First off I want to thank everyone who took the time to respond to my post Where to From Here? I really appreciate all the good advice and plan to move forward with it. There is so much that it will take me some time to really process it all. I wanted to give a response and let you know that the Tiny House Blog will continue and hopefully through this process improve.
My goal is to continue to try to publish daily. On occasion there may be a day I miss, do to life in general or lack of something worthy to post. Never fear though, as long as there is interesting tiny house information I will attempt to pass it on.
Tiny House Blog: I will get back to my roots and publish what I am passionate about, even if not everyone agrees with me. I can’t please everyone and I know if I lose the passion the blog will soon die and I do not wish that to happen. I will attempt to make my posts more personal, not just duplicate copy from other websites and will include my own thoughts and opinions.
Another item that has caused my shift in publishing over the last year is the tremendous amount of ideas you the reader send to me. I currently have at least a years worth of suggestions that I have not been able to touch. I have sometimes felt pressured into posting many of these as they came in, and in the process lost my personal approach to the blog.
I have also felt overwhelmed in trying to respond to each email sent. I am just one person and may not be able to continue to do that. I do want you to keep sending me cool articles and finds, just remember I may not be able to respond to each one and you may not see it published immediately. I will use what I am passionate about in choosing what is published and I ask that you accept that of me.
Politics and Zoning Issues. This is an area that needs to be covered and was mentioned several times in the responses to my post. I want to be upfront with you and tell you that I am not the person to carry that torch. I don’t have the knowledge or the passion to pursue it and I would like to encourage any of you who have that passion to step forward and do it. On the other hand I am more than happy to use the Tiny House Blog as the voice if you are willing to write the information so that I can pass it on.
Advertising: The advertising will not go away as I need it to pay for the expenses and to help keep food on the table. I do plan however to streamline it as much as possible and make the main content area as free of it as possible (I am under some contracts with a couple of advertisers so this may take a little time).
One way you can help with the advertising is by purchasing your goods through the Tiny House Blog. For example if you plan on purchasing a product such as plans, a book or a workshop from Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, rather than go directly to their site use one of the links from the Tiny House Blog and the blog will receive a portion of the profits from your purchase. This applies to other tiny house related items advertised on the blog via the store, workshops, or plans pages.
These are a couple of changes you can expect to see in the future. There probably will be a few more as I filter through all the great comments and recommendations. Thanks again for your input and support of the Tiny House Blog. It’s time to get back to tiny house blogging.
I can’t have a post without a picture and below is some tiny house inspiration. This boat someone spotted on Ebay and was sold for $6,600. It just might make a perfect tiny/small home for the right person, although it could be a challenge to relocate. Sorry, no interior photos, you will have to use your imagination.
I love this idea, and the boat could easily be stabilized by building a deck of some sort around it. Oh, the possibilities!
This truly is one of my favorite blogs. I would miss it if it were to be scaled back or shut down. It helps keep my own dream of tiny house dwelling alive.
I feel moved to support your intention to post what you feel passionate about – what comes from your heart.
When I move from fear – fear about what others will think or if I worry about how it will affect my business – I restrict the very thing that draws others to me and I restrict the energy that makes my business thrive in the first place. However, if I act from a calm place that is true to myself, the people that are meant to gravitate toward me do and the clients that are supposed to find me walk in the door. If you do what feels right, from what Eckhart Tolle calls the “stillness,” you will be acting from your integrity and helping others to do the same.
Thanks for all your work, Kent.
Thanks for letting me pontificate :0)
Why is anyone griping about the advertising? You give us the information for FREE. We can ignore the ads or read them. If you can make money doing this, more power to you. And the ads RELATE to your blog, so frequently I’ve found additional material of interest among them.
As MJ said, this is one of my favorite blogs, too — and the first tiny house anything I subscribed to.
I was glad you were listing tiny dwellings for sale, but as you’ve said someone has stepped up to fill that niche so you don’t need to do it.
So, follow your passion. I think it’s how you attracted so many followers in the first place.
I’m sure we’ll be happy to tell you if we like the direction you’re going or not!
I agree with you DW, I barely even notice the advertisments at all. They are not what I am at this blog for. What interests me is the content, all of it!! Good job Kent, I don’t care what anyone says, I enjoy everything about the blog. As MJ says this is my favourite blog, always one of my first hits of my internet day! You keep making money, you do what you need to keep food on your table, just let me keep checking out this site!
