Do It Yurtself • Hacker News Board

Re: Do It Yurtself

#201

Post by dmitripopov » Mon, Sep 23, 2019, 12:11 PM UTC

heavenlyblue wrote: post #198

dmitripopov wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Soviet Union of the 80s a male person with rural origins aged over 18 was considered capable of building a wooden house by himself (or little help from other males in the family) by default. Nowadays you can hardly find someone who is not a carpenter professionally but still capable of building.

Yeah, and that’s why most of the modern rural Russia reminds everyone of the 1920s southern states in America. It was eye-opening to end up at a photography exhibition by a guy who did government-backed photography in the south in 20s and see the same house my babushka used to live in. But frankly, it doesn’t mean these were _good_ houses.

In Russia good means reliable, and that's all. Comfort is secondary. But not for youngsters of course, that's why rural Russia is almost abandoned.

Re: Do It Yurtself

#202

Post by jszymborski » Mon, Sep 23, 2019, 5:55 PM UTC

dakna wrote: post #176

jszymborski wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It does indeed kinda feel like guerilla advertising...

As someone who tries to build things myself, I think of it as a valid way to monetize what you have learned as passive income to make up for the time it took you to do it. Another well done example is https://faroutride.com/ . They have a very detailed and highly useful journal of their camper van build.

I might be missing something here, but I'm not sure this makes any sense to me.

Why should you be owed more than a yurt should you decide to build a yurt? If you're making a post to advertise a service, all I expect is a notice disclaiming as much. Otherwise, it certainly feels dishonest.

Re: Do It Yurtself

#203

Post by jonathankoren » Tue, Sep 24, 2019, 5:00 PM UTC

spraak wrote: post #159

jonathankoren wrote: post #153

What is up with the composting toilet? All these off grid houses you see on YouTube are using composting toilets. It’s like these people have never heard of a septic tank before.

If you're sincere, it's likely cost and sustainability — it's much cheaper to make a composting toilet than install a septic system; and a composting toilet is environmentally beneficial compared to a septic tank. Edit: I just noticed that you also specify off grid. That as a foundational principle would lead one to simpler choices. A composting toilet is much simpler than a septic system.

If you’re stuck with a mobile dwelling, then it’s reasonable. If you’re permanently siting it, then there’s no reason not to simply dig a hole, and put a septic tank in. It’s a proven technology, that maintains itself. I grew up with one. My parents’ house has had one for 60 years without issue.

You may argue that it is more complex, but almost everything is more complex than defecating into a bag.