Today's episode is a special one, several years ago, I had the privilege of interviewing John Wells, a true pioneer in the tiny house movement. John first caught my attention through his insightful comments on my Facebook posts about building my own tiny house. As I dug deeper into his profile, I realized he was the real deal - someone who had fully embraced the off-grid, minimalist lifestyle.
While we initially decided not to release our conversation, recent events have changed my perspective. Sadly, I learned of John's passing through this month's Tiny House Magazine, where he was mentioned as an early influence for Andrew and Laura Lavoie. This news prompted me to revisit our interview, and I was struck by how valuable and inspiring our discussion truly was.
In this episode, we'll explore John's remarkable journey from living in a 2800 square foot house to embracing life in a 128 square foot tiny home on the remote Terlingua Ranch in Southwest Texas. John shares practical steps he took to make this dramatic transformation, offering a wealth of tips for anyone interested in off-grid living.
Throughout our conversation, John's unique approach to simple living and his authentic personality shine through, providing invaluable insights for those considering a similar lifestyle change. Though recorded a while ago, John's wisdom remains as relevant and thought-provoking as ever.
In This Episode:
- 🏠 The specifics of John's off-grid home, including portable AC, propane cooking, and preference for solar power over wind energy.
- 🌞 Details of John's solar power system, with 1200 watts providing electricity and the benefits it brings to his off-grid living.
- 🚑 A recount of his compound fracture, hospital stay, and long recovery period in a wheelchair that interrupted his off-grid activities.
- 💡 Tips for living off-grid, such as experimenting with modular systems and the importance of self-sufficiency.
- 🐕 John's preference for animal interactions over human companionship and his hermit lifestyle, despite being active online.
- ✉️ Various income sources like odd jobs, selling merchandise, and custom silver items; his grassland and minimal cost living.
- 🏚️ John's process in building a tiny house for himself and for a friend, utilizing his carpentry skills and past experiences.
- 🍽️ Using a solar oven, shopping at remote grocery stores, and experimenting with food delivery during recovery.
- 💰 Monthly expenses, property taxes, and how moving to Texas drastically reduced his living costs.
- 🎥 Insights into his blog, YouTube channel, and why he shares his off-grid lifestyle online, turning his experiences into engaging content.
Visit the website for full show notes, photos, links and resources.
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Over the past decade, Jenna has expanded her influence through her amazingly popular YouTube channel, Tiny House Giant Journey, which showcases unique tiny house tours and stories. We'll discuss the challenges of maintaining and repairing a tiny house, especially when it's used primarily as a vacation rental, but it wasn't built as one initially. Jenna will also share the incredible stories behind some of the most remarkable tiny houses she has encountered, including one nestled in an animal sanctuary. Whether you're a tiny house veteran or just curious, you'll find plenty of inspiration and practical insights in today's episode.
In This Episode:
- 🏡 Tiny House Maintenance: Jenna shares challenges, including moving and flooring issues.
- 🚗 Tiny House Transportation: Costs and difficulties of moving and parking tiny homes.
- 👪 Minimalism with Family: Struggling to accommodate a growing family and maintain minimalism.
- 🚚 Trends in Tiny Homes: Larger homes and rise of tiny house villages.
- 🎥 Tiny House Stories: Jenna's YouTube content and focus on personal stories.
- ✨ Unique Living Spaces: Her interest in unique tiny homes like Vardo wagon.
- 📈 Popularity of Tiny Houses: Increased acceptance and legal parking options.
This Week's Sponsor:
This Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast is sponsored by PrecisionTemp hot water heaters. Right now, PrecisionTemp is offering $50 off their amazing hot water heaters if you use the code THLP at checkout. Head over to PrecisionTemp at precisiontemp.com and use the coupon code THLP for $50 off. Thank you so much to PrecisionTemp for sponsoring our show.
Visit the website for full transcript, photos, links and resources from this episode.
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Candace and her husband have a unique story, having coordinated their tiny house build in the United States while still living in South Africa entirely via WhatsApp video calls. With a background as a declutter coach, life coach, retreat leader, and yoga teacher, Candace brings us insights on how to create a life filled with intentionality and joy. We'll dive into her journey from South Africa to the United States, explore the impact of decluttering on mental and emotional well-being, and get inspired by her advice for those considering the tiny house lifestyle. Stay tuned as we learn from Candace's experience and enthusiasm for creating a life you'll love.
In This Episode:
- 🌱 Minimalism and Decluttering: Candace emphasizes the personal growth she experienced from shedding material possessions.
- 🏡 Tiny House Living: She shares about transitioning to a tiny home and its benefits.
- 🌍 Traveling Lifestyle: Traveling with their tiny house across the US and finding parking.
