It’s said that necessity is the mother of invention, well this mom and her three young kids were very much in need of a place to call their own and a purpose & direction. After her divorce, Kelly Lewis decided to build her very own tiny home, she did get help with the shell and a few other things, but for the most part, she and her young children did the majority of the work. Watch and enjoy :)
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There has been a lot of chatter on the internet about upcoming (potential) changes in HUD regulations about tiny homes and RVs in the USA. There is quite a bit of speculation and disinformation about what is going on, I found these 2 videos explaining some of what is going on.
Here is the link to the government site
https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=HUD-2016-0013
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Going underground using 2 shipping containers, sure you could just dig a hole, plop them in and backfill, but that isn’t going to last very long, but Steve Rees did things right. The only “regret” I heard them express is that next time they will use 3 shipping containers instead of 2.
He went to the local officials to get a permit, they told him they didn’t have a permit for underground containers, so he went ahead and built, seems it was no problem for anyone. Rees did hire a large excavator to dig out the space, once the 2 containers were placed, they used thick foam on the outside to help insulate and keep the moisture away. Gravel was also used next to the containers so water will run off.
I like how he finished the inside, preferring not to put any holes in the skin of the container that might start rusting, you can see how he has done all of this in the video below.
https://youtu.be/Z0oFJ2jbkDI
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I hear so many folk saying what they’d like to be doing, they want to go off-grid, they want to be more self sustainable, they want to have a smaller footprint… they want and want, but never seem to do, they often dream but stop short of actually taking the steps necessary to achieve their dreams.
There are excuses, many more excuses than reasons to move ahead, often it’s a matter of waiting for something to happen so they can move forward, waiting for that raise, that promotion, the summer to arrive, getting kids raised, getting kids through college, retirement… and in all that waiting, time is going by, that is the one thing you can never get back. Time is irreplaceable, it cannot be added to or subtracted from, it can, however, be wasted.
There are many important things to do in life, but waiting for something shouldn’t become your normal status. I’m not saying you should dump everything and move to the woods, I am saying that if you want to achieve something, no matter what it is, if it’s something you can’t do all at once, then start moving toward it. Start taking steps to achieve your goals, even if they are baby steps, DO IT.
I saw a Facebook meme, it said “At this moment, you are as old as you have ever been, and as young as you ever will be again”, those are profound and true words.
How much time are you wasting (losing forever) waiting for some THING to happen, how long will you put your dreams on hold? What are you dreams? What are you doing to achieve them? Let me know below.
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Vandwelling is an interesting way to live, having your home and your vehicle all in one, this lady converted her van into a home herself, I do wish we could have seen her in this video, she still managed to give all of us a tour of her home.
I really like the toilet, it’s called a C-Head, it’s one that is used in boats, it takes up very little space and is simple to use. I had heard about many different kinds of composting toilets, this is a new one on me.
I’d love to see how she is living today, perhaps we will find her again, until then, enjoy the video.
https://youtu.be/uQXkPHx89os
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Shelli Stanback didn’t just want to write checks to worthy causes that help preserve our natural world or promote a healthier future. “It’s a different kind of commitment,” the long-time Asheville philanthropist said. “You don’t miss the view or the history, until it’s gone.”
Stanback purchased a 54-acre property to create the OM Sanctuary wellness and meditation retreat center. She has made sure the green woods won’t be lost.
Along with the city-owned Richmond Hill Park nearby, the OM Sanctuary’s woods represent the city’s largest protected tract of urban forest, just a couple of miles from the heart of downtown.
“Natural places are essential for human health,” Stanback said. “Once they have been lost to development they are gone forever. We must preserve them now for our sake, and for the sake of the future.”
Working with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, OM Sanctuary placed an easement on some 42 acres containing cove forest, oak forest and low mountain pine forest, with mixed hardwoods. The tract also contains pools in the river floodplain that provide habitat for salamanders, amphibians and reptiles.
