TINY HOUSE

A Tiny House Blog Publication

FOR MICRO, TINY, SMALL, AND UNCONVENTIONAL HOUSE ENTHUSIASTS

www.tinyhousemagazine.co

VOLUME 6 :: ISSUE 62
 CONTENTS
WASTE NOT WANT
6 NOT
Urban food foraging could potentially
help your family eat better.

LET’S GO. 

16 ARE YOU READY?
Sailboat living isn’t always sunsets
and umbrella drinks.

39 UNDER ONE ROOF

Little Guy Trailers as a tiny
mobile house option.

49 TINY HOUSE FESTIVALS

Tips for maximizing your tiny house 

festival experience.

LEARN TO BUILD A
58 TINY HOUSE
Andrew Morrison brings his tiny house Tiny house dweller
experience to the masses via a digital and entrepreneur,
M.J. Boyle, has
workshop.
taken a gamble on
building and renting. 

77 THE LAST CALL See page 34
I can't believe I get to explore this great
country by van.
 letter from
the editor Kent Griswold | Editor-In-Chief

New Look and style

We are already into the second month of 2018 and with it comes some changes to
the Tiny House Magazine. If you have been with us for a while you have seen this
happen a couple of times over the last five years.

The goal of these changes are to make the magazine easier to read and take
advantage of more media. You will see such changes such as more white space
and breaks in the paragraphs. We are bombarded with so much information that it
can be hard to try and consume it all.

Other things you will notice with time is more photo features, graphics and
videos and audio to take advantage of the different kind of media we have
available.

We have become a mobile society and the ease of getting our content is
important. The Tiny House Magazine will continue to try to stay on top of the
technology to bring you the best out there on the modern tiny house movement.

If you have any suggestions to improve the magazine please email me at

tinyhouseblog@gmail.com
Your Friend,

Ke n t
EMAIL: tinyhousemagazine@gmail.com TWITTER: @kentgriswold INSTAGRAM: @tinyhouseblog

MONTHLY
CONTRIBUTORS

PUBLISHER/ MANAGING Christina Nellemann

FOUNDER EDITOR Joshua Becker
Lora Horton Freeman
Kent Griswold Andrew M. Odom Laura M. LaVoie
If you want to share your experience in the modern tiny house movement or otherwise
contribute an article subject to publication in Tiny House Magazine, please send an email to
tinyhousemagazine@gmail.com

contributors
ANDREW M. ODOM is a writer. He is a photographer. He is a
marketer. He is a social media student. He is a father. He is a
husband. He is a number of things that have yet to even be explored.
But most of all he is an imperfect but forgiven child of God. As he
grows older he is quicker to say I’m sorry and more graceful than
ever. He has been actively involved in the modern tiny house
movement since 2009 and has watched it transform year after year.
He is a voice in the movement and continues to advocate for the
positive impact small houses can have on the landscape of the
American Dream.

TIFFANY BUTLER is happily tiny despite spending

many years trying to be in the same line as everyone
else. She currently works for a startup that’s building a
better mousetrap, one battery at a time. CHARLES
BUTLER meticulously built the perfect American
dream, set it on fire, and walked away without looking
back. He now spends his time supporting the artistic
community by providing space and business advice to
a growing cooperative of over 400 artists. They live
aboard a sailboat with a puppersnapper and their
adventures can be found at The Sailboat Tara.

