Green Cedar Bus
by Josiah Williams
My wife, Christy, and I took a 1994 Blue Bird school bus and turned it into a home for us and our little boy.
We spent the summer of 2011 doing most of the conversion. I worked days as a carpenter and put in long nights and weekends on the bus and was rewarded with a comfortable, warm, and unique space for our family, free from rent and mortgage.
We spent the winter months traveling from Georgia to Washington state, spending most of the time around the south-west.
Along our journey we found out that we were pregnant with our second child so, though our time in our new home has been short, we are now in the prossess of selling the bus in order to fund a move to Alaska. We hope to get enough money from the sale to be able to start a life there and begin plans for another small, simple yet beautiful and unique home, this time though on a soil foundation! Continue Reading »
What’s One Word?
Yesterday for fun on the Tiny House Blog Facebook Fan Page I decided to ask a simple question to see what kind of responses you, my readers would share with me. Here is the question: “What’s one word that describes a tiny house?”
When I pulled this post together last night there were 148 responses. There were a few duplicates so they were removed. It was so much fun to read them and I wanted all of you to have a chance to see them and to add your answer below if you choose.
Here are the answers:
- Cozy
- Smart
- Precious
- Efficient
- Love
- Plenty
- Simple
- Claustrophobic
- Dwell
- J/K
- Zen
- Home
- Revolutionary
- Um…tiny?
- Easy does it!
- Harmony
- Compact
- Organized
- Sufficient…Cozy…Enough…Bliss
- Comfortable
- Cute
- Freedom
- Kindness
- Sustainable
- Sweet
- Gemütlich
- Perfect
- Affordable
- Bijou
- *tiny* (with sparkles)
- DEBT FREE
- Home
- Snug
- Possible!
- Intimate
- yeah
- just right… charming
- Liberating
- Micro~cosmic man!
- Tiny
- Snugly
- Smart
- Innovative
- Uncomplicated
- Homey!
- Freeing
- Peace
- Responsible
- “Compact?” “Efficient?” In the end, “enough”…
- Serenity
- Enough
- Simplicity
- Functional
- Delightful
- Safe
- Oomblegok
- Awesome!!!
- Unshackled
- WANT!
- Life
- Independence
- Practical
- Enough
- Heaven
- Large! Wait…what?
- Adorable
- Sweet
- Soothing
- Spacious
- Supplementary
- Plenary!
- Plenty
- Absolute
- Efficiency
- Comfy
- Casita
- Complete
- Bliss
- Doable
- Special
- Footprint
- Cozzzzy
- Modest
- Grand!
- RV
- FUN!
- Home
- Inspiring
- Green!
- Amazing
- Love
- Enveloping
- Escape
- Sanctuary
- Innovative
- Shed
- Shelterrific!
- Magical
Dee Williams on Peak Moment
Tiny House heroine, Dee Williams, was recently interviewed by Peak Moment, the online program that features people who choose to live simply during these challenging times. In the video, Dee discusses how she built her famous tiny house, the catalyst that made her want to downsize, her challenges and regrets when building and trying to locate the house, and how her tiny life has actually expanded and strengthened her sense of community.
Peak Moment is an online television series featuring people creating resilient communities for a more sustainable, lower-energy future. Programs range from permaculture farms to electric bikes, ecovillages to car-sharing, emergency preparedness to careers for the coming times. As of May 2010, over 170 half-hour programs are available online.
By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]
Bumfuzzle Plus Two
Pat and Ali Schulte have been profiled on the Tiny House Blog before when they lived the nomadic life on their 35-foot catamaran and in their 1958 Volkswagen panel van. Now they are in the process of fixing up a 43-foot Spindrift sailboat and living on it with their two children: 16-month-old Ouest and another one who is on the way.
Their comprehensive and beautiful website profiles their living and working on the boat with a child in tow. They purchased the Spindrift in the San Francisco Bay area, and are living there until they can get the boat ready to sail down to Mexico. They purchased the boat for around $40,000 with money they saved up while working, and are doing much of the boat repairs themselves. For additional income Pat also does some day trading and they have written a book on their around the world sailing adventure. Continue Reading »
Plank Chair
Bill Clay alerted me to this option and I thought it might work great for someone with a tiny house or small abode. Bill had a couple of these years ago. They are handy, in that the two pieces come apart easily, and with some forethought, can be designed in such a manner that they are hooked together flat for storage. A simple and satisfying chair made from one plank of wood.
To learn more Google ”one plank chair” or “two plank chair.”
Not a Windsor, for sure, but if you are getting down to simplicity and utility they work! instructables.com has step by step instructions on building your own. They can be made simply or as fancy as you want, you decide.
Simple Small Sturdy Sleeping Structure
KOMO News in Seattle Washington and Martha Kang write a story about a homeless structure designed to help the homeless in Nickelsville.
The 8-square-foot structure houses the dreams of the residents at Nickelsville.
It’s called a “simple small sturdy sleeping structure,” and each resident hopes to soon call one home.
“It’s sturdy,” said resident Mike Whistler, who helped build the prototype. “It’s a lot better than a tent – I can say that much. And it’s durable.”
Photo Credits: KOMO News
Mike Jones, another Nickelsville resident, designed the structure, and several others help build the prototype, which now proudly sits outside the old Lake City fire station, the current home of the Nickelsville (tent encampment).
A mix-and-match of donated and newly-bought parts, the structure cost roughly $250 to build.
Read the complete story at the KOMO News webpage.
