Tradition Upgraded, Naturally

The Modern Outhouse: A New Era of Comfort and Convenience

The Tradition of the Outhouse
Outhouses have a long history, offering privacy and a designated place for waste in old communities. Back then, they were little more than pits or buckets, often remembered for their unpleasant odors, flies, and inconvenient locations far from the main living areas, sometimes even posing risks like encounters with wildlife.

A Modern Renaissance
Despite their unsavory past, outhouses are making a surprising comeback, especially at cottages, gardens, and natural retreats. Today’s outhouses, equipped with modern composting toilets, offer a much-improved experience, eliminating many of the issues associated with traditional designs.

Benefits of a Modern Composting Toilet

Modern composting toilets have revolutionized the outhouse experience. Here’s how:

Odor-Free
Proper composting toilets are designed to be odorless, removing the need to place the outhouse far from main buildings.

Convenient Location
With no smell to worry about, outhouses can be installed close to existing structures, making them easily accessible. A popular choice is placing them near terraces, almost like an indoor toilet.

Garden Convenience
For avid gardeners, an outhouse provides a convenient solution, eliminating the need to trek indoors. This setup is also ideal for outdoor gatherings, like barbecues, where guests can easily access the facilities.

Make your own DIY-Outhouse

A composting toilet in an outhouse can handle more waste with minimal maintenance compared to smaller indoor systems. Large-capacity batch composting toilets are perfect for outhouses, efficiently managing waste and requiring less frequent attention.

If you’re planning to build your own outhouse, here are some helpful tips:

Plan Your Model
Decide on the toilet model before starting. Our Green Toilet blueprints can serve as a great guide, even if you have your own design in mind.

Size Matters
Ensure the outhouse is spacious enough, with a depth of at least 5 feet for comfortable movement.

Optimal Location
Utilize any natural slopes in your yard to avoid stairs and keep the building accessible as in the drawing below.

Ventilation and Liquid Management
If converting an existing structure, place the toilet against an outer wall for easy ventilation and liquid hose installation.

Upgrade Existing Structures
With our Green Toilet composting systems, you can modernize an old outhouse without needing to build a new one from scratch. For example, Green Toilets have a adjustable waste chute to help installation.

Handwashing Station
Plan for a nearby handwashing station for convenience and hygiene.

Read more and get inspired!

Outhouse Composting Toilets: Five Examples (With Pictures)

Green Toilet composting toilets for outhouses

Green Toilets are an entire product line of composting toilets designed for outhouses and other off-the-grid use cases. The Green Toilet product line encompasses composting toilets for private seasonal use up to year-around public use. Watch the video and learn about Green Toilets.

Outhouses in Public Use

Not everybody realize outhouses can well serve even in public use for example in national parks and conservation areas off the grid.

Public Toilets Off the Grid: Case Study of Helsinki Outhouses

Summary

Choose the Right Composting Toilet: Start planning your outhouse around a suitable composting toilet.

Accessible Location: Place the outhouse in a convenient spot.

Adequate Size: Build a larger outhouse, as it takes almost the same effort as a smaller one.

Water and Cost Savings: An outhouse can save water and reduce wastewater costs, even if you have an indoor water closet. It’s also perfect for outdoor activities with friends and family.

Embrace the benefits of a modern outhouse with a composting toilet, combining tradition with contemporary convenience and environmental sustainability.