SUSAN SCHAEFER BERNARDO has been writing poetry and

stories since she could hold a crayon! She is a big believer in the
power of creativity. The process of writing poetry or making art
allows her to express and understand her emotions. Susan holds a
B.A. in English (UCLA), M.A. in English Literature (Yale) and
elementary/secondary teaching credentials (Pepperdine). She keeps
her inner flower child happy and inspired by sculpting, dancing,
exploring tide pools, raising chickens in the city, traveling to cool
new places (and attempting to speak the language, even if it's just
please and thank you), and taking long nature walks with her sons
and rescue terrier Poppy.
 Minnesota Tiny Home Pioneer Turns
Containers into Airtight Wee Homes
Click to Play
In 2002, when the modern Tiny House
Movement was in its infancy, Minnesota
architect Geoffrey Warner conceived of a tiny
prefab home for a client who wanted an
affordable retreat. Naming it weeHouse®,
Warner went on to use the simple box design
in prefab variations across the U.S.
In 2016, Warner and his team at Alchemy
Architects transformed a shipping container
into a mobile hotel. Touching down in a dozen
locations across Saint Paul and Minneapolis,
the lightHotel celebrates both the forgotten,
and celebrated, corners of the Twin Cities.
https://youtu.be/EFEawA3W2ws
Kirsten Dirksen is co-founder of faircompanies.com. She has worked for MTV, Oxygen,
The Travel Channel, and Sundance Channel.
Warner calls the roaming hotel an “art project”,
explaining “one of the issues with shipping
containers is they don’t make good buildings,
and I know that because we do modular houses
which people mistake for shipping containers.
The difference is when you make a house from
scratch you’re giving it a really good envelope,
really good insulation, the structure where you
need it, etcetera.”
Inspired by the lightHotel, Alchemy has
developed a non-container modular home, the
lightHouse. Better suited to Minnesota winters,
this 400-square-foot home/cabin or ADU comes
with Passive House windows and 12″ SIP floor,
wall, and ceiling panels.


WASTE NOT
Want Not
Call it what you will.
Trash picking. Gleaning.
Dumpster diving.
Scavenging. Salvaging.
Curb crawling. It is all
the same thing. It is
Urban Foraging and it
could potentially help
your family eat better,
save money, and cut
down on the 1.3 billion
tons of food wasted
every year.
Urban food foraging is the simple act of
recovering useable goods discarded by grocery
stores, convenient stores, restaurants—really
anywhere anyone is throwing away food that is
neither spoiled nor rotten. Big city urban foragers
recover food and even other goods individually
and in groups, and often share what they find
with others at freemeets, on Freecycle, within
intentional communities, with neighbors, or right
on the street. However, urban foragers in more
suburban settings have to disguise their activity
or risk being ostracized or worse.
Meagan Carr, a tiny houser by way of converted
school bus, and her family (husband Spencer, and
daughters Charlie and Chloe) is an urban forager
and has no qualms about admitting it. She and
her husband have never been ones to do things
by the status quo and traded in the corporate life,
the big house, the obligatory time commitments,
the possessions, etc. in favor of a life that
breathed energy back into their family.
“I looked into the normal route first. We
considered buying a bit of land and going off-
grid with a tiny cabin in a remote location to
escape the chaos,” she reveals.
Meagan and Spencer explored all their options
at the time. They looked into RVs but were
unsatisfied with the entire industry. They
explored tiny houses on wheels but realized the
idea of buying a tiny house and a truck to haul it
was just too much for them.
“Ultimately, we live tiny because we want
freedom to be together, to travel, and to spend
our lives doing things we love, not things we
‘have to’.”
Their budget is something Carr takes seriously.
Her husband works hard outside the home and
she works equally as hard as a stay-at-home
mom and homeschooling parent. The family of
four is always exploring ways to save money
especially to decrease the $500 to $600 monthly
food budget without sacrificing a nutritional and
balanced diet. Up until recently the Carr family
has made sacrifices in order to afford said food
diet. Meagan uses as little electricity as possible
and they downsized to just one car. It was
beginning to pay off but still left the question of
whether or not it was all worth it. “When we
discovered dumpster diving, everything
changed. In fact, we just refer to it as diving.
People probably think we're avid swimmers,”
Meagan adds with a laugh.
Just one quarter of all
wasted food could feed
the 795 million
undernourished people
around the world who
suffer from hunger.
The family now only spends between $20
and $30 per month on food. They get most
of everything they eat from the dumpster:
fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats, pantry
staples. Recently they have been fortunate
enough to find cleaning supplies, toiletries,
and paper supplies on their diving trips.

IS IT LEGAL?
Dumpster diving is legal in the
United States except where
prohibited by local regulation.
According to a 1988 Supreme Court
Ruling (California vs. Greenwood),
when a person throws something out,
that item is now the public domain. A
portion of that ruling reads:

“It is common knowledge that plastic

garbage bags left on or at the side of
a public street are readily accessible
to animals, children, scavengers,
snoops, and other members of the
public.”

If a dumpster is against a building or

inside a fenced enclosure marked
“No Trespassing,” there are grounds
for questioning, ticketing or even
arrest by the police.