- 💪 Personal Growth: Candace talks about the challenges and mindset shifts that came along with the move from South Africa to the US.
- ✨ Intentional Living: She discusses how embracing new experiences lead to a fulfilling life.
- 🔄 Simplification Process: The feeling of lightness she achieved through decluttering.
- 🛠️ Building Challenges: How she managed to coordinate their entire tiny house build remotely via WhatsApp.
- 🧘 Holistic Wellness: Focusing on mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
Visit the website for full transcript, photos, links and resources from this episode.
This Week's Sponsor:
This Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast is sponsored by PrecisionTemp hot water heaters. Right now, PrecisionTemp is offering $50 off their amazing hot water heaters if you use the code THLP at checkout. Head over to PrecisionTemp, that's precisiontemp.com, and use the coupon code THLP for $50 off. Thank you so much to PrecisionTemp for sponsoring our show.
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Emily Gerde and her husband Justin, son Wyatt, three cats and one dog live in a 325 square foot tiny house on wheels. Emily is the author of Minimalist Living for a Maximum Life, which provides insight on their tiny house journey and how a minimalist, organic, holistic, mindful lifestyle led to a life of their dreams.
What's it like raising a minimalist family with plans to grow in tiny house? How do you keep the intake of stuff to a minimum while creating an enriching experience for your children? I'll ask Emily those questions and more.
In this episode:
- Why did Emily settle on relatively large (325sf) tiny house on wheels?
- What’s it like to move a 20,000lb tiny house?
- Why Emily and her family started living in a camper but have decided to abandon that project?
- How to deal with the judgement you receive from choosing to live in a tiny house as a family?
- Emily’s efforts to legalize tiny house communities in Colorado
- What will you do when your young children approach teen age?
- Do you have to live in a tiny house to be a minimalist?
- How do you control the space (toys, play area, etc.) associated with kids in your tiny house?
- How do you deal with receiving gifts when most people tend to give children toys?
- How have you dealt with the need for an address to enroll your son in school?
Find the full show notes, transcript, links and resources on the website.
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Lil Wing is a metal triangle on wheels with a putting green grass landing, and it was the most unique tiny house I saw at Big Mass Festival. The builder, Chris Schapdick of Tiny Industrial, specializes in smaller tiny homes that are easy to tow. In addition, he is the author of two books about tiny house living. In this conversation, we’ll cover the ins and outs of building towable tiny houses, why Chris decided to share his process on Instructables, and what we can look forward to in his book release.
In This Episode:
- From NYC suburbia to living tiny in upstate New York: Chris’s tiny house journey
- How Chris started building other tiny houses
- The challenge of sealing plywood
- Tiny House Industrial has offerings for every budget level
- Lil Wing design inspiration
- Why are the smaller tiny houses so appealing?
- The Oculus North tiny house
- Why Chris wrote The Joy of Tiny House Living
Visit the show notes page for more photos, links, and resources.
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I am excited to introduce you to Kaylee, a passionate advocate for the tiny house movement and a biology teacher with a deep interest in sustainable living. Kaylee will share the inspiring saga of her journey building her own tiny house and how it reshaped her perspective on simple, ecological living. We'll dig into the challenges she faced from zoning laws to financial hurdles and how these experiences fueled her advocacy for tiny house legalization. Kaylee's story is not just about building a small home, but about building a life aligned with values of minimalism and sustainability. Join us as we explore the highs and lows of tiny house living and learn from Kaylee’s relentless pursuit of her dreams against all odds.
In This Episode:
- 🏡 Tiny House Lifestyle Challenges: Kaylee shares the immense difficulties in transitioning to tiny home living, including legal hurdles.
- 🌿 Environmental Passion: As a biology teacher, she highlights her commitment to eco-friendly living and how it integrates with her tiny house journey.
- 📜 Advocating for Legal Change: Her involvement in pushing for legislative changes to accommodate tiny house living, reflecting on her work with bill S 897.
- 🧰 Building Struggles: Kaylee narrates the practical challenges faced while building her tiny home, including weather setbacks and zoning conflicts.
- 💑 Relationship Dynamics: Kaylee's relationship plays a crucial role in her tiny house adventure, providing both support and a backup housing option.
- 📚 Education Evaluation: How her personal experiences have changed the way she views education and priorities.
- 🚀 Movie Inspiration: "Gattaca" acts as a motivational tool for her, symbolizing overcoming imposed limitations, similar to her struggles with tiny house living.
- 💸 Financial Struggles: Discusses the financial stress of building and maintaining a tiny house, including renting out spaces to fund her project.
- ⚖️ Navigating Local Politics: Kaylee describes contrasting interactions at state and local levels, highlighting more receptive planning board meetings.
