talk to me about out houses ~

harvestgirl · #1 08/30/12, 09:14 PM

looking at a property, might be out houses only.

we'd be going from 2 bathrooms, to one outhouse.

i don't have any issue using one. will guests? will my kids? lol ~

would that be a deal breaker one way or the other for you if you really loved a property?

there is a bathroom & there is a pump/well.

thanks!

fishhead · #2 08/30/12, 09:28 PM

No it wouldn't be a deal breaker. You can use a sawdust toilet too.

meanwhile · #3 08/30/12, 10:10 PM

We have three outhouses and usually no one minds. We do have indoor traditional plumbing too but when out in the lower garden or at one camping site and behind one Cabin we do have outhouses. We find them helpful and especially when lots of people are here it is nice to keep the crowd out of the house.

Recently, however, we had a wild food class here and "strangers" from the community attended the class. Two people (a man and woman couple) turned up their noses a bit when we pointed to the Out House. We saw them laughing about it and then they left early! We did not care however we did paint and "redecorate" the outhouse that guests to the classes will use.

An outhouse can be clean, neat and tidy just like a traditional bathroom. Just clean it up nice and put a curtain, etc. keep it clean and it will be fine. Good luck.

harvestgirl · #4 08/30/12, 10:14 PM

thank you!

PrairieBelle22 · #5 08/30/12, 10:17 PM

Only you can decide if it is a deal breaker. How are you going to feel about going out there in the middle of the night, in the rain, sleet, snow, or in the blazing heat. How much do you like to get up in the night to walk the kiddo's out there in the night because they've got to go but are scared to go out in the dark.

Personally, i could live with outhouse only for a short while, but if i had the option for an in house flusher, I would be working on it.

That said, our place has an outhouse with a walk path from the main house. The building has to be rebuilt and is on my "to do" list .

Belle

LisaInN.Idaho · #6 08/30/12, 10:50 PM

We used an outhouse for the first 18 months we lived here. It really was not a big deal, even to our 14 year old daughter who was very apprehensive at first.
On the outhouse wall is written in crayon "outhouses are not as bad as I thought".
I don't know how I'd like using one forever, but 18 months was certainly doable.

fishhead · #7 08/31/12, 06:38 AM

You can also put a solar chimney to suck air down into the hole to help control odors. That's just a black pipe placed where the sun can warm it up and cause the air inside to rise.

Another thing is a styrofoam seat for winter.

mnn2501 · #8 08/31/12, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harvestgirl

will guests?

Some will some won't

Quote:

Originally Posted by harvestgirl

will my kids? lol ~

Probably

Quote:

Originally Posted by harvestgirl

would that be a deal breaker one way or the other for you if you really loved a property?

For me yes.
For resale value, yes.
In some counties its illegal to have an outhouse.

Having said that, my Aunt and Uncle in northern MN had a bright and cheery outhouse. Light wood paneling, regular toilet seat, windows up high to let in light, regular door and handle (and door lock), linoleum floor, and kept it very clean.

HOTW · #9 08/31/12, 10:07 AM

So long as it is legal I would not have an issue with an outhouse used them many tiems frowing up. In HS we went on a "field" trip that was more of a breakdown experiment between different social-economic factions. The teacher who recruited me did so because I did have extensive primitive camping experience opposed to everyne else ont he trip. Most of the girls freaked out about using an outhouse at the main base but had no clue that nature primitive meant digging a hole...I scared a few of them for the hell of it..it was 4 days of pure fun for me and it did net me a few new friends who really saw that the strange kid from Canada had a few aces up her sleeve in the right environment!

SFM in KY · #10 08/31/12, 10:11 AM

Certainly wouldn't be a deal breaker for me as I grew up with an outhouse. We didn't have electricity until I was 10 or 12 ... no indoor plumbing or telephone until after I was grown and gone from the ranch.

I do remember that my great-uncle's wife, who was from New York, came to visit at the ranch when I was 7 or so ... and she never returned!

I also went back to an outhouse when I moved to a ranch on the Crow reservation in the late 90s ... lived there for two years and had no issues with going back to it. Nobody that came to visit had a problem that I ever heard about, either ...

Ken Scharabok · #11 08/31/12, 10:14 AM

With kids, use a chamber pot inside, to be emptied into the outhouse the next morning and rinsed. Heck, even for yourselves.

Sawdust and a sprinkling of lime seem to work wonders.

Encourage men-folk to use suitable trees for just urinating. Urine is actually a decent fertilizer.

Inside the house have males use an empty bleach bottle to be poured onto the compost pile or around plants occasionally.

See the book, "Farmers of Forty Centuries".

Nimrod · #12 08/31/12, 10:54 AM

I agree with the other folks that an outhouse, even in a really cold climate, is not that bad.

You said the property has a bathroom and a well. Does it follow that there is a house and septic system? I would suggest that you have the septic system tested before you buy the property. Also have a perk test done to see if a new septic system could be installed if the old one is bad or fails. Have a test done on the well. When you know what the costs will be if you buy the place, then make your decision on whether to buy.

AnnieinBC · #13 08/31/12, 11:26 AM

If your winters are really cold, I second the idea of the styrofoam seat. Makes a big difference in winter. Friends of ours have lived off grid for more than 20 years now, and they have an outhouse. Doesn't bother them one bit.

Good luck with your property

Danaus29 · #14 08/31/12, 12:42 PM

For me, an outhouse would not be a deal breaker but I would be installing an indoor fixture when time and finances allowed. But once that was completed I would still use the outhouse quite often.

An outhouse is better than squatting in the woods. I do have a thing against squatting in the woods. Yes I'll do it but the thought of a spider crawling on me there just gives me the shivers. At least in an outhouse you can keep a spider stick and swirl it around in the hole to make sure no spiders are hiding there.

My dh says the best raspberries he ever ate grew around his grandparents outhouse.

Rick · #15 08/31/12, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Scharabok

...........Encourage men-folk to use suitable trees for just urinating. Urine is actually a decent fertilizer.

Inside the house have males use an empty bleach bottle to be poured onto the compost pile or around plants occasionally.

See the book, "Farmers of Forty Centuries".

Watering trees is not limited to males Ken!

harvestgirl · #16 08/31/12, 05:09 PM

thanks everyone!!

went to look at it again. we weren't positive there was no toilet inside, but yep.. none, just the outhouse.

honestly, the biggest adjustment will be for the kids. and at night & winter.

like the chamber pot idea!

a few minor tweaks to add elec , and the well/pump is right on the back deck,so we will look in to having water inside as well.

it's rustic! and i love it! we'd be renting, not buying (yet)

65284 · #17 08/31/12, 06:53 PM

Many years ago we had a neighbor that had a very fancy outhouse. Paneled on the inside, regular toilet seat, tile floor, magazine rack and neatest of all it had an overhead light and two heat lamps controlled by a switch at the house. You could light it up and warm it up before leaving the house.

Wis Bang 2 · #18 08/31/12, 08:05 PM

The outhouse at deer camp has an electric heater that comes on when you light the porch light. First person up turns on the light.

salmonslayer · #19 08/31/12, 08:48 PM

Not a problem for us. If you have little (or big) boys teach them to use plastic water bottles to relieve themselves in at night (I would do it now but the Mrs says no way).

Awnry Abe · #20 08/31/12, 10:19 PM

Illegal? What have we become?