Meagan understands the stigma associated

with diving and also understands the valid
health concerns. “I am fairly good at
judging what people would think about
diving, and if I don't think they'll have a
positive reaction, I don't tell them. Most of
my friends know, but most of my family
doesn’t. I fear family members contacting
child protective services, and ‘ain't nobody
got time for that’.
 As with many—and true to the idea of urban
foraging so as not to waste food product—
Meagan and her family often share entire bags of
food with organizations, friends, and even
family. “None of the people who have received
free food from us have complained.”

I explain to them where the food

comes from and they are thankful
all the same.
Financial advisor,
tiny houser, and
editor of The
F r u g a l R Ve r,
Derek Cobia
understands both
the financial
aspect of food
foraging as well as
the social aspect.
He understand
the stigma that
has been created wherein people feel like they will
be seen as poor or impoverished if they forage in Photos of food foraged in just one night of diving.
any capacity. “To each his own though,” he notes.
“We met a couple yesterday who fed a family of
five primarily off bean sprouts. They'd put a
handful of beans in a mason jar and fill it with
water. Three days later, they'd have fresh greens
for their entire family. They also foraged, fished,
and grew their own bread with flower, water, and
cheese.”

Cobia warns that “going against the grain” is to

readily accept the social stigma. As a husband, a
father, and someone who exchanged the rat race
for life in a converted school bus, he knows
people judge him for his lifestyle. He is quick to
add though that “…judging others is their
problem, not mine. Realizing that fact set me
free.”
Meagan admits to having a solid immune system.
She isn’t very susceptible to foodborne illness, a
perk her husband does not share. “We cannot eat
out in places we aren't familiar with, without a
considerable amount of risk of him getting ill. He
eats everything I do, plus a lot of food I don't. I
am just a picky eater.”
Expiration dates are
about food safety. Best
before dates are about
taste, texture and
appearance.
“I disregard Best By dates. Completely. I have
discovered that food with these dates are usually
still good to eat, and it goes without saying that
the taste doesn't magically change after that
stamped date either. If enough time goes by, yes,
I have found that the taste of things will decline.
Crackers in my particular opinion, are the biggest
culprit.”
There is even a bit of humor in the dates stamped
on food packaging. Meagan is quick to add that
sell by dates are almost useless to her. She
believes that manufacturers test their products to
see what the least amount of time it will take for
the quality to decrease. They then use this data to
determine how long a food’s shelf life is and how
to properly market it.
‘Use By’ is slightly useful to Meagan as it helps
her keep track of when an item entered her home
and when to rotate them out. She isn’t deterred
from eating and drinking even bread and milk
because of a use by date. “One day I decided to
try [them] after those dates, didn't notice a
difference in quality, and now a full 10 days after
a carton of milk was dated,” says Meagan. “We
have noticed that the quality of the milk and
bread deteriorates soon after opening the
container, so we tend to consume the entire thing
quickly in order to get the best quality.”
With food prices rising regularly in grocery
stores and convenient stores across the nation the
idea of food salvaging or food foraging has
become more attractive to many. It is becoming
less of an issue in terms of social stigma and
even food safety concerns. Couple that with the
growing number of food warriors on the street—
people who seek to end food waste—and the
message is becoming more clear. Food is meant
to be eaten, not wasted. Just like the Carr family
and many like them, waste not, want not!
One industry consultant
estimates that up to one
in seven truckloads of
perishables delivered to
supermarkets is thrown
away.
Source: Beswick, P. et al, “A Retailer’s
Recipe for Fresher Food and Far Less
Shrink,” Oliver Wyman, Boston.
For more information on food
waste and how to fix our food
system, visit the Food Tank
online.
 FOR MICRO, TINY,
SMALL, AND
UNCONVENTIONAL
HOUSE ENTHUSIASTS

SUBSCRIBE NOW
 5 minutes
with Leanne
Andrew Odom: We’ve spent a lot
of time together in a lot of
different states. I don’t
remember how we met though.
Do you?

Leanne Stephens: Well, I first

heard you speak in Florida, but I
officially met you at Deek
D i e d r i c k s e n ’s w o r k s h o p i n
Rieglewood, NC. You were so fun,
kind, and helpful…and I was so
bad at using that stupid drill.