- 🤔 Reflection on Life Choices: Despite challenges, Kaylee wouldn't change her journey, embracing her natural tendency to challenge authority and societal norms.
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MJ Boyle is a mastermind in the tiny house community and the founder of several successful tiny house businesses, including My Tiny House Village and Oregon Teardrop Rentals. MJ has not only built and rented out nine unique tiny homes but has just embarked on transforming a construction trailer into an alluring tiny home called “My Tiny Bunkhouse.”
In today's episode, MJ will share her innovative approach to waterless and odorless toilet systems that enhance both guest and staff experiences. We'll also delve into the art of rehabilitating and renovating tiny structures, a skill MJ has honed over years of experience, turning dilapidated shells into dream homes with sustainable practices. Join us for a comprehensive discussion on maintaining high occupancy rates, exceptional guest satisfaction, and the strategic intricacies of managing multiple tiny house locations efficiently. It’s a packed interview you won't want to miss!
In This Episode:
- Pet-Friendly Policies 🐾: MJ allows pets but requires a deposit and adherence to specific rules to grant a free stay, addressing the challenge of finding pet-friendly rentals.
- Flooring Choices 🏡: Luxury vinyl flooring is highlighted due to its scratch and water resistance, plus its ability to make spaces appear larger.
- Built-In Furniture 🔨: Stability and practicality are achieved through built-ins instead of traditional furniture, tailored to renter needs.
- Profitable Rentals 💸: MJ shares a success story where investing in tiny homes yielded substantial profit and emphasizes the importance of long-term planning.
- Laundry Logistics 🧺: Discusses the high costs and logistical challenges of laundry management across multiple rental properties in different states.
- DIY Composting Toilet 🚽: MJ designed a cost-effective, odorless composting toilet system using buckets, wood pellets, and cedar shavings, enhancing guest experience.
- Property Rehabilitation 🛠️: MJ transformed a dilapidated trailer into a functional and inviting tiny home, showcasing her talent in renovation.
- Business Growth During COVID 📈: The pandemic brought high demand, with rentals fully booked for an extended period, demonstrating business resilience.
- Infrastructure Challenges 🔌: MJ recounts the technical and regulatory hurdles in establishing a new site for her tiny house village.
Visit the show notes page for more photos, links and resources.
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Today, we have a very special guest, Lucy Lich, joining us from the South Coast of New South Wales Australia. Lucy is not only a dedicated tiny house dweller, but also a teacher, wellness enthusiast, and the host of the Tiny House Conversations podcast. Over the next hour, we'll dive into how living tiny has profoundly integrated with her values of minimalism, health and environmental consciousness. Lucy will share her personal journey into tiny living, her insights on designing for health and minimizing environmental impacts, and how her experiences have shaped her podcast. Join us as we explore the unique challenges and joys of tiny living with an expert who lives and breathes this lifestyle every day.
In This Episode:
- 🏡 Tiny House Customization: Lucy hired builders open to unique material customization, accommodating her health-centric needs in tiny house construction.
- 💡 Health-Oriented Lighting: The story behind trading standard bulbs with amber and red to mimic natural sunlight, promoting better sleep and relaxation.
- 🌿 Electromagnetic Sensitivity: Extra measures like non-wireless tech and special electrical wiring incorporated into the design to reduce electromagnetic fields.
- 💧 Natural Living Approach: Features like a composting toilet, rainwater tank, and solar setup installed to enhance sustainable living.
- 🤍 Mindfulness and Intentionality: Lucy's philosophy of intentionality and mindfulness permeates her tiny house living approach, focusing on eco-friendliness and connection with nature.
Visit the full show notes for additional photos, links and resources.
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Janet Thome is deeply involved in the tiny house movement, leading the Tiny House Alliance USA and serving as the membership secretary of the ASTM International Tiny House Subcommittee. In this episode, Janet will share insights into the current state of the tiny house market, the impact of recent economic shifts, and the ongoing efforts to develop standards that ensure safety, affordability, and compliance in the industry. She’ll also discuss the importance of certification for owner-builders and the essential role of inclusive regulations. Join us as we dive deep into these topics and explore the future potential of tiny house living with Janet Thome.
In This Episode:
- 🌍 Global Standardization: Janet discusses efforts with ASTM International to create a worldwide tiny house standard, streamlining safety, affordability, and compliance across different countries.
- 👷 Safety and Compliance: Emphasis on the importance of adopting ASTM standards to ensure that tiny houses are built safely and adhere to recognized industry benchmarks.
- 🏠 Affordable Housing: Keeping the tiny house industry affordable is a primary concern, facilitating support for small manufacturers and DIY builders.
- 🚚 Local vs. Transport Costs: The cost benefits of selecting local builders to prevent high transportation costs of materials and completed homes.
