Sustainabile Living

I still can’t get over the incredible time I had with all of the amazing people I got to meet in Vermont this weekend. I’ll be sharing more photos and videos soon but I wanted to talk about this article and the video you can watch below that was featured on the New England Cable News. It features the tiny house built by Yale student Elizabeth Turnbull Henry that I had the pleasure of touring on my visit to the Tiny House Fair at Yestermorrow where I got to speak this weekend. Kate Stevenson, the executive director of Yestermorrow, explains in the video below how more and more people are interested in living mortgage-free. Then below that video, I actually had the chance to get Kate to tell us more about the house while giving you a tour of the house in its most recent condition. Photos by Alex Pino Come inside to see the video below: Photos by Alex Pino A news station video clip that includes Elizabeth’s tiny house New Video of Elizabeth’s Tiny House in Vermont (Shot by me 6/15/13) I also wanted to point out an interesting statistic recorded by the National Association of Realtors. It states that properties of 100 square feet or less made up just 1% of sales in the U.S. last year. I think it’s kind of misleading though because of the strict building codes enforced in the majority of places in the U.S. Also most people that build a tiny house construct it for themselves and end up keeping it and when they do sell it they do so without a broker or real estate agent. What other reasons do you see for the low percentage of sales in tiny houses? Do you also agree that it is at least slightly inaccurate? Do you even think it matters?

So I thought I might continue on our little tour of our tiny house, our construction choices, and the outcome. Since I am currently enjoying some beautiful summer days I thought I might talk a little about our outdoor living space. The first outdoor space we built was our front porch and since we used plans to build our post and pier foundation based on deck plans, no front porch was in the original design. We always planned to build one but we needed to have the house built first. Photo by Laura M. LaVoie Our front porch may be the smallest deck ever constructed. It is essentially a free-standing structure using just four deck blocks for stability. It is attached to the house by the porch overhang. It provides a small covered spot to take off our muddy shoes before going inside. I encourage you to read more and see our photos of the process below. Photo by Laura M. LaVoie While we like being out on the porch we wanted to build more outdoor spaces to be able to enjoy our mountain all the time. Since our land is pretty sloped we needed to build a deck so we could sit comfortably outside without being at an angle. We also wanted a space to prepare food outdoors using our Camp Chef Camp Oven and a small smoker. Photo by Laura M. LaVoie The next building project was an outdoor “kitchen.” When we said we were building an outdoor kitchen I think people had an idea that we were going to do a pretty ornate set up, but really we just wanted a flat surface to cook on. So we decided to build a small table with one storage shelf. We decided to use EZ Spikes which are sold at big home improvement stores and typically used for mail boxes or fence posts. They require a lot of brute force to pound them into the ground and they are really stable. We added 4X4 posts and leveled them in place. We added braces and a bottom shelf which is where we store our aquatainers of spring water, our camp oven, and other various outdoor cooking tools. We secured a sturdy board across the top to be the counter and painted it. We even gave the table a very slight slope toward the back so water wouldn’t collect on the surface after rain. Photo by Laura M. LaVoie Because of the slope of the land the height of the table varies depending on where you’re standing. We can put the camp oven on the lower side making it easy to access and prepare in the middle of the counter which is exactly the right height. We can put a water filter with spigot on the highest point which makes washing dishes easier. Photo by Laura M. LaVoie Once the table was done, we started work on our “back yard” deck. We built a 12X12 deck and, if you’re keeping score, it is actually bigger than our house. We used deck block and 4X4s for the structure and 2X6s for the deck itself. The best part was that we could buy 12 foot lumber and not have to cut anything but the posts – which was kind of a relief after building our house. The deck went up in a matter of days. Photo by Laura M. LaVoie We refer to the deck as the Folk N’ Ale – a clever play on words for anyone willing to sound it out. The first party we had after moving in featured music on the deck while the rest of us sat on blankets on the ground. Photo by Laura M. LaVoie When we decided to build a 120 square foot house we never intended to be confined to it. I love being inside my house, but I also really love the Smoky Mountains and I want to enjoy the natural setting as much as possible. We have a lot of future plans for building near the tiny house like a perfect tree house which I would love to turn into a bar. I don’t actually imagine a time when we’ll stop building things. What kind of outdoor living spaces do you want in your life?