AO: It seems like you’ve always

just been there. I know that if I
don’t know someone or
something about the tiny house
world, I can ask you because
you’ll know. Do you fancy The difference between my growing
yourself a tiny house Wikipedia?
up years and the way we all live now
LS: Not at all; when I got into tiny is crazy, and I believe the pendulum
houses I didn’t even know the right
questions to ask. I love to do
is swinging back. My folks were
research and learn things, and I’m frugal. Mom made my clothes and
so passionate about the concept of
living a simpler life. I know many
darned my brothers’ socks.
people don’t have the time, or don’t We ate at home…
have the opportunity to attend tiny
house events and talk with builders
and owners, or like me at the
beginning of this journey, don’t
Interview by: Andrew Odom
even know what they don’t know. I started my
blog as a place to share information and
resources, and introduce them to people in the
tiny house community. I have been fortunate to
meet many knowledgeable and interesting
people, like you, and learn from them.
AO: How did you get into tiny houses
anyway? Do you live in a tiny house?
LS: I got into it through a friend. At first I
thought she was crazy, but as I learned more I
became a true believer. I have lived in all sorts of
housing, including a converted pool house which
was smaller than most tiny houses, and also a
single wide house trailer, and for about three
years, in a hotel room. We currently live in a
conventional house, but it’s on the market and
we are in the process of downsizing.
AO: I briefly remember hearing about your
childhood. You come from what seems like a
minimalist family. Smaller size house. One car
in the driveway, etc. Is that how it all started?
LS: We weren’t minimalist so much as modest.
We weren’t poor, we had enough to eat, but our
house was really small, and if not on the wrong
side of the tracks, it was pretty darn close.
The difference between my growing up years
and the way we all live now is crazy, and I
believe the pendulum is swinging back. My folks
were frugal. Mom made my clothes and darned
my brothers’ socks. We ate at home and carried
our lunches to school, which we walked to, by
the way. Dad converted our attic into a bedroom
for the boys. There was not one closet anywhere
in our house, so he built storage units in every
room. When something broke he fixed it.
I grew up knowing how to use a hammer and
saw as well as a sewing machine. My parents
didn’t stuff our home with “things.” They
shopped for necessities only. What we had in
abundance were books, games, music, and
family time.
That background is why I believe that “quality of
life” is much more important than money or
things. The tiny house movement is full of
people who agree, who want to live frugally,
who want to build things and not discard them,
and who are conscious of our impact on the
environment.
AO: I know that you and your husband
continued that later in life. Have you always
been into a more conscious way of life?
LS: Yes! A defining moment in our lives came
many years ago from a visit to my aunt’s house
after her death. She was a hoarder, and when we
got home, we immediately started getting rid of
stuff. Here’s the sad part. I had tried to visit her
many times in the years before she died, but she
always had a reason why it wasn’t convenient.
Her hoarding kept her isolated from people. I
guess stuff was more important to her than her
family who loved her.
Craig and I believe in quality of life over
quantity. We believe in the importance of balance
in our lives; if we focus too much on one area of
our lives, something else will suffer. We believe
in the value of spirituality, and the importance of
community.
AO: What about kids? I don’t think I even
know the answer to that question. Do you and
Craig, your husband, have kids?
LS: We have two—his sons, my stepsons—all
grown up. In fact our granddaughter is in
college! My youngest stepson is planning to do a
very unique school bus conversion.
AO: Recently you published a tiny house
cookbook. How did that come about? I mean,
many of us are pretty one-dish sort of chefs. Is
that what you were hoping for or were you
looking to expose us as the kitchen hacks we
are?
LS: No exposing here! I have friends who don’t
cook, but it’s so much less expensive and
healthier to prepare meals at home. This did
become a challenge for me when we lived in the
hotel with only a two burner cooktop and no
oven. I began collecting what I called “stovetop”
recipes. As I became involved in tiny houses I
realized that these recipes would be a perfect fit,
and I also began asking tiny house people for
their recipes. It was so much fun to get the
community involved! Many tiny houses now
have ovens so I included those as well, along
with slow cooker, solar oven, and even campfire
meals. As it says on the cookbook, all of them
are easy, because I don’t do complicated!
AO: You do know I only had two choices to
give you: real southern pecan pie or oatmeal. I
don’t really have much else.
LS: I’m sure glad you chose the pecan pie! It
doesn’t get much better than that!
AO: So what is your favorite part of tiny
house life or smaller living?
LS: This is the easiest question for me to answer!
My favorite part is that when we don’t have to
spend time and money on house maintenance, we
have so much more time get out and live our life.
When we lived in the hotel we had such a rich
life and were much more involved in our
community. We both can’t wait to get back to
that.
AO: And what is next? Are you and Craig
ever going to find a little spot of land, throw
up a yurt, and give it a go?
LS: As soon as our current house sells, we plan
to move into an apartment and buy a school bus
to convert.

