Tiny House Blog

Treehouses, homemade canoes and Labrador Retrievers. What more can you ask for in a radio show?

Eric Rochow of GardenFork recently spoke with Deek Diedrickson, microhome builder and author of the new “Humble Homes, Simple Shacks” book in an episode of GardenFork Radio.

Deek and Eric (two men cut from the same cloth) discuss the merits of publishing your own book, using recycled and curbside found materials for tiny homes, how to build and anchor a treehouse and how Deek is able to make a living with his various building, music and drawing hobbies.

They also talk about Deek’s future plans which include teaching a few of the Tumbleweed Tiny House workshops, building a houseboat, a treehouse workshop and writing and publishing another book.

You can download the episode from iTunes or you can listen to it on the GardenFork website.

Photos courtesy of Relaxshacks.com.

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

Deek (Derek) Diedricksen just posted his latest Tiny Yellow House video and I thought you would enjoy viewing it.

This triangular treehouse was assembled in the Catskills over two weekends, and stands as one of the larger projects Deek’s tackled for the show. His only given parameters for the design: “It must receive a good deal of natural light, and have enough space to sleep two (floor space).”

I think Deek fulfilled these requirements. Don’t you?

I usually post videos on Wednesday but since so many of you have been asking for this information I decided to swap the stories and you will get the video today instead. Derek “Deek” Diedricksen shares how he makes his cool little vegetable oil heater.

Sorry this video took so long to make and post- I explain why in the clip. So many people kept asking about this little heater that I HAD to finally man-up and get this out there. As you’ll see, this heater is simpler than you might have thought- and its the very first design you see in the most updated edition of my book “Humble Homes, Simple Shacks…”. Thanks for your patience- and you’ll need more of it, as this micro-episode is a little lengthy (I cover so much that should have split it into seperate videos!).

-Derek “Deek” Diedricksen

Deek is at it again and putting out new videos right and left. This video is packed with reviews of tiny and simple living books. Deek is a jokester and performer and has a unique take on fashion. I find that most people either love him or hate him, but I personally like some of his unique ideas on spreading the word about the tiny lifestyle.

If you are just getting to know Deek, he is the tiny house guy behind the every-popular YouTube channel Tiny Yellow House and author of Humble Homes, Simple Shacks…

He is also in the new issue of Readymade Magazine which is all about small space solutions- has his in a 2-page feature as well. The article has some REAL cool attic-conversions, small apartments, etc. so look for it in your local magazine stands.

Deek Diedricksen interviewed Jay Shafer from the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company and will be featuring Jay in his video series Tiny Yellow House in the near future. Jay got a kick out of this cartoon done by Deek so I thought you might too. So a little humor for today.

A Relaxshax.com Comic “The Tumbleweed Tiny House Company’s Pool Party.”

Yesterday, I went to San Francisco with Steve from Tumbleweed to the Web 2.0 Expo and when I returned Deek had notified me about the latest jam band  episode of Tiny Yellow House. So you get to hear from Deek two days in a row.

Derek Diedricksen and guitarist Bill/William Bracken, from Age Against The Machine, (Rage Tribute Act from Boston, MA), they have some fun in Derek’s tiny Gypsy Junker. Deek also included a a couple out-take videos featuring Derek and Bill playing some Journey and a drum solo by Derek. The theme for tiny houses in this episode is tiny house sized instruments.

Be sure to follow Derek at his blog RelaxShax.

Hey Kent,

First off, thank you for this opportunity as guest article-author on your blog, and and additional thanks to yourself, and the others out there (Janzen, Kahn, Stiles, Pino, etc) who have been very helpful and supportive of what I’m doing (in regards to my 100% independent tiny housing book, and video/tv show).

As for the “Tiny Yellow House” series on youtube, the vegetable oil space heater (woodstove alternative) that was briefly shown in Episode #2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmR3kx660gw is something that I understand you (as well as I) have gotten a ton of email questions on.

All in all, since its rather difficult to just blurt out every constructive detail of the heater, I’ve sent you a hand sketched diagram of it instead, that was drawn as part of my follow-up to the book “Humble Homes, Simple Shacks…” which I’m still working on as we speak…er…as I type. The sketch, albeit busy and detail laden, should help give people the general idea I came up with, and I’m sure there ultimately will be twenty better ways to build this thing. All in all, while using a multi-wick system (more flames = more heat), this veggie-oil heater gives off a rather decent amount of heat that should be adequate for well-sealed tiny cabins, or should at least prolong your season or stay in a cabin, depending on your climate, naturally.
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