I am very lucky to be living in Northern California where there is a lot of tiny house activities going on. Besides, Jay with Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, Bill with Tortoise Shell Homes and Stephen with Little House on the Trailer, I am just 45 minutes from Hopland and the flagship Real Goods Store and Educational Center.
A few weeks ago I was on my way to see my folks in Ukiah and pick up Max our dog and decided to take some time to stop by Real Goods and photograph their tiny houses that they have scattered around their property.
I have stopped in at different times as they were constructing the homes, but never had my camera with me. This time I went prepared with the idea to share with the Tiny House Blog readers what Real Goods has to offer for examples of tiny homes.
I have attached a lot of pictures to this post and have put brief descriptions under the photos. So take your time and enjoy. If your ever in the area, reserve time to visit Real Goods, you won’t be disappointed.
Here is what Real Goods has to say about themselves:
We’ve been busy getting stocked up for the holiday season and fine-tuning displays to make them educational and exciting — emphasizing product groupings like “Relocalization and Peak Oil,” “Biofuels and Alternative Transportation,” and “Green Building.” We’re also revamping our Renewable Energy Department, where we’ve seen sales numbers double annually in response to worldwide global warming concerns. Our sustainable living library contains more than 2,000 titles on subjects including organic and biodynamic gardening, cooking, natural and green building, renewable energy, intentional community, permaculture, politics, alternative fuels, electric vehicles, sustainable outdoor projects and much more. You’ll also find new men’s and women’s organic clothing (from basic to hip) as well as healthy body care products. And for the little ones on your list, we carry dozens of educational and solar toys. More than half the store’s products cannot be found in this catalog, so we invite you to stop by, browse and experience the future, while you check out the wonders of the Solar Living Center. The Hopland Real Goods store is open every day (except Christmas Day) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Go and visit the Real Goods Website and if you are in the area be sure and stop by and check everything out yourself.
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How neat, Kent! What great photos. I’m busy planning a pilgrimage to Northern CA and RealGoods just went on my list. 🙂
Hi Steph, please let me know when you come down this way, I’d like to me you in person. I was just enjoying your videos of your construction and the cat story on your site…Kent
If you want some quality solar work done check out Justin McLean at the Solar Stone in Idaho:
http://www.thesolarstone.com/
He did a great job for us. We had a grid tie system with battery back up installed, so that we would be off the grid if needed, but still be able to sell back the electricity to the power company, to generate some income on the side, to pay for property taxes and such.
Especially with the new 30% uncut tax credit since Jan. 1st 2009 Solar has become even more interesting to invest in.
Check it out,
Max
Thanks Max, it’s good to know who to work with and I appreciate the recommendation.
Hi Kent,
Thanks so much for always thinking of us when you visit these interesting places. I always learn something from all of the posts on the tiny house site. What I learned this time that really surprized me was the solar on a trailer. I was wondering if you inquired the who, what where when about it. Have any idea what company provides this bundled solar capturing system? Thanks again for everything….
Hi Kaitlyn,
There are several companies that offer this option, if you do a google search on solar trailers and than click on images, you will find quite a few. Here is one to start with: http://www.purepowerd.com/solar.htm I will try to get a list together as others would be interested in this as well…Kent
Kent
How cool a Fellow Ukiahan. I used to own one of the Yurts directly across Highway 101 from the Solar Living Center in Hopland. It was cool but not terribly efficient. I live in northern Utah now and my wife and I are planning a Straw-bale greenhouse/barn/shop on the back of our property.