NEW BOOK RELEASE

"TINY HOUSE DESIGNING,
BUILDING & LIVING"
Discover 
How to build your tiny house and in
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How to create a simpler, more

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AO: You realize this
wouldn’t be a proper
‘5 Minutes’ segment
interview without the
following questions
fashioned after
James Lipton’s
closing questions on
Inside the Actor ’s
Studio. You ready?

What is your favorite

word? Serendipity

What is your least favorite Purchase

Leanne’s cookbook here.
word? Suck

What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally? Brainstorming with upbeat

people

What turns you off creatively, spiritually, or emotionally? Whiny people

What sound or noise do you love? The ocean surf

What sound or noise do you hate? My alarm clock

What is your favorite expression? You can do it!

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Acting

What profession would you not like to do? Prison guard

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say? Welcome, child!
 text by: Tiffany Butler

Let’s Go. photos by: Charles Butler

Are You Ready?

FOR MOST OF MY LIFE I
WASN’T COMFORTABLE
WITH THE IDEA OF
BEING TINY AND I ONCE
PASSED UP THE PERFECT
APARTMENT BECAUSE IT
DIDN’T HAVE A WALK-IN
CLOSET THE SIZE OF A
SMALL BEDROOM. I WAS
A CONTENTED URBAN
APARTMENT DWELLER,
WORKING MY WAY UP
THE C O R P O R AT E
LADDER FINDING SPACE
FOR THE STUFF I
BOUGHT TO FILL MY
APARTMENT.

My floating home is a vintage 1986 Canadian-

For most of my life I wasn’t comfortable with
build sailboat named Tara, shared with my
the idea of being tiny and I once passed up the
husband Charles and our 60 lb. Australian
perfect apartment because it didn’t have a
Cattle Dog, Sylvie. We’re on the smaller end
walk-in closet the size of a small bedroom. I
of tiny but we know what they’re talking
was a contented urban apartment dweller,
about when they say size doesn’t matter. We
working my way up the corporate ladder,
didn’t move aboard to go green, reduce our
finding space for the stuff I bought to fill my
footprint, get out of debt, or any of the
apartment.
common themes other tiny dwellers share.
Instead, we want to travel, eventually sailing
When I met Charles he lived aboard an
around the world, and houses on land don’t
antique 32’ sailboat named Quiescent.
quite fit the bill.
He’d previously walked out of the
quintessential American Dream and built an
extraordinary artist and media collective from
the ground up while I was busy building my
own version of the American Dream.

It only took a few overnight visits to

Quiescent to convince me that there are plenty
of beautiful dreams that don’t include buying
stuff and renting big apartments to keep it in.
Shortly thereafter, we traded Quiescent for a
catamaran named Chiron and our first
overnight stay became day one of a five year
plan to cut the lines, leave land, and see the
world.
As our five year plan progressed Charles
continued to build his business and I
continued to climb the corporate ladder,
spending my days in a high rise office
building and my evenings planning our next
getaway. Together, we were back and forth
between the catamaran and the apartment,
often talking to others who’s sailing plans had
come to fruition, and always ready for our
next sail.
One hot Friday at 5:30 pm in the dead of unique configuration seemed more home than
summer I was unexpectedly downsized. vessel to me, and she’s a bluewater cruiser
During the talk where my boss broke the news meaning that she’s designed to cross oceans.
to me in a manner suggesting she was That said, as we drove away from our lookie-
prepared for tears, she received inappropriate loo viewing, my first words were this is the
giggling instead. My first words to Charles only boat we’ve seen that I can live on. Fast
after the talk were something like we’re free! forward until the ink on the contract was dry,
Here’s where all the life changing stuff and she was ours. Shortly thereafter we
happened. Cue the lightbulb moments, lots of moved aboard full time.
take no prisoners
packing, donating,
selling, insomnia,
wine, tears, and
very many moments
of consummate joy.
We concurrently
realized Chiron wasn’t
the right boat to carry
us across the ocean
and we sold her in 16
days. On that 16th
day I spent the
better part of three
hours chatting with
an elderly gent who
was willing to listen
to all the beautiful
times we’d spent
aboard. I may have
possibly also convinced
him that this boat was where the magic During the lightbulb moments, the packing,
happened, where our dreams began, and insomnia, wine, tears, etc., packing and
perhaps where his youthful dreams could downsizing became a ruthless and methodical
begin again. affair. Parting with 14 boxes of books was a
long sad goodbye to old friends but believe
Sailboat shopping may be like house hunting me they went into the boxes as fast as I could
in that we saw many boats, we were pack them. To my other things, I said a
unfortunately late to every meeting with our heartfelt but hasty goodbye to the fondue pot,
broker, and we requested a showing of our to the theater dresses, throw pillows for my
current boat as lookie-loo’s because we were fabulous red couch (I miss you) and to all the
interested in shinier newer models in our furnishings of a business casual corporate
original search. Tara’s vintage brand slogan is existence.
similar to yachts for two - to go anywhere, her
Keeping in the spirit of methodical and
calculated downsizing because to be
successful, such a dramatic downsizing
requires methodical, ruthless, and calculated
thinking, I measured Tara’s closet and hung
exactly that many items on my shower curtain
bar. It fell off the wall. Thirty inches of
clothing on hangers nested vertically five
apiece leaves you with more than enough to
wear and I’m petite so this story doesn’t end
with a meager capsule wardrobe. Instead,
using creative storage techniques like bins and
skinny hangers, I have all my favorites but
none of the old sentimental items that take up
closet space that you never seem to get around
to wearing. When many sailboats offer only a
paltry wet locker or two as a closet, an actual
closet on a sailboat seems like the luxe walk-
in closet of my former apartment dreams.