From my perspective at least, what Kent was referring to, and what I, and I think others, were referring to in our comments about the topic, was not the incidental advertising on the site (which we all understand is necessary), but the actual blog posts that were turning in to advertisements for manufacturers and designers. I would draw a comparison between the blog and a magazine. There is an expectation that a magazine will have advertisements – full page ads in between articles; advertisements in the margins of some pages; a section in the back of the magazine that is nothing but advertisements… but, you expect the actual magazine articles to be something other than advertisements. I think that’s where things went a bit off track – some posts end up being about the latest playhouse-sized offering from some tiny “house” builder rather than being an article about the realities of living in small homes.
Josh, regardless as to what direction this blog heads into- I will respect that decision 100% and with a deep gratitude.
But to your comment, I look to this blog to discover new things: and often in the past that has been new builders. While many have stated that something less than 100sf is a playhouse (not to put words in your mouth, to be clear) -to many of us who struggle in outright poverty, a “playhouse” to others is a respectable step up from homelessness. Adding to that, Jay of Tumbleweed habitated with much success in his 89sf house for years & he is one tall glass of milk.
One person’s supposed ad is another person’s valuable resource. DWELL, Metropolis, etc regularly do articles on architecture firms and their designs, which is no different than finding a blog here on a new face in small home offerings, or a new design from a familiar one.
There is no reason for people to take the following into account as it doesn’t often “register” but it bears mentioning: If Jay Shafer can thrive in 89sf of ‘playhouse’ and if people can create and feel at home in places even smaller – can you imagine what incredible room this offers to someone like myself who barely registers an inch above small person status?
Only time will tell if I will still discover businesses to bookmark for future possible heat sources, etc, but I hope that this blogger won’t choose to only discuss homes of a certain size or price point.
Thank you and tremendous thanks to Kent & the whole community here who come together with such heartfelt investment and devotion.
There’s a wonderful piece about Stewart Brand’s 450 sqft tugboat living in Sausalito.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/magazine/19wwln-domains-t.html
Flickr stream at http://www.flickr.com/photos/toastkid/3912734635/
A lot of details about the tugboat are in Stewart Brand’s “How Buildings Learn”
I love the blog, thanks for staying with it!
I love the blog, thanks for staying with it! It has played a part in inspiring me to make healthy changes my lifestyle.
I am building my own tiny home from the storage building my ex husband had for his shop. It is 16×20 plus 4 foot porch.I have pic started on Facebook and will add as the work progresses. I’m 62 and it will be the first brand new home I’ve ever had. It is knotty pine on the inside and I have lots of plans for the finish. God willing they will happen.
Thanks for telling about your house in progress, Colleen. I am 68 and this last year have been becoming more discouraged about ever being able to live in a tiny house, my dream for years. It’s people like you that are making me think it might be doable.
I understand your concerns. My wife doesn’t share my desire to complete and live in a 160 sq ft Tiny House. She thinks I should finish building it and sell it to my neighbor. She would like something in the neighborhood of 6,000 sq ft. My wife is 68. However, she does acknowledge that living in 386 sq ft has been beneficial in some ways. Sometimes she loses her equilibrium. And in a small house there is general a wall or something close-by that she can grab onto to keep from toppling onto the floor. Other than climbing into a loft … a Tiny House is not really a detriment to growing older, but can be an asset. I think a couch bed in the living room will work out nicely. Time to get some Rustoleum and a couple more wire-brush wheels and get back to work on the frame.
I always thought your blog had a wide range of information and promoting those in the tiny house industry helps those who are looking to buy a tiny or small house some help. Seeing a wide variety of buiders helps those who are going to build on their own ideas to help them with their own design. I would also love to see some articles about your passionate interests.
I lived on Puget Sound for quite a few years, and had many friends who were “live-aboards”. Not house-boats, either, but regular boats. Most, but not all, were on water. Not fancy boats, and some were fixer-uppers, and a few not particularly suitable for taking out. They’d find the cheapest marinas possible and plug in. Showers on shore. Not a bad way to go for one or two people. The ones on land were sometimes pretty sad, tarp-covered things. But I saw a few that had been spiffed up pretty nice, like oddly shaped little cottages.
Kent —
Keep following your passion and do whatever it takes to keep this blog going! I know some people aren’t crazy about the advertising, but I do find some of it quite interesting, and if it helps pay the bills, by all means do it. The last thing I want is for you to lose your interest in this blog.
