Jessica’s plan for her tiny house came to her about five years ago when she decided she wanted a small, energy-saving home that would also be kind to her allergic reactions to environmental toxins. She also wanted it to be able to fit a washer and dryer since the nearest laundry was 100 miles away. Her house is 196 square feet with a staircase to the loft, a full-size kitchen and shower, an incinerating toilet and skylights. The interior is covered in 3-inch-wide white ash boards.

Tiny Green Cabins, located in Minnesota, designs and builds custom tiny homes with non-toxic options, thicker walls and roof sheathing for colder climates, a welded steel frame and organic-certified materials. The prices for their 196 square foot home (called the High Plains Drifter) are around $72,000 to $85,000 depending on the environmental options.

Photos courtesy of Tiny Green Cabins and the Williston Herald

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

“We aren’t building big, we are dreaming big and dreaming innovation.”

Mokihana and Pete have recently finished their beautiful VardoForTwo and are living in the woods of the Olympic Peninsula of Washington with their cat, Jots. Mokihana suffers from multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), an illness that makes her very sensitive to laundry products, perfumes, household cleaning supplies, pesticides, wood smoke and traditional building and construction materials. She and Pete decided to control their own environment by building a small gypsy caravan, or vardo, to live and travel in.

Photos by VardoForTwo

To combat Mokihana’s MCS, they painted their 12 foot long by 8 foot wide vardo with paint made from milk and have insulated it with recycled denim batting and wool batting. They use a ceramic heater and an air filter inside their tiny home. Their cooking area is outside under an awning.

The couple got a lot of their ideas from the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company and also embrace the same tiny house concept as Jay Shafer. Their blog sums up the concept of creating a house that is both healthier for the homeowner and the enviroment:

“Building VardoForTwo as an MCS safe home involves attention to detail and conscious choices every step along the way. The cost of a simplified and safe home means it takes more time and a willingness on both our sides to be respectful as we learn what works, and what doesn’t. We are building a sustainable lifestyle in a teeny home to be. In so many ways this is contrary to the old American Dream.”

Photos by Mokihana and Pete/VardoForTwo

By Christina Nellemann

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