This is a guest post by Drew McDonald of The Plaid Apron in Knoxville, TN The Plaid Apron is a cafe tucked into the historic Sequoyah Hills neighborhood in Knoxville, TN.  We consider ourselves to be a “relationship driven” restaurant.  We rely on many local and sustainable resources; utilizing what’s here and working closely with farmers and small producers, who we know by name, is just how we roll.  This is the “circle of life” of the local movement! This summer, we’re taking part in the Bristol Bay salmon dinner series. At first glance, you may wonder why a chef in East Tennessee could care about the precious Bristol Bay area. One word: gift! God has blessed us all with this world, and we have done all but ruin many of the valuable resources she bestows. The Bristol Bay region of Alaska is a precious resource that remains untouched, and it’s not too late to protect this special place. It’s also a place that touches people across the world; from the plates in restaurants across the country to the families that have been fishing there for hundreds of years. On the 13th of July we hope to gather a group of 100 or so at the historic Riverdale School House to feast on the beautiful Bristol Bay Wild Sockeye.  This 100+ year-old schoolhouse sits just above the majestic French Broad River and provides a view to the Smokey Mountains section of the Southern Appalachians.  As expected we are calling this meal the Bristol Bay Sockeye Salmon BBQ, we are in East Tennessee after all. The food will range traditional southern picnic sides, to grilling and smoking the salmon over open coal just a few yards from the table.  We aim to provide education about the issue at hand while doing what we all enjoy; sitting at a table with good food and good friends even if we just met. Outside of home-cooked meals, I believe that chefs provide more meals to individuals than any other people on earth.  Why do we do what we do? Because we love it.  If you love what you do why would you not take care of those whom allow you do what you love? From farmer to fisherman to forager we work as a community, a sort of supporting cast in the big picture.  Bristol Bay is a major segment in the picture and we are the subtitles between the scene and the viewer!

I thought these Gypsy Caravans created by Kees Hoekstra of Roulottes were pretty neat and would like to share them with you today. Kees has been building gyspy caravans since 1992 and was a graphic designer/illustrator in Amsterdam. With his knowledge in graphic design, Kees borrowed some tools from a friend and set off to France for 20 weeks restoring his caravan. After he was finished people starting asking if it was for sale/rent and that inspired him to create his own business. Since there weren’t many original caravans left, he decided he needed to build them from scratch. He then moved to Czech Republic where he set up a workshop and hired carpenters. Today he sells his creations which are used for campsites, hotels, backyard workshops and more. Roulottes Gypsy Caravans Interior of one of the Gypsy Wagons Looks like there really enjoying themselves below. Looks nice at night doesn’t it? I like how this one looks surrounded by all of the greenery. Here is a video that shows you even more… I enjoy these gypsy caravan tiny houses because they have a “fun” vibe to them and I also love the mobile aspect of them. If you enjoyed this post be sure to check out our daily tiny house newsletter. Can you think of any great uses for a caravan like this for yourself? What do you think are the pros/cons in this type of tiny house?

This great video of Rebecca Henderson's talk at VERGE is worth the 10 minutes. She lays out four elements of a needed cultural shift: Adopt an entrepreneurial mindset Develop compassion for the core (e.g. the mainstream, the status-quo, those who don't see the need for change) Become rational about emotions Develop a systems mindset Henderson explains each of these concisely in her talk below, and stresses, that like the "fifth discipline" the need for a systems mindset is the most important. Moving groups, organizations, and societies as a whole towards sustainability requires great collaboration and profound shifts in worldviews, values, and mental models (e.g. habits of thought, assumptions and blind spots). I believe we have everything we need in terms of resources, tools, technology to create a sustainable society (though continuing to work and improve on those fronts is important, beneficial, and can potentially make the shift easier) -- and that we still have lots to do in bringing about the culture shift. That calls on us all to be open and provide leadership at all levels. Those acts of leadership often involve simply being strong enough to let go of assumptions and preconceived notions; to rethink success, and reevaluate what our fundamental needs are, and how we can most effectively go about meeting them. Stay going. .