You have been a major inspiration to many people (including me and my decision to do my own blog!), and I hope you inspire many more.
I really enjoy this blog. It covers all kinds of tiny houses, many of which I would never be introduced to without this blog. I love reading about tiny houses for sale because I dream of having a couple of dollars to buy one one day and this blog keeps me informed about pricing and the type of homes available. I say keep up the good works and make whatever changes you feel called to make. 🙂
Keep going with it. I really look forward to anything that comes up from your blog. Out of my friends on facebook, yours is always the one I will look at first. I am unable to convert down to a tinyhouse at this time in my life with a family, but you inspire me for future changes and it keeps me thinking that someday when I am able to, I want to shuck off the things in my life and simplify to the basics. You inspire that dream for me. Thank You for working so hard.
Sounds good, I’d just like to clarify that I don’t think anyone had any gripes with the ads, it’s articles about companies selling tiny houses, or specific tiny homes that go up for sale.
I don’t know if you’re getting paid for those, but if you are I’m happier knowing they’re helping keep this site running, if you aren’t I wouldn’t miss them if they disappeared.
And, thanks.
Good Morning Kent,
Like I said the other day, I think you are doing a great job presenting us with valuable information on tiny houses.
I want you to know that after a great deal of deliberation I have developed a very simple plan that I believe will change the complexion of the entire Tiny House Industry. I am going to present it to the Mayor of a major city in Rhode Island as soon as I can get an appointment with him. I think he will go with it because it won’t cost any money, but will bring a lot more money into his city. It will work for any city. I will publish it on my blog if anyone is interested.
Walt
Walt please keep me posted on this and let me know how it goes. Sounds like something to share with the Tiny House Blog. Thanks for your support!
I’m glad you will be staying on the blogesphere.
I’m good here with it. You’ve always done a great job. I actually do click on some of the advertisements because I am very interested in eventually retiring small and simple.
Kent,
This is one of my two favorite blogs. I appreciate that you do introduce new tiny home builders & feature their work & what they are selling in your daily posts. Thanks for also posting about homes for sale instead of just listing them under classifieds. Your blog is like one stop shopping. Lots of info, articles, links, classifieds and so forth. I think the variety is great and so informative. You are the God Father of tiny home blogging.. Great job. While some view those posts as an advertisement I see them as an opportunity for those of us that want to purchase what is for sale. People that are new to the tiny house movement have the advantage of learning about SO many tiny home options on YOUR blog. When I saw you blog post for Slabtown tiny homes, back last Nov featuring the Anne Marie tiny home I purchased it. Yes it was an advertisement of sorts but – guess what it moved me to become a tiny home owner…. Well not quite yet – I am waiting for Scott to build it…(hint to Scott if he is reading this)- but i am happy that you posted about Scotts homes or I would of never known of him, or his qualtiy work unless I clicked on a tiny picture of his tiny homes elsewhere on your blog. That may of never happened, but because I saw your daily post featuring a wonderful tiny custom home complete for under 10k I bought/ordered it.
Even if your posts promote a builder, or sale of a home, so what? – You always have pictures and info that give ppl more ideas of how they want to design their own tiny home. I look forward to reading the advertisements that interest me and provide ways for me to upgrade my tiny home. IMO- the best thing is that you make money from them and I love that idea. I hope you make a lot more money from running advertisements on your site -Nothing wrong with making money and nothing wrong with making a lot of money. YOU GO KENT>>>> Your blog is great. Follow your heart, passion and follow the bucks also without apology.
Tonita
Kent – I was please to hear that you are going to refocus on what you are passionate about. I am going home tonight to refocus on Buckminster Fuller and his ideas on home design and sustainable systems. Keep up the great work!
Mr. Griswold, I’m really amazed and the amount of time, effort and thought you put into this blog. Thanks so much for your hard work. I enjoy your blog very much! Barb.
As Joseph Campbell said, so simply and with so much truth, “Follow your Bliss”. You are doing that so beautifully, to the benefit of so many who want to do (and are doing!) the same. Good on ya, Kent!
Kent, Just do what you do and enjoy! You’ll have plenty of support along the way.