- 📋 Certification Needs: Highlighting the importance of certification to streamline and ensure consistency in the building and approval processes across states.
- 🛑 Fraud Alert: Warnings about the prevalence of scams within the tiny house industry, urging potential buyers to thoroughly research and verify builders' credentials.
- 🤝 Industry Collaboration: Collaboration with various stakeholders like manufacturers, engineers, and architects to create comprehensive and inclusive standards.
- 🔍 Future Trends: Emerging trends, including a push towards creating new classifications of housing to keep up with societal and economic changes.
Visit the show notes for links, resources and transcript.
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Today we delve into the story of a listener turned tiny home owner, Maegan Bell. Maegan is an active duty Army logistics officer who's going to share with us how she exchanged the blueprints of a traditional house for the compact efficiency of a custom-built tiny home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. We'll explore the challenges of setting up utilities, the joys of bringing family closer together, and how tiny homes can offer a unique solution for military families on the move. Maegan's journey is filled with insights and practical advice for anyone considering this lifestyle. So if you're curious about the tiny house movement or looking for tips on how to make it work for your family, stay tuned for this fascinating conversation.
In This Episode:
- 🏡 Embracing Tiny House Living: Maegan and her husband discovered the comfort and functionality of a tiny house.
- 💵 Military Financial Strategy: How living in an RV or a tiny house can be a clever financial decision for military families due to housing allowances.
- 🏞️ Wildlife and Remote Habitats: Maegan shares stories of wildlife encounters and her expertise in making remote locations livable from her military logistics background.
- 🔨 Smart Contractor Selection: The need to carefully vet contractors by checking credentials and reviews for building or developing a tiny house.
- 🕒 Land Development Patience: She advises taking time to understand the land before rushing into development.
- 🌄 Vacation Home to Tiny House: Faced with high building costs, Maegan chose to build a custom tiny house on her Virginia property as a nature-connected family retreat.
- 🛠️ Design Choices and Regrets: Maegan discusses aspects that worked out really well, but also shared certain regrets.
- 🛖 Multi-Use Property Planning: With the flexibility tiny houses offer, her family enjoys a stable vacation home that could also be rented out or moved if needed.
- 🌞 Off-Grid Living Exploration: Due to the high cost of setting up grid electricity, she considered off-grid solutions, such as solar panels, for their tiny house.
Visit the show notes page for more photos, links, and resources.
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Today we're exploring the cozy nooks of park model tiny homes with Cindy Ballaro. Cindy is not only a resident of a charming tiny home, but also a multipreneur who wears many hats including that of a publisher and marketer. Living in the picturesque mountains of North Carolina, Cindy has turned her sunflower-themed tiny house into a haven for both living and Airbnb guests. She's going to share with us the unique benefits and challenges of choosing a park model over a traditional towable tiny house, and how this lifestyle complements her entrepreneurial endeavors. So if you're intrigued by the community living aspect of tiny houses or are considering a park model for your own downsized life, this episode is for you.
In This Episode:
- 🏡 Park Model Tiny Homes: The differentiation between park models and towable tiny homes, including key factors that were important to Cindy when selecting her park model home.
- 🌐 Tiny House Communities: Cindy shares what it’s like to live in her tiny home community
- 🛠 Customization and Choice: Insight into the process of customization when purchasing a new build.
- 💲 Financial Aspects: Conversation on costs, value appreciation, and the advantage of selling property to finance the tiny house without needing a loan.
- 🌦️ Climate Management: The unexpected challenge of moisture control in a tiny house.
- 🛏️ Airbnb Hosting: Benefits of renting out the tiny home, managing personal space, and creating an additional income stream.
- 💵 Cost of Living: Sharing the expense of renting a lot in the tiny house community and how it supports her entrepreneurial lifestyle.
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I am thrilled to introduce our guest, Mike Crowhurst, a seasoned tiny house dweller and the creative mind behind one of the most unique tiny homes I’ve seen in a while! Mike and his wife Heidi spent three years crafting a 45-foot ex-refrigerated semi-trailer into a gorgeous tiny home. Throughout this episode, we'll dive into Mike's journey of tiny house living, exploring not just the practical aspects like custom cabinetry and space-saving features like an innovative elevator bed, but also the sustainable lifestyle that drives him. We'll also get into the nitty-gritty of converting a semi-trailer into a comfortable and functional living space, addressing the challenges and rewards such a project brings. So buckle up as we get a tour of Mike’s impressive tiny house and learn how he has optimized every inch of his home for maximum living.
In This Episode:
- 🚚 Tiny House Towing Challenges: The intricacies involved in transporting a tiny house safely, including the type of vehicle required and the importance of professional trucking expertise to avoid potential hazards.