I wanted to show you this tiny cabin with its 18′ vaulted ceilings in Asheville. It’s a vacation rental you can actually stay in if you wanted and I find it to be the perfect size house. It’s really spacious compared to a little house on wheels but has a similar design concept. A cabin that’s a little larger, more spacious, but still very small relative to even today’s smallest homes. Jenny’s cabin is 16′x25′ so it’s approximately 400-square-feet with a large deck. And for those of you who don’t like the idea of upstairs sleeping lofts, maybe something like this is what you might want instead? Come on, let’s go inside! Large Deck 18′ Vaulted Ceilings Windows & Natural Lighting Throughout Notice the Optional Storage/Sleeping Loft Below Open Floor Plan with Bedroom Full Bathroom Kitchen with Granite Countertops I like how there are no cabinets or shelves on the walls of the kitchen because it gives it a clean look and also makes the space seem bigger. View from the Loft I don’t believe there is a bed up there it’s probably just used for storage but obviously you’d be able to do whatever you want with your own. I’d probably go ahead and use it as a bed or maybe even an elevated office or writing area? Book your stay to this tiny cabin in Asheville here. More info on the structure here. More photos here. Did you enjoy this post? Join our free daily Tiny House Newsletter for more! If you want you can help me spread the word on tiny houses and this particular cabin with a “Like” or share using the buttons below. Afterwards I’d love to read your thoughts on it in the comments below. I’m curious, would you rather build and live in a tiny cabin like this or a tiny home on wheels? Thanks!

I’m so glad Deb Nardi sent me this article on Ken Ilgunas, a Duke graduate who is now telling all about how he lived in a van to stay out of debt while finishing his grad studies at the University. By the way, before that, he had completed his undergrad studies in Buffalo, and ended up with $32,000 of debt because of it. And he was turned down for 25 paid internships after that with his college degree. So he was working at Home Depot for $8 an hour. Before he went back to graduate school, he dedicated two and half years to working and paying off the student loan debt he accumulated. Even after all of this, Ken was NOT willing to give up on his education. In fact, he seemed to be even hungrier for it. But how would he afford it without getting another student loan? His solution? To create his own “Walden on Wheels,” as he calls it. Photo Ken Ilgunas “The van was more than just a way to save money. I wanted it to be an experience, to see how little I could spend. I didn’t want to be borrowing money from my parents any time I had a hardship.” Photo Ken Ilgunas Read the original article and see more photos of his van dwelling set up at Yahoo! Finance. Preview and consider buying a copy of Ken’s book, Walden on Wheels, where he goes in depth about the experience.

Have you ever wanted a to convert an existing structure like a shed, barn or garage into a tiny cottage or other type of home? It’s a great way to transition into a simple lifestyle especially if you have a solid structure that you can already use. With a good architect or some of your own design and DIY skills you can create an amazing tiny house out of an existing structure. Let me take you inside below: Interior of Seattle Backyard Garage to Cottage Conversion As you can see it’s a super simple design with a very basic and open floor plan. This project was remodeled by Seattle Backyard Cottage. Original story here. Would you ever consider converting a garage, shed or maybe a barn into your own beautiful tiny house or cottage? If so, “Like” and tell us about it in the comments below. Thanks!

I thought I’d show you Nancy’s tiny house. It’s approximately 14′x9′ and is really unique because it’s a flexible, breathable structure. And it’s made from materials around the sheep pasture where it’s located in Turangi, New Zealand. These materials include bamboo, silage netting and wool from the thousands of sheep there. By the way, Tika Whare means “true home” in Maori. And Maori are the people of New Zealand. Photo Credit Nancy Milliken I know this is a completely unrealistic tiny house option but it’s so unique I just had to share it. And Nancy, the creator, built it as art. It definitely got me thinking of how fortunate we are to have the ability to build more permanent and durable structures so we don’t have to constantly rebuild after bad weather. So yeah, I just thought I’d share and I hope you enjoyed it and that it also got you thinking a little. How they Built it Tika Whare Structure For more interesting posts like this join our free Tiny House Newsletter!

Just wanted to let you know that I’m on my way to the Vermont for the Yestermorrow tiny house fair this morning. I’m so excited to get to hang out with 30+ other tiny house enthusiasts along with the likes of Dee Williams, Jay Shafer, Derek Diedricksen, Brian Levy, Lee Pera, Abel Zyl Zimmerman, Peter King, Dan Louche, Mariah Coz, Tammy Strobel, Logan Smith, Abe Noe-Hays, Gwendolyn Hallsmith, Lina Menard, Sam Harrington, and more. I’m so excited! For complete list of speakers and topics they’re covering at this event click here. I’ll do my best to update the blog and our Facebook while I’m there and Yestermorrow will be doing the same thing here. Photo Credit Four Lights Tiny Houses I’m looking forward to sharing photos and information from this weekend with you soon so stay tuned and thanks. See you soon! To receive free daily updates from me join our free Tiny House Newsletter!