Our sailboat is 36 feet long and 12 feet wide.

Considering the shape of a sailboat, square
footage is best measured by hand with a tape
measure and a few glasses of wine. We
proceeded unscientifically and came up just
shy of 188 square feet. Do you count the
closet? This room is curved! Does the bed
count? If anyone has a more scientific method
than wine-and-a-tape-measure, please send it
my way. While our living space is on the
smaller side of the tiny spectrum, we’re
blessed with ingenious storage in unexpected
places, built-in furniture, a queen size bed,
pocket doors, and interior walls that
effortlessly unfold into windows.

Size and square footage becomes just a

number when you occupy small spaces with
others that you’re close to, when you can see
every inch of your home, and when you’re
likely to yell, Where it is?! This place is too
small to lose anything! when you’ve
misplaced something. It’s not about how little
you can survive with before it’s probably just
camping, it’s really about how to grow, thrive,
and flourish with less objects and more
adventures, more living, breathing, and more
noticing the amazing things that our lives
were much too cluttered with stuff to notice
before.
Tara’s go anywhere design allows us to be
self-sufficient for extended periods of time
and will eventually permit us to
circumnavigate the globe. At marinas we plug
into shore power, a 30 amp electrical
connection that powers lights, outlets, our
refrigerator, and our mechanical systems. At
sea a bank of batteries charged by our diesel
engine powers these systems and we conserve
electricity by intermittently running the
refrigerator, turning off lights, and being
cognizant of our power consumption until the
next diesel battery charge. We turned off the
lights on land when we weren’t using them so
this is just business as usual. We plan to install
solar panels and a wind generator, increasing
our self-sufficiency and decreasing our need
for diesel fuel. Our engine will always use
diesel however with the engine off and the
wind in our sails, the costs of traveling from
port to port are reduced to almost nothing.
We have hot and cold running water in an 80
gallon tank because come on, we’re not
glamping and with common sense
conservation habits we only fill up a few
times a month. Watering a lawn takes more
time and effort than filling our tank. Our toilet
pumps into a 30 gallon holding tank, flushes
with seawater, and operates with a hand
pump. Keep scrolling, I’m pretty much the
queen of this toilet. I’ll tell you why shortly.
Like many alternative homes, marine
plumbing is delicate but I won’t ration your
toilet paper squares if you pop over for a cup
of tea as long as you pump fifteen times, twist
the knob and pump till the bowl is empty, do a
little dance, make a little love, get down
tonight.
A few thoughts on water conservation. At
marinas fresh water is within arm’s reach and
only as complicated as unfurling your hose
and unscrewing a cap but at sea thoughtful
water conservation habits make the difference
between sailing or stopping in a port to fill the
tank. We use a pressurized 1-quart sprayer and
I’ve never met a sink full of dishes that
couldn’t be tackled in a quart of water or less.
Old salts and sailing purists use nautical terms
for the locations on a boat. The front door is a
companionway, closets are lockers, the
kitchen is the galley, the bedroom is a cabin,
v-berth, or quarter berth depending on its size
and location, the living room is a saloon with
a settee as a couch and a dinette as a table,
and the bathroom is the head. Aboard Tara we
prefer to cook in the kitchen, lounge on the
couch, sleep in the bedroom, and pump the
toilet in the bathroom.
Our interior space is constructed of Honduran
mahogany with blonde wicker caning on
every cabinet and we have solid wood floors,
not laminate. Our kitchen and bathroom
counters are Corian, our eight portholes are
brass, and we have two large teak skylights
known as butterfly hatches because they open
upwards and outwards like wings. Our
doorway, windows, and hatches are all
equipped with built-in screens which is not
commonly found on sailboats.
Our kitchen features a three burner propane
stove and oven, a chest-style refrigerator with
a small freezer, and a sink with hot and cold
filtered water, as well as a brass hand pump
that draws fresh or sea water. During open
ocean sailing, sea water can be used for
almost everything aboard including dishes,
laundry, and bodies but sea water is always
followed by a quick fresh water rinse.