- 🏠 Semi-Trailer Conversion Journey: Mike's personal adventure of converting a 45-foot refrigerated semi-trailer into a sustainable and innovative tiny home.
- ❄️☀️ Insulation and Climate Adaptation: The insulation options used in the semi-trailer, Mike's additional insulation efforts, and adaptation to the Adelaide climate.
- 💡 Procuring a Trailer: Insight into the process of acquiring a semi-trailer, highlighting considerations like checking for rust, maintenance history, and tips on where to find decommissioned trailers.
- 🗄️ Tiny House Storage Solutions: Mike outlines the storage enhancements in his tiny home, describing various built-in options that maximize space without creating a cramped feeling.
- 🛏️ Elevator Bed Innovation: The unique design and functionality of the elevator bed in the tiny house are explained, showcasing how space-saving features contribute to the minimalist lifestyle.
- 🤝 Online and Real-Life Communities: Encouragement for listeners to seek advice and share experiences within the tiny house community, both in-person and online, to foster collective wisdom and support.
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Judy comes to us with 36 years of experience as a custom builder and remodeler, with a passion for well-appointed, smaller living spaces. We'll dive into her expert advice on maximizing functionality without sacrificing style and comfort, and explore her journey from a 4,000 square foot dwelling to her favorite 1,100 square foot home. From Murphy beds to curated maximalism, Judy is here to share her wealth of knowledge on living intentionally within our means. So get ready to learn from Judy's inspiring experiences and practical tips on downsizing your space, but not your life.
In This Episode:
- 🏡 Judy shares her journey of downsizing and creating a simplified lifestyle by decluttering and being intentional about possessions.
- 📏 Designing small living spaces that are functional without sacrificing style or comfort.
- 🗑️ The negative effects of clutter on well-being and relationships, providing strategies for effective decluttering.
- 🤏 The distinction between minimalism and living small, stressing on the value of personal preference in arranging living spaces.
- 🛋️ Judy highlights the importance and benefits of furniture that serves multiple purposes in tiny homes.
- 💌 Advice on managing sentimental items, encouraging repurposing, donating, or letting go rather than keeping out of obligation.
- 📊 Tackling one space at a time and organizing one zone at a time instead of trying to do it all at once.
- 🚀 Judy introduces "resizing" as a way to reassess and clear out home spaces, making room for what truly matters.
- ⛓️ The common mistake of buying organizing tools before actually decluttering.
- 📚 Judy recommends books for design inspiration and discusses her own book, "Bigger Living, Smaller Space."
Full show notes, photos, links and resources available at www.thetinyhouse.net/judy-granlee-gates
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Today, I'll be talking with Elizabeth, one of the team members behind a new and innovative entry into the world of compost toilets, the Throne Composting Toilet. Throne offers both a ready made AND DIY solution to the traditional compost toilet that promises ease and simplicity. We'll delve into the nuts and bolts of building your own compost toilet using Throne’s DIY kit, tackle common problems with existing designs, and explore the benefits and drawbacks of different styles of compost toilet. Our guest Elizabeth lived full time with her family in their self-built skoolie, and went through three different compost toilet designs before finally settling on the Throne. Whether or not you’re currently in the market for a compost toilet, Stay tuned as Elizabeth shares wisdom from life on the road, and the do’s and don’ts for successful compost toilet in your home.
In This Episode:
- 🚽 Maintaining the right level of contents in the compost toilet is crucial to prevent overflow and the need to interrupt a good night's sleep.
- 💚 Elizabeth's innovative approach for urine showcases a creative way to recycle waste products sustainably.
- 🌾 Her personal trial and error with using hay and eventually sawdust in her compost pile, highlighting the necessity of finding the right balance.
- 🏡 Elizabeth's experience designing a timber frame home that included a creatively signed compost toilet offers insights on how to incorporate eco-friendly practices into residential architecture.
- 🎨 The exciting launch of Throne compost toilets, their pre-order specials, and how customers can personalize their purchases with special color options.
- ✂️ Elizabeth addresses common compost toilet complications through simplicity with a straightforward, cleanable design.
For full show notes, photos, links and resources visit https://www.thetinyhouse.net/elizabeth
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I'm thrilled to have you join us for another adventure into the fascinating world of compact and conscious living. Today we're venturing off the beaten path and into the realm of off-grid living with our inspiring guest, Reesa, who has carved out her own piece of paradise on a multi-generational homestead. Throughout our conversation, we'll uncover the nuts and bolts of Reesa's journey, from the inspirations that sparked her transition to a scaled-down, sustainable lifestyle, to the practicalities of building an affordable tiny home from an Amish-built shed shell. We'll dive into her low-tech solutions for heating, water storage, and even delve into the world of humanure composting. Get ready to be enlightened and maybe even a bit envious of the simplicity and beauty that off-grid living can offer, as we explore how Reesa and her son make the most out of their tiny house and the land they call home.
