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We used an outhouse for the first 18 months after we built our cabin. It's not nearly as bad as most people think. We used PDZ (used for horse stalls) and it never smelled bad. No fly or critter problems except the occasional mouse. And anybody living in the country shouldn't be bothered by a mouse. My husband is using it for shovel storage right now. I need to empty it out. 4 people to one bathroom isn't usually a problem but every now and then we could use the outhouse as an extra.
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  #16  
Old 07/25/06, 11:38 AM
 
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I'm having a hard time finding any info about the regulations concerning outhouses in Tennessee. I'd like to have a composting toilet, but for all my searching I can't find anything that says whether such a system is allowed. Working from Dubai, my only real resource is this intarweb thingy, and the tn.gov website is worse than useless.

Anybody? TIA!
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  #17  
Old 07/25/06, 11:54 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dubai Vol
I'm having a hard time finding any info about the regulations concerning outhouses in Tennessee. I'd like to have a composting toilet, but for all my searching I can't find anything that says whether such a system is allowed. Working from Dubai, my only real resource is this intarweb thingy, and the tn.gov website is worse than useless.

Anybody? TIA!
Your best bet is to try the health department of the county in question.
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  #18  
Old 07/25/06, 12:39 PM
 
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Unfortunatley, our town has a ban on any new outhouses, even though we are quite rural. We had an existing outhouse years ago and when we built our home we lost it. What a mistake that was. We lose power and can't flush the toilet unless we have water saved (which I do now). We have a shed on the property that is in pretty good shape and if things became really a problem we could probably get away with making an outhouse in the back corner.

RenieB
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  #19  
Old 07/25/06, 02:41 PM
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Scroll down on this if you want to read more than you could ever imagine about out houses and their stories. Some are really good http://www.jldr.com/ohindex.shtml

Ode To The Outhouse
by James Whitcomb Riley

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

But when the crust was on the snow and the sullen skies were gray
In sooth, the building was no place where one could wish to stay.
We did our duties promptly, there one purpose swayed the mind,
We tarried not, nor lingered long on what we left behind,
The torture of that icy seat would make a Spartan sob,
For needs must scrape the gooseflesh with a lacerating cob,
That from a frost-encrusted nail was suspended by a string-
For Father was a frugal man and wasted not a thing.
When Grandpa had to "go out back" and make his morning call,
We'd bundle up the dear old man with a muffler and a shawl,
I knew the hole on which he sat, 'twas padded all around,
And once I dared to sit there-'twas all too wide I found,
My loins were all too little and I jack-knifed there to stay,
They had to come and get me out or I'd have passed away.
Then Father said ambition was a thing that boys should shun,
And I just use the children's hole 'till childhood days were done.
And still I marvel at the craft that cut those holes so true,
The baby hole, and the slender hole that fitted Sister Sue.
That dear old country landmark; I've tramped around a bit,
And in the lap of luxury my lot has been to sit-
But 'ere I die I'll eat the fruit of trees I robbed of yore
Then seek the shanty where my name is carved upon the door,
I ween the old familiar smell will soothe my faded soul,
I'm now a man, but none the less I'll try the children's hole.
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  #20  
Old 07/25/06, 04:42 PM
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Back to the original thread. . .

We had 4 barrels welded together, left the bottom plate on and drilled holes into the bottom barrel. By leaving the bottom plate on, we can have it pumped out without sucking up gravel.

We have the option of using sawdust, wood ashes, peat moss, and/or lime, which ever is available.

I would think that plastic barrels put end to end would work as well, maybe even better, if you can be sure they will stay connected.

Salmonberry
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