“It is a rare gem containing an uncommon cluster of natural features near Asheville’s urban core,” said Carl Silverstein, SAHC’s executive director. The forest provides ecosystem services and preserves a scenic view seen by many people every day: recreational users of the French Broad River and everyone who drives past it.”
Finding sanctuary
About five years ago, Stanback was attending a retreat for the Southern Law Environmental Center meeting at Richmond Hill. The Victorian landmark mansion built by U.S. Sen. Richmond Pearson had been razed by an arson in 2009. The inn had other buildings added in the 1990s but was facing bankruptcy.
She remembered standing under the willow tree outside when the decision came to her. “I could do this for the people of Asheville and beyond. I could create a sanctuary here.”
With funds from the Brad and Shelli Stanback Foundation, she formed a nonprofit to buy the property for $4.5 million in 2011.
Stanback has been interested in healing since she was a girl suffering from migraines and looking for relief. She was deeply interested in alternative medicines and environmental issues long before she met her husband, Brad.
His family had made money with the Stanback headache powders, invented in Rowan County in 1911, and familiarized by the slogan “Snapback with Stanback.”
Her father-in-law, Fred Stanback Jr., was roommates at Harvard with famed investor Warren Buffett. Stanback went on to became a private investor and influential philanthropist based in Salisbury. With his wife, Alice, he’s made millions of dollars in gifts, protecting vistas along the Blue Ridge Parkway with conservation easements.
Shelli and Brad Stanback continue that family legacy through their own foundation. They recently gave $1 million to the American Chestnut Foundation, trying to restore the chestnut trees that were killed off in the Appalachians …
I write quite a bit about tiny homes, both on and off wheels, many choose to live this lifestyle in tiny accommodations, some of the fortunate ones have property to plant their tiny homes, others rely on their friends or family to park their homes.
Unfortunately there are those who are living this way against their will, living in their cars, living in vans and campers, often it’s financial reasons, loss of a job, health issues, divorce or other life altering conditions.
This video shows a few families and singles who are one step away from living on the streets, I say one step away because at least they have a vehicle or camper to live in, they truly aren’t ON THE STREETS, yet.
Even though the video is a bit dated, it still illustrates what can happen to any of us, many of us are just one paycheck away from being on the streets, even those who have good jobs, it can happen in a heartbeat.
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A unique festival that teaches us How to live “Off-Grid” and in “harmony with our environment”
Off-Grid festival is an green gem of a family festival that has grown out of the British grassroots festival movement. Over the last seven years the event has educated and informed thousands of people about the skills and knowledge required to live a low-impact ‘off-grid’ lifestyle.
Off-Grid Festival brings together some of the UK’s most progressive thinkers and practical activists in a temporary space where everything is possible. Participants of all ages will engage in an immersive educational experience curated over four packed days of workshops, talks, forum and other practical activities.
At the core of this unique event is the Off-Grid College, a 12 module course in practical sustainability, applied permaculture and appropriate technology, featuring some of the UK’s most respected tea
chers and practitioners in subjects as diverse as eco retro-fitting your home, wild and natural healthcare, forest gardening and DIY energy systems.
Off-Grid Festival is a special exploration of community living, creativity and consciousness; creating an intimate environment in which to learn, share skills, trade knowledge, impart wisdom and make a difference. It is a 100% participatory event, self-organised by those that attend.
The four-day festival offers organic, local, food and drink, a family friendly vibe including West-country’s finest storytellers an Off-Grid Kids space, along with entertainment and live music. There is also a fantastic crafts area showcasing local and traditional crafts from stone-carving to woodturning, weaving and blacksmithing.
Off-Grid organisers are delighted to have found a new home for the event at The Biophilia Projec
t, Exeter set in 96 acres of regenerated meadow and woodland. Biophilia aims to be as ‘off-grid’ and independent as possible, and supports the growth of biodiversity and nurture of the local Biosphere. An enterprise that seeks to define and develops models & steps towards a future in which humanity could live in enriching harmony with nature.