In This Episode:
- 🌞 Innovative Lighting Solutions: Reesa describes the practicality of solar lights in an off-grid setting and offers insight into her personal lighting setup with multiple charging methods.
- 💧 Water Collection and Usage: An important aspect of self-sufficient living, Reesa shares future plans for a 250-gallon water tank to aid in watering her garden and livestock, demonstrating resourceful strategies for managing water resources in an off-grid lifestyle.
- 🔥 Wood Heating and Lifestyle: She speaks to the benefits of traditional heat sources and how they support her simpler off-grid lifestyle.
- 🐝 Self-Sustainable Food Sources: Reesa highlights beekeeping and gardening as integral parts of their food source, emphasizing the benefits of self-sustainability.
- 🏡 Home Design Inspiration: Reesa shares where she finds inspiration for her home's aesthetic and functionality for off-grid living
- .🛠️ Affordable and Resourceful Construction: Reesa discusses the costs associated with installing her off-grid system, while also highlighting her thriftiness when it comes to home furnishings.
- 🚿 Innovative Water Systems: Discussing water collection and usage methods, Reesa gives a perspective on managing necessities without modern plumbing.
- 🍂 Natural Waste Management: She provides a detailed insight into her humanure composting system, reflecting an eco-friendly approach to sanitation.
For full show notes, photos, links and resources visit https://www.thetinyhouse.net/reesa
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Over the past five years, Kim DeLaney has made strides in transforming the traditional housing model by utilizing her business savvy and passion for sustainability to champion tiny home communities. Kim DeLaney is the Co-Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of HaZi Enterprises and the Executive Director of Tiny House Big Movement.
From changing municipal ordinances to negotiating real estate development deals, she's on the forefront of creating affordable equitable housing solutions. We're going to dive into her journey exploring how a crisis during the pandemic turned into an innovative approach to housing and her ambitious plans for the future, including her work with sustainable materials like hemp and bamboo, and the upcoming Carolina Tiny House Festival, which is April 12 through 14th that Kim is organizing.
In This Episode:
- 🏘️ Affordable Housing Solutions: Kim’s inspiration and efforts to create equitable tiny home communities aim to address the high cost of traditional housing models.
- 📜 Policy Change Triumphs: Successful ordinance amendment in Concord, NC, spotlighting the potential for reform in local housing policies.
- 🏡 Tiny Home Community Impact: Discussion on how these communities benefit various demographics and the local housing market, enhancing diversity and inclusivity in living options.
- 🎉 Festive Funding: Preview of the Carolina Tiny House Festival as a means to promote, educate, and fundraise for the tiny house movement.
- 🌱 Sustainable Building Practices: Emphasis on environmental consciousness in these innovative tiny home communities and exploring alternative building materials such as hemp and bamboo.
- 👩💼 Women in Development: Kim's proactive stance and advice for women, especially women of color in real estate development and entrepreneurship.
- 🛠️ Home Building Affordability: A focus on cost-efficient home building through wholesale purchasing knowledge and partnerships.
- 💼 Community Networking: The importance of local connections, events, and programs to propel the initiative.
- 📣 Calling All Participants: An invitation for dwellers, builders, and volunteers to contribute to the festival and movement, showcasing a collaborative community ethos.
- 📚 Education and Outreach: Kim discusses the need for educating officials and the public about tiny house livability and sustainability, aiming to mainstream tiny living.
Visit the website for the full show notes, photos, links and resources www.thetinyhouse.net/289
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Sophia and Henry self-designed and built their 28′ THOW in Northern Minnesota, where they experience a full range of seasons, including a very cold and long winter. We start with an in-depth discussion of how they are staying warm in their tiny house and preventing their water from freezing on the way in and the way out. If you're thinking of living in a cold climate, this is not to be missed. From there, we turn to rethinking the American dream and a discussion about values, lifestyles, and where a tiny house fits in for a young couple. Don't miss this interview with Sophia and Henry Jungbauer!
In This Episode:
- The first winter in the Jungbauer tiny house
- How to keep water from freezing in the Minnesota winter
- Legality in MN
- How the Jungbauers decided to live tiny and their goals for the future
- The Jungbauers' response to criticism of the tiny house movemen
- Tips for examining cultural influences
- Plans vs Reality: working on the tiny house in the winter and the dark
Get the full show notes, photos, links and resources on the website.
