Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| Green grass and high tides  |
 So what i really am looking for from those in the know is what is the best way to keep you hole composting/biodergading with limited use so that is stays useful over a long period of time. What they did wias sprinkle lye or lime. Is that still applicable? Thanks  "Practice like you want to play in the game" | ||
|
| Gone but Together Again. Dad & Uncle  |
We sprinkle lime in the ones we have out at our Shooting Clubs property. They typically get used 3 times/year. | |||
|
Member |
Lime here as well. Far S TX camp, used in the fall/winter mostly. The Enemy's gate is down. | |||
|
Member |
I was a Day Camp worker back in the 60's and used to clean the Outhouses and add a chunk of Yeast to each one daily. | |||
|
semi-reformed sailor |
Add yeast. "Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor.” Robert A. Heinlein “You may beat me, but you will never win.” sigmonkey-2020 “A single round of buckshot to the torso almost always results in an immediate change of behavior.” Chris Baker | |||
|
| Member |
We rent the Porta Johnnies at the lake place. Here it's $90 a month. They come every Tuesday and pump it out and refill with whatever chemical that breaks everything down and keeps it smelling half way decent, refill the toilet paper rolls and clean it. Money very well spent. "Fixed fortifications are monuments to mans stupidity" - George S. Patton | |||
|
| Green grass and high tides |
LMS, that is not an option. yeast is an interesting thought. What does it do? "Practice like you want to play in the game" | |||
|
| The Ice Cream Man |
charcoal/wood shavings. | |||
|
| Conveniently located directly above the center of the Earth  |
my recollection circa 1956 when the last one I helped dig was still in operation, an essential was literally "Sears catalog"..... I was the only one in my 6th grade class than had the advantage of a personal family outhouse. **************~~~~~~~~~~ "I've been on this rock too long to bother with these liars any more." ~SIGforum advisor~ "When the pain of staying the same outweighs the pain of change, then change will come."~~sigmonkey | |||
|
| Member |
I've heard of people putting yeast in their privy pits to promote waste breakdown. I've also heard that some folks use yogurt. I've never tried either of those methods. Some have recommended wood chips (especially cedar) or sawdust. Ashes from wood fires are another old standby. I don't think adding lime or lye does much to promote waste breakdown, but is good for reducing the unpleasant odors. The pit privy at our UP camp only gets about 60 days of use by two people each year. We're more concerned with having a pleasant experience than waste decomposition so I've been sprinkling in a pound of lye per week when it's in use. The current pit ought to last another 15 or 20 years at the rate we use it. The outhouse has two 2'X 2'sliding windows and the pit is vented. Rather than a wooden bench, we have a fiberglass toilet seat riser. We put nothing into the pit but human waste and toilet paper. As outhouses go, it is quite civilized. | |||
|
Irksome Whirling Dervish |
Putting in yeast seems like it wouldn't work. Yeast works on starches and poop isn't really at that starchy, especially fiber. Many other things in poop beside starch and yeast doesn't have a specific reaction to them. I'm not poo expert but most yeast suggestions say to use a baking yeast and those are starch oriented. | |||
|
| Member |
Sounds similar to ours. We don't have the windows, but did have a lamp in it for some heat. Has been rebuilt a few times, as the particle board (sides & throne structure) breaks down. The Enemy's gate is down. | |||
|
Member |
Perhaps a purpose made product, Rid-X, or other... I found this in a quick google. A type of lime called calcium hydroxide, available at feed stores, can be dropped down the hole to reduce odor. But lime might halt decomposition. Ash from a wood-burning stove is better for decomposition, but less effective on odors. Collecting dust. | |||
|
| Member |
| |||
|
"Member" |
Poop is one of the most biodegradable substances on the planet.  It's the paper that's the problem (same as any system). My family members used to add lye. I've wondered if things like Rid-X would actually help, since there isn't any real water down in the one's I'm talking about. My family members used to add lye... which doesn't mean they were right. lol Lots of people put stupid stuff down there. I've known a few people who said to get road killed animals and throw them in your cesspool because it adds bacteria. (like there's any place in the universe with more bacteria than you're cesspool.)  _____________________________________________________ Sliced bread, the greatest thing since the 1911. | |||
|
Assault Accountant |
We use lime in our camp outhouse. It keeps the odor down and we only needed to move it twice in 20 years.  __________________ Member NRA Member NYSRPA | |||
|
| Member |
Two pounds of Mentos and two gallons of Diet Pepsi. Make sure you film it. | |||
|
Member |
As others have said yeast is a good way to go. If you want to do it the really easy way. A couple of cans of beer. The yeast in the beer will go to work on the waste. Note your outhouse will very much smell like beer. The more beer in the more it will go to work. Also, segregate urine out of solid waste. pee in a bucket. Liquid waste evaporates or can be absorbed into the soil much easier than solid waste. ------------ another alternative is an above-ground house on top of a 50-gallon barrel. - Pull it out, mix in RP-1 (kerosene) and burn it. __________________________ My door is always open to Sigforum members, and I'm always willing to help if I can. | |||
|
| Powered by Social Strata |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
© SIGforum 2024