Regarding the boat: I’ve been interesting in sailing for a while. Still haven’t taken lessons but I have found plenty of info on it and see there’s a huge amount of people are Live Aboards. Much of the time, the live aboard people just live on their boat at the marina. I thought it would be fun. Something to consider in the future. If someone doesn’t like their neighbor, they can leave and dock somewhere else or go out on the water for a day to get away from it all. Costs are fairly comparable to a small apartment or maybe even less expensive. Plus, being on the water, you’re involved with the natural environment very closely which needs to be protected.
So far, I’m just having fun looking at boats and daydreaming about setting sail to some remote island.
~Dan
Agree with Deek’s comment to the original post. The ads don’t bother me, if they aren’t for something I’m interested in, they are easy to ignore. Most of the time they are appropriately related to the site’s overall content and something I want to at least take a look at. Remove them and you are narrowing down the ‘possibilities’ I think we are all here exploring. I usually click to see if it’s of interest.
The same thing goes for the posts that are about the product from a particular company. I probably would never see that information if I had to search it out.
Just the other day I realized that you had removed the page where you showed tiny houses for sale. I miss it.
I check in every day – usually the first thing I do. I like this site as it is.
Perhaps, instead of revamping the site content, you should consider revamping the site dynamic and sell (for real money) a subscription view that only shows blog posts where the content is not in any way promoting a company. Leave out the sidebar ads, too. Then, if someone is truly unable to deal with the site as it is, s/he can pay to have it their way.
I like it just the way it is. You are doing a great job.
I agree with Deek’s comment to the original post. The ads don’t bother me, if they aren’t for something I’m interested in, they are easy to ignore. Most of the time they are appropriately related to the site’s overall content and something I want to at least take a look at. Remove them and you are narrowing down the ‘possibilities’ I think we are all here exploring. I usually click to see if it’s of interest.
The same thing goes for the posts that are about the product from a particular company. I probably would never see that information if I had to search it out.
Just the other day I realized that you had removed the page where you showed tiny houses for sale. I miss it.
I check in every day – usually the first thing I do. I like this site as it is.
Perhaps, instead of revamping the site content, you should consider revamping the site dynamic and sell (for real money) a subscription view that only shows blog posts where the content is not in any way promoting a company. Leave out the sidebar ads, too. Then, if someone is truly unable to deal with the site as it is, s/he can pay to have it their way.
I like it just the way it is. You are doing a great job.
Kent,
Thank you for the update on your blog. I look forward to seeing how your site evolves, as well as reading your comments. I, for one, am thoroughtly enjoying living in my 400 square foot cabin and thank God daily for it.
Best wishes, g.
I am writing to encourage you to continue posting. Your blog is inspiring and I read it every day. I have recently moved into a less-than-400 square foot apartment as a way to “test the waters” of tiny home living.
Hi Kent,
I have a suggestion. You should design your own e-book with information about the floating houses you love and perhaps another with the info about the tiny houses. Selling your own products should bring you MUCH more cash and give you more freedom! (from advertisers and contracts)
And FYI, I follow so many blogs these days that I certainly would not be offended if you started posting less. Do whatever you need to do to stay passionate because we’d certainly miss you if you stopped posting altogether!!
Kent,
We are all excited about your blog and expect it to transition over time. Follow your passion and we will ride along. The Tiny House Community has come a long way. As an example of this evolution this Article off of a local Portland, OR TV station highlights the move in our little society. Here is the link: http://southeastportland.katu.com/news/business/developer-bets-people-will-buy-tiny-micro-homes/439818
As this evolution takes place, I am eager to see how you adjust and adapt. As part of your community I will continue to support you by following your site, using it as a base to go buy stuff, and talking your up with others. Keep up the good work!
Thank you, Kent, for creating this blog and keeping it going. I am working towards building my own tiny house and the resources and information you present are invaluable.
Cheers!
Jan in Seattle
Kent… love this site!
I worked on that boat briefly as a kid. it’s HUGE, i mean HUGE ! ! . 11 layers of fiberglass covers the hull… it’ll be around long after all of us. I think it’s 54′ long or so.
Kent, Congratulations on the decision to follow your bliss and keep going w/ the blog! I, along w/ many others, am thrilled with the good news! Happy Blogging!!
Hey Kent;
As a guy who lives in a boat and has a teardrop trailer let me be among those who sincerely thank you for your ongoing blog and all the wonderful links. It is an affirmation and inspiration that dropping out of the culture of excess is a good thing.
As a fellow blogger, and author, let me assure you that not pleasing everyone is a sure sign you are doing something right.
Full kudus, Fred