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Erin Maile O'Keefe is a talented designer who designed and built the Paper Boat tiny house for herself and her husband, where they live in the backyard of a house that they own. In this conversation we'll break down the Paper Boat design and share some of the ways that Erin thinks about designing tiny spaces so that they work for the occupants in the process.
In This Episode:
- A brief history of Yestermorrow and teaching the class
- The Paper Boat house: how it got its name and the way that function inspired design.
- Erin’s design approach that allowed her to fit everything she needs into her space
- How custom cabinetry stores things with beauty and function
- Erin’s journey into the tiny house movement
- What’s Tiny House Fest Vermont all about and how is it unique?
- Erin discusses Creative Placemaking and how she uses her Master Certificate
Visit the website for full show notes, photos, links and resources.
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Get inspired to build with repurposed materials and introduce yourself to the world of food freedom. Rob Greenfield is not a conventional kind of guy. He’s currently living in a tiny house that he built with 99% repurposed materials. He doesn’t have running water in the house and his current project is called food freedom. He’s growing and foraging for 100% of his food for an entire year.
Even if you don’t plan on living off grid or foraging for your own food, this is a really unique and interesting interview. Rob’s mindset, enthusiasm, and positivity is much needed and will inspire you on whatever tiny house journey you are planning to embark on.
In This Episode:
- What is the story of your first tiny house?
- What it was like living in a 50sf tiny house? 📦
- What’s the connection between bicycle travel and tiny houses 🚴🏼♂️ ➡️ 🏡
- How Rob found a place to “park” his tiny house in the city of Orlando 🌴
- How and WHY to build a nearly 100% repurposed tiny house 💯
- How to bust through the excuses so that you can make REAL change in your life.
- About Rob’s food freedom project 🍽️
- What are the utilities like (water, power, etc.) at Rob’s off grid tiny house? 🚰🔌
- About Rob’s sawdust/bucket composting toilet system 🚽
Visit the website for full show notes, photos, links and resources.
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Malissa and Chris Tack did one of the first tiny house builds to be fully documented in photographs every day. I remember poring through their daily time-lapses to figure out how they did certain things. Their beautiful design included dormers in the loft, which inspired my tiny house and countless others. Malissa is here to tell us the story of her tiny house journey and how the house has continued to support their family as it has grown.
In This Episode:
- How the Tiny Tack House came to be
- Having space to offer up to others
- Plans change and tiny houses adapt
- Malissa's systems set-up
- The Tiny Tack House on Airbnb
- What would we do differently?
- Tiny house design and plans
Links and Resources:
- https://www.thetinytackhouse.com/
- Dee Williams
- Stay in the Tiny Tack House
- Tiny House Magazine
- Leave a review
For full show notes, links and photos visit the show notes page: https://www.thetinyhouse.net/malissa-tack/
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This episode features Jody Brady. In 2014, after living in a series of traditionally scaled houses, Jody and her husband Bill decided it was time to "right-size" their living space. They designed and built their tiny home in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia, and they've been living tiny for two and a half years.
In this interview, we get into what it’s like to go tiny as a couple at retirement age, but who certainly aren’t “retired” in the traditional sense. We’ll talk about what “rightsizing” is and how you can get rid of things that you no longer need that are standing in your way.
For complete show notes, transcript and images, visit https://www.thetinyhouse.net/jody
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It’s not just about finances. Though many people are drawn to tiny house living for the financial benefits, living tiny has a way of changing the way you look at everything in your life.
Living tiny for 3.5 years has had a lasting impact on my guest, Alek Lisefski. In this conversation, we’ll talk about those changes, plus what Alek learned from having two significant relationships in a tiny house.
For complete show notes, transcript and images, visit https://www.thetinyhouse.net/alek
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This episode features an incredible guest. Joining me is Kai, who's not only living in a house truck but has a wealth of knowledge about the ins and outs of this unique lifestyle. We'll explore Kai's journey, from finding and customizing a commercial truck to navigating the practical challenges of living in her unique tiny home. Kai will share their experiences with insulation, maintenance, and the daily joys and hardships of the tiny life. Get ready to be inspired and informed by Kai's fascinating insights into the world of house trucks and the tiny house movement.