We’re absolutely not lacking in cabinet

space or counter space. While we no longer
stock up at the big box stores we’re not
rationing food by any means. We’re
thoughtful about what we bring aboard; one
bottle of salad dressing at a time instead of
an army of half full bottles near expiry on
the refrigerator door. We now enjoy lovely
tapenades and sauces in small jars, finishing
each before we restock. When space is
precious and filled thoughtfully, every
favorite finds a place. It’s about priorities;
yes, you can bring your craft beer brewery to
your new Tiny House if your partner leaves
their ski boots behind.

With one caveat, our kitchen counter offers

more space than our last apartment. Over 50
percent of the counter covers the stove and
refrigerator when they’re not in use.
However, during use those counters flip up
and everything gets shifted to one side or
another. We had approximately five minutes
of head scratching about where to put the
microwave and it quickly found a home
underneath the table on top of our ottoman.
When not stowed under the table, the
ottoman serves as hidden storage and extra
seating. In the extra seating department, on
the occasional YouTube night when we
watch sailing vloggers and the occasional
sci-fi short we move the microwave and the
ottoman allows us to stretch out. Hooray for
convenient storage and after a while who
even minds crouching under the table to use
the science oven? Well, maybe you’d mind
but there’s seriously no other place for it.
I’ve also reevaluated my relationship with
small kitchen implements.
It’s not you, it’s me,
dear duplicate serving
spoons times three.
Please join the place
settings for 10 in this
lovely storage box.
Today we have one favorite coffee mug each
and a few smaller extras for unexpected
guests. Boat people often bring their own mug
or cocktail glass because none of us assumes
the other has service for more than a few
when we all have similar space constraints.
See if you can find guests on land who bring
their own wine glass to your next cocktail
party.
We have five large and five small plates, eight
bowls in various sizes, and a disproportionate
amount of silverware because I didn’t want to
break up my grandmother’s set. Even in the
spirit of a ruthless take no prisoners kind of
downsizing it’s probably okay to keep the
family forks and spoons together. Where else
but people talking tiny do you get someone
who can proudly list the exact number of
plates they own? The remaining large utensils,
ladle, and the rest of the stuff from that
kitchen drawer everyone has fits into a sizable
bin under our kitchen sink. Everything I
wanted to keep fit into the bin so I didn’t have
to store my favorite wooden spoon in the
oven. Just kidding. Not really.
In keeping with an everything we need and
nothing we don’t mindset, we’re not short on
mixing bowls, cutting boards and the like as
long as they nest, serve dual purposes, flatten,
and store like a game of culinary Tetris. Pots,
pans, and bakeware fit neatly into the oven
and with the addition of a ¾ size cookie sheet
and nesting silicone muffin cups instead of
their full sized counterparts, I have no baking
limitations unless you ask me to make your
wedding cake. Sorry, you’re getting cupcakes
and maybe only a dozen because I left my
cooling racks on land. Priorities.
Storing dry food takes about a minute longer
than putting boxes on cabinet shelves and
closing the door. Cans are stacked and
everything else is transferred to a labeled
ziplock bag and stored in a bin. Cardboard
packaging and canisters are recycled and I’ll
wager a few spaghetti noodles that I can fit
more bagged pasta, quinoa, and oatmeal into
bins than you can shake a stick at. Produce,
bread, and other squashable snacks are stored
in three cute hammocks that swing freely
when the wind and waves let us know we’re a
small boat on a great big sea. Space saving
tricks like hammocks, zip locks, and bins
make it easy to provision for many weeks
before we sail away with no immediate plans
for the next grocery run.
When you come home to a tiny space and
forget the phrase a place for everything and
everything in its place, you’re guaranteed to
have just made a huge mess. The trappings of
