Hey everybody! I haven’t been around in a while. My cabin dreams are coming true. Does anybody have any recommendations on composting toilets? I know a lot of people have cabins and I thought somebody might have a recommendation! The prices are all over the place. I really want to spend as little as possible

It’s mostly for visitors who are squeamish about not having a regular toilet.

I've installed/maintained three composting toilets at a historic location. Two of them were based on the simple composting toilet recommendations from the 1970's, where there are two chambers below the seat and the pile has sawdust/wood chips added to it after each use and turned over into the second chamber every week, depending on use. It works, but smells greatly during the height of summer. It is a good method though if you are looking for really low tech, and cheap. If it isn't used that much, it really isn't that much work.

A couple of years later the location installed a Clivus Multrum Composting Toilet and Graywater system. And while the mechanism takes up a bit of a footprint, it really works quite well. There is some needed maintaince that occurs every fall before freeze-up, but it has worked without any major issue for nearly 20 years now.

If I were looking at installing a new composting toilet, I would start by researching what the National Park Service is installing at remote campsites, like this one for instance: Toilet Tech. The idea with this one is very similar to the 1970's recommendations, but a bit more thought out and streamlined.

Good luck!

I have a dry off grid cabin by Detroit Lakes MN. I have had a Natures Head composting toilet for about 12 years. It s the bees knees.

Natures Head Composting Toilet.

The well appointed outhouse on our farm as a kid worked quite well when there was an issue with our indoor facility. Of course, this occurred in those winters with a real deep freeze and the straw bails over the septic tank and drain lines were not sufficient. Happy Happy Joy Joy.

Biolet

Thanks for the suggestions.

I was looking for something in the cabin.

These are great suggestions. Does anybody have any experience with the cheaper ones? I know there are a few for a couple hundred dollars, but I didn’t know how they compared to these really nice ones That you have suggested. I am honestly honestly OK with a bucket and sawdust. But, my daughter and my sister are not going to be fans.

I’m never been a fan of out houses. I think it’s my claustrophobia. I will pee behind an outhouse before I pee in it. Ha ha.

Portage, before I got my Natures Head I used a bucket with peat moss for a few years. Big thing is you cannot pee and crap in the same container or it really stinks and is a mess. I bet you could make something yourself and use some sort of female dealy to separate everything before it goes into a holding area.

Curious, how far are you along with building your cabin?

Yes, I’ve been reading about it for quite a while. I’m definitely keeping the liquid and solid separate.

I cheated and had the Amish build me one! I asked them to make it for Minnesota winter. It was pretty cool. The guy and his two teenage kids built it his son and daughter. It is a stunner. I’m glad I cheated.

Here is the progress. Just watch the last two or three videos. If you go back too far, it’s just me wandering around in the woods and I sound really stupid. Ha ha.

I have gotten degrees and done a lot of good things, but this is the first time I can honestly say I feel like I really accomplished something! I finally did something 100% ME. ??

https://youtube.com/@amyscabindevelopmentforfri5294?si=TUmEDfK4eVzy-QhR

I don’t know why those question mark showed up. I forgot to say that I have watched videos where people make their own. It looks pretty simple. I just don’t have any tools. But I thought about trying to come up with some thing.

I'll see if this works Amy. Worked. That is super nice Amy. What lake are you on and aren't you near Isabella?
Amys cabin build

I think there are also models that incinerate as well, suspect more $$ but an option.

LindenTree: "I'll see if this works Amy. Worked. That is super nice Amy. What lake are you on and aren't you near Isabella?
Amys cabin build "

I’m more to the northwest.

alpinebrule: "I think there are also models that incinerate as well, suspect more $$ but an option."

I did look into these. They are a bit pricey.

I have been looking at a couple of different models. The one Linden recommended is pretty much in the middle and gets good reviews.