In This Episode:
- DIY Living 🛠️: Living sustainably in a self-built, off-grid house truck
- Tiny House Insulation 🏠: Tales of insulating a homemade house truck
- Off-Grid Heating 🔥: Using diesel and wood for sustainable heat
- Legalities of Mobile Living 🚚: Navigating RV insurance and vehicle classification
- DIY Business 💼: Earning income through social media and sponsorships
- Life in Rural Canada 🌲: Living off-grid and the challenges it brings
- Tiny House Mobility 🚛: The advantages and challenges of moving a tiny house
- Retro Living Inspiration 📚: Drawing inspiration from vintage house truck designs
Links and Resources:
- Builders of the Pacific Coast
- Some Turtles Have Nice Shells
- Rolling Homes
- The Half Acre Homestead
- Roll Your Own
- Lloyd Kahn’s Half-Acre Homestead: Building, Gardening and Getting Started – #130
- Sign up for the Tiny House Newsletter
For complete show notes, transcript and images, visit www.thetinyhouse.net/288
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Tiffany DaSilva is a passionate real estate investor and loan officer with a love for tiny living. She's here to share her incredible journey of building her own twenty by eight and a half foot handcrafted tiny house while she was still in high school. Tiffany's story is truly inspiring from learning carpentry, plumbing and electrical work to overcoming challenges and societal prejudice as a young female builder. Her perseverance and dedication to tiny living are sure to inspire and educate us all.
In This Episode:
- 🏡 Tiffany discusses the benefits of tiny living such as custom builds, lower mortgage payments, and the freedom to relocate.
- 🛠️ She learned valuable skills through her experience: carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and problem-solving.
- 💸 Through using a variety of materials, DIY projects, and budget-conscious choices Tiffany's tiny home build was very cost-effective.
- 👩👧 She hopes to inspire more young women to take on similar projects, proving skeptics wrong.
- 🤝 Tiffany highlights the importance of accepting help and support and the role of online tutorials throughout her building process.
- 🌿 Tiffany discusses living a more sustainable lifestyle through downsizing, living with less, highlighting the importance of affordable housing.
- 🌟 She shares her persistence and dedication, juggling multiple jobs, investing in real estate, and managing a lengthy build.
Find complete show notes, transcript, and photos at www.thetinyhouse.net/287
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I’m sharing my own captivating [and slightly humorous] tale of dealing with unexpected visitors in my tiny house. It all starting with light scratching sounds, which led to the shocking discovery of these unexpected guests. In this episode, I am walking you through the entire process of diagnosing, cleaning, and ultimately sealing off the entry points for these tiny intruders. With valuable lessons and practical advice for both builders and current tiny house dwellers, let’s explore the importance of preemptive measures and the necessity of addressing pest issues promptly. Stay tuned for helpful insights and a real-life tale of tiny house pest control adventure.
In This Episode:
- House maintenance: 🏠 Ethan's experience emphasizes the importance of inspecting and maintaining tiny houses to prevent critters from entering and causing issues.
- DIY building tips: 🔨 For DIY builders, it's essential to prioritize properly constructing soffits and fascia to ensure they are effective barriers against critters.
- Early pest control: ⏱️ Being proactive when signs of critters are noticed can prevent a minor issue from escalating into a major infestation.
- Infestation aftermath: 🐭 Even after addressing the initial infestation, hidden traps are an additional precaution.
- Prevention as a priority: 🚪 Highlighting the need for immediate action and the importance of not delaying pest control measures.
Links and Resources
Visit www.thetinyhouse.net/286 for full show notes, links and resources.
Listen. Subscribe. Rate. Review.
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From NYC to 128 Sq Ft: How John Wells Escaped $12K Taxes for a $400/Year Tiny Paradise
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The Versatility and Challenges of Living a Tiny Lifestyle
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Secrets to a Fulfilling Tiny House Lifestyle
40:43
011. Living the Minimalist Family Life: 3 People, 3 Cats, and a Dog in a 325sf Tiny House On Wheels
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081. The Allure of the Roadtrip: Building Towable Tiny Houses
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She’s Building Her Tiny House Dream Against All Odds
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How to Transform Tiny Homes into Profitable Rental Ventures
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How to Build a Health-Conscious Tiny Home
46:20
Inside the Effort to Develop a Tiny House Standard for the Entire World
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How a Military Family Found Connection and Serenity in Tiny House Living
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Introduction to the Park Model Tiny House Lifestyle
29:30
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Transforming a Semi-Trailer into a Stylish Tiny Home
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The Art of Resizing: Living Big in a Smaller Home
43:22
Building and Using Compost Toilets for Tiny Homes
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Tips for Low-Tech Off-Grid Living
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Breaking Barriers in Affordable Housing with Tiny Home Communities
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107. Rethinking the American Dream
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071. Design a Tiny House To Fit Your Lifestyle
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038. The 99% Repurposed Tiny Homestead in Orlando: Extreme Lifestyle Design
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098. How a Tiny House can Support a Growing Family
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009. How to Rightsize Your Life and Retire to a Tiny House
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014. How Tiny House Living can Shape Your Relationships, Career, and Life
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DIY Living Spaces: Exploring the Creativity and Challenges of House Truck Living
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Building a DIY Tiny House for Under $20k While Still in High School
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There’s A Mouse in the [Tiny] House!
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