Robinia a Tiny House Case Study

Sharon Bagatell and Dennis Hoffarth combine permaculture principles with passion for the planet in Robinia, a tiny house case study in pioneering an ecologically sustainable lifestyle for the future.

Permaculture is way of life that integrates all dimensions of the human condition into a collaborative whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Practitioners weave a rich tapestry of systems for building, growing food, earning income and nurturing relationships with one another that enhance functionality and multiply our joys while meeting everyone’s needs. It is a lifestyle rooted in ethics that promote reciprocal partnerships between humankind and our environment that are based on care rather than exploitation. The endgame is an abundant world where everyone can enjoy a high quality of life, wherein our problems are solved in the garden instead of on the battlefield.

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The Foxhole a Cob and Timber Tiny Home

Guest Post by Collin Vickers Modern day pioneers, Mae Ferber and Benjamin Brownlow, have set out to rediscover the lost arts of Old West homesteading in the information age, with a touch of high technology and fervent passion for ecological sustainability. Their adventures in eco-living take place in the Foxhole, … Read more

Straw Bale a Tiny House Option?

straw bale

by Andrew Morrison Some time ago I introduced you to the idea of building a tiny house with a not so tiny material: straw bales (http://tinyhouseblog.com/straw-bale/tiny-straw-bale-cabins/). The idea seemed strange at first glance to some of you; however, I have heard that many of you have since embraced it. Straw … Read more

Andrew’s TEDx Tiny House Talk

Andrew Morrison

I’ve had the privilege of knowing Andrew Morrison for over seven years now via the Internet and personally the last year. Andrew is known for his fantastic Straw Bale videos and workshops and in the last year as a tiny house builder and designer. I had the opportunity to introduce … Read more

Tiny Straw Bale Cabins

by Gabriella Morrison The options available with styles, building techniques, and materials used to create tiny houses are various (vive la différence!). Some tiny homes rest on solid foundations while others are on trailers. Some are modern in style and others more rustic. The list goes on and there is … Read more

Straw bale Workshop Day 7

Andrew chainsaw

Day seven started out earlier than usual as we were ending the day a little earlier and we were loosing a couple of people who had to head home because of distance and work. We were still very much behind schedule. With Andrew being ill much of the week we … Read more

Straw bale Workshop Day 6

installing mesh

Today is day 6 of the straw bale workshop here at Common Kettle Farm. One thing that I have discovered at this workshop is that straw bale construction takes time and there are lots of steps. If you want a completed home fast, straw bale is not the way to … Read more

Straw Bale Workshop Day 5

roofing felt

On day five at Common Kettle Farm we had an extremely busy day. Covering all exposed wood with roofing felt, getting the cutouts ready for the electrical. Cutting out the box areas for the electrical, installing the rest of the windows. Lots of chainsaw problems. Deciding where the cutouts for the … Read more

Straw bale Workshop Day 4

straw bales all in

I’m running late with this post. I was just to warn out last night and my computer was running on fumes as well so I put off the post till this morning. Day 4 here at Common Kettle Farm. We had quite a day yesterday. Who would have thought putting in … Read more

Straw bale Workshop Day 3

lower bales installed

Wow, another day has flown by here at the straw bale workshop at the Common Kettle Farm. We accomplished a lot even with our fearless leader Andrew Morrison being sick and only being able to check in on us every now and then. I’m physically tired but it has been a productive … Read more

Straw bale Workshop Day 2

hosts first bale

Day two of the workshop at the Common Kettle Farm started early for me so I took a walk around the farm. We have been having perfect weather though by afternoon it can start feeling quite warm. The bulk of our food that we are eating is grown right here on … Read more

Straw bale Workshop Day 1

andrew

This week I am with Andrew Morrison of Strawbale.com in Orangevale, California at a week long straw bale workshop at Common Kettle Farm. I will be giving you daily updates of our progress as we learn and progress on this timber frame straw bale barn. Though not tiny this “barn” … Read more