An ongoing Oak Hollow series — Part 1
Walking across the concrete pad behind the Threshold Cabin early this morning, I realized again why the Hearth matters. It isn’t just a small outbuilding we’re constructing. It’s not “the bathroom,” or “the outhouse,” or even “the composting room.” It is something quieter and more intentional than that.
It’s a place where a person steps out of her cabin and into a slower rhythm of living. A place built on purpose — not convenience, not speed, not habit.
It is, at its core, a daily ritual of simplicity.
Why Build a Hearth at All?
Most modern tiny homes tuck everything under one roof: a kitchenette, a bathroom, electrical wiring, plumbing, hot water, humidity control — all those things that make a building complicated and expensive.
Oak Hollow is about a different way of living.
Threshold Cabin — the first long-term rental in East Hollow — is deliberately simple, and the Hearth is a major part of that simplicity. Instead of squeezing a bathroom into a 12×16 structure, we chose to separate it completely:
- A 4×6 structure
- Steps away from the cabin’s northeast corner
- Fully off-grid
- No plumbing
- No electricity
- No septic system
- No noise
Just a composting toilet, a hand-washing station, a shelf, and room to breathe.
We’re building something functional, yes — but also something deeply human.
This Week’s Progress
The Deck and Framing
Yesterday, Jonathan and I built the 4×6 deck floor using 4×4 posts, 2×4 framing, and 5/4 decking boards. That tiny platform already gives the structure a sense of presence, as though it knows what it’s going to become.
What we’ve decided for the Threshold Hearth is this:
The interior will be one unified 4×6 room, not divided into a 4×4 toilet area and a separate 2×4 firewood side as originally planned.
The full interior becomes the tenant’s private space — roomy enough for a composting toilet on the north wall (left side in photo) and a simple vanity shelf on the east wall (right rear in photo).
Firewood storage will be moved outside under an extended roof on the east or south side. This gives the tenant maximum comfort inside the Hearth.
Inside the Hearth: A Different Kind of Bathroom
Composting Toilet
Along the north wall (41 inches inside stud-to-stud), we’re installing a handcrafted composting toilet box built from plywood and 2×4 framing. It holds a standard 5-gallon bucket lined with compostable or heavy-duty bags. Next to it — built into the same box — is a smaller compartment filled with:
- Pine shavings
- Cedar shavings
- Or peat moss
This is used as cover material after each use.
Simple. Clean. Odor-free.
No plumbing, no flushing, no wastewater — just a low-tech solution that reflects how our grandparents lived.
A Return to Hand-Washing Rituals
On the east wall will sit a small vanity shelf. Instead of plumbing, we’re using an old-time basin and pitcher:
- Fill the pitcher from The Watering Place (less than 100 feet away)
- Pour into the basin
- Wash face and hands
- Pour greywater into a dedicated bucket beneath the shelf
It’s slower. It’s intentional.
It brings a sense of meaning to a task most people rush through.
And because this is Oak Hollow, we’ve kept the option open:
A simple bottle of hand sanitizer sits on the shelf as well — because sometimes practicality deserves a seat at the table.
Light From Above
One of the quiet joys of the Hearth will be the natural light. We plan to use a clear or lightly frosted polycarbonate roof panel over the vanity area to illuminate the interior during daylight hours.
It transforms the space:
- No artificial lights
- A soft glow over the basin
- A sense of calm and openness
- And zero compromise to privacy
This isn’t just a utility building — it’s a small sanctuary.
What This Means for the Tenant
When our first East Hollow tenant walks out of her cabin each morning — maybe a young professional woman working in town, or someone seeking stillness and a break from modern noise — she’ll find:
- A clean, private composting toilet
- A quiet space to wash up
- Daylight filtering through the roof
- Fresh air
- The smell of pine
- A sense of peace that comes from stepping outside, even briefly
The Hearth becomes part of her daily rhythm.
A grounding practice.
A reminder that life can be lived differently — slowly, simply, intentionally.
What’s Next?
Over the coming days, we’ll continue:
- Building the walls
- Installing the composting toilet box
- Adding the vanity shelf and mirror
- Framing the extended roof for firewood storage
- Installing the clear roofing panel
- Finishing the interior
And we’ll document it all here in this ongoing series.
Because building Oak Hollow isn’t just about construction.
It’s about meaning — and creating spaces where people rediscover what it feels like to live without hurry.
Stay tuned for Part 2.
The Threshold Cabin as viewed from the under-construction Watering Place.
Oak Hollow Cabins 