To launch this years festival Off-Grid have organised a crowd-funding campaign where tickets can be purchased and people who wish to support the festival can do so. The Lets Make it Happen campaign at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/off-grid-festival-2016 is looking to raise at least £6000 towards the core costs of producing this special event. With only 300 tickets available, it is advisable to book as early as possible.
All donations over £20 include membership of the Off-Grid: Biophilia Project. The Biophilia Association will be organising seasonal events each year which includes an Off-Grid Camp, banquets and other special occasions. Association Affiliates get discounted access to all such events. By committing to support Off-Grid, by buying a ticket or one of the other supporter options, you are ensuring that this event can go ahead and the magic can return this coming August. It means we can begin planning; booking speakers, contributors, musicians and pulling together our Team. https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/off-grid-festival-2016 There’s nothing quite like …
Kind of cabin, kind of small house, kind of cave-underground home, this house has it all. I love the color concepts and the design of the home. This truly is a man cave, but in the most tasteful way.
And the views from this tiny abode, well you just have to watch to believe.
https://youtu.be/xJwJXKFTYgY
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These two videos demonstrate the vast differences you can get in an underground home, personally I prefer the more rustic home, I don’t think I would ever be comfortable in a modern structure, they are too sterile and cold for me, but each person has ideas about how they wish to live.
This first video shows a very rustic hobbit style underground home, in fact you can’t stand upright inside the main space, I would want to be able to stand up, but wouldn’t require extra headroom besides that.
https://youtu.be/zdLAM-wChxY
The second video here showcases more modern underground homes, enjoy!
https://youtu.be/kWPNp-a4nIw
What do you think? Would you live underground? Would you prefer rustic or modern?
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Since moving off-grid, many of my day to day things have had to be downsized, my fridge for one, I went from having a full size, side by side with ice maker to a small chest type freezer to fridge conversion. The large fridge and even the small dorm size units used too much power for our small system. One thing I discovered along the way, when I had a full size fridge, I tended to store leftovers in it until it was time to throw them away, I am forced to be more frugal with the smaller box now.
But the biggest thing I have downsized on is my computer. I used to build computers as a hobby, a serious hobby, I could tear down and rebuild a tower from the ground up. I knew we wouldn’t have the power necessary to run all the computer equipment I used to have so I went to a laptop, that was mentally difficult, guys think going from a Harley to a kid’s bicycle, that’s what it felt like to me.
I did eventually embrace my laptop, even though there was very little I could do to it to improve it, short of adding a bit of memory. I have gone through 3 laptops since moving out here. I am looking at getting #4 soon.
Last year, I discovered the joys of tablets. I wouldn’t have gotten one, except that I needed one to do my job in merchandising. I quickly discovered I could do most of the things I did on my laptop each day but the really great thing is they use so little power! I generally only boot up my laptop 2-3X a week now, preferring to do most things on my tablets.
I can go to bed with my tablet next to me, falling asleep watching Downton Abbey via Amazon Prime without worrying about draining my small solar system. In fact, I generally leave the internet running 24-7 now, something I never did before. I’ll turn it off if no one is going to be at the house, but that is a rarity.
That tablet is an 8 inch Samsung Galaxy Note 8, I purchased it factory refurbished, paying a small percentage of what they cost new. I love the size, bigger than a phone, but still portable, with a screen that is comfortable to view.
I have since acquired a larger tablet, a 12 inch Galaxy Note Pro, I use it for some photo editing and such, but honestly I prefer my smaller tablet for day to day use. Yes, these are older technology, but for me they work just fine.
Now I’m asking those who have gone off-grid, what and how have you downsized? Do you like it, does it work for you? I’d love to hear your ideas :)
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“Buses convert really well to motor homes…” says Jade, a builder who transformed a school bus into his beautiful home on wheels. The first thing you notice is all the warm, buttery wood, but even with that much wood, it’s not too much for the senses, he really has a magical touch for building and decorating.
Watch and enjoy
https://youtu.be/_LxkSar_f88
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