the average adult human include coats, bags,
shoes, laptops, and who knows what else. Set
these things down carelessly when you walk
into a tiny home and suddenly there’s
nowhere to sit and you’ve inadvertently also
taken the dog’s seat. Alternately, if you spend
five minutes tucking everything away, the
dog’s happy and there’s plenty of room for
everyone else. We’ve added a minute or two
to the ritual of coming home which keeps the
clutter down to a dull roar and turns weekly
housekeeping into something like a 15 minute
affair.
In the spirit of reducing clutter, space
limitations, and not owning objects that can
go flying across the boat while we’re sailing,
we have one decorative tchotchke, a small pot
of plastic grass. We keep four pens nestled
between the blades and just like the items in
our kitchen, it serves a dual purpose as
decoration and pen holder so we can justify
the space it occupies on the table. Also, when
I have curious visitors who marvel at our
small space and our few visible possessions, I
can smugly point to the grass and say and this
is where we keep our pens.
Regarding the aforementioned arduous 15 to
30 minutes that it now takes to clean our
interior please read arduous with sarcasm
because 30 minutes or less of weekly
cleaning? Seriously, I’m over the moon about
this. I don’t look back fondly on the many
hours spent slaving over a hot vacuum cleaner
when I lived on land. A weekly round of
carpets, floors, kitchen, bathroom, dust, wipe
scrub, ad nauseum feels effortless when I can
lollygag, watch cat videos, and accomplish
everything before the dryer’s done.
(Part 1 of 2. To be continued in next month’s issue)
Sailboat living isn’t always sunsets and
umbrella drinks. Oh no, there’s plenty to
contend with like gentle sea breezes, nature
putting on a show on all four sides, and a
“neighborhood” of people who think they’re
all on vacation the moment their feet touch
the dock, i.e., smiling faces and regular
“docktail" parties during high season.
Docktail parties got their name from the
regular gatherings of marina folks on the dock
where drinks, finger food, and fish tales
abound on a regular basis.
Aside from a daily view of the sea and a
nightly view of every star in the sky, there are
a few sailboat systems we have to think twice
about. But I’ll save those stories for another
day. In the meantime, join us for regular
updates on our adventure blog.
Track My Tiny
click anywhere to find out more
 ”
Text Laura M. LaVoie
Photography Andrew Kalat and Guillaume Dutilh

So when people ask us

how we can live in a small
I am often asked about how two
space with one another,
people in a relationship can live in a my only answer is that we
tiny home together. I hear things
like: never thought that we
couldn't.
• I could never be that close to
someone 24 hours a day.
• I need doors.
• I need my alone time.
• What if someone passes gas?
• Where do you go if you get in
a fight?
There have been a lot of changes in our lives.
Well, for me, it’s all pretty simple. I We bought our first home together in
never imagined we couldn’t make it suburban Detroit. We then had an opportunity
work, so we made it work. to sell that home and move to Atlanta, GA
where we lived for nearly 10 years. And
somewhere in all of that, we got his crazy
Matt and I didn't meet because of the tiny
idea to build our own 120 square foot home in
house movement. No, we met in 1993 when I
the mountains of western North Carolina.
started college as a freshman and he was a
sophomore. We were literal kids, both dating
We love each other and share our lives
other people. In fact, I’m not sure we liked
because we embrace the same values,
each other that first year. But over time, as we
qualities, and philosophies. It just so happens
continued to hang out with the same friend
they are the same values couples need to
group, things changed both with our former
share to be comfortable with one another in a
high school relationships and with each other.
small space. We aren’t a tiny house couple in
Our very first date was Valentine’s Day 1995
the sense that a tiny home brought us
and we have been together since.

Finding or Keeping Love

in a Tiny House
“We love each other and share
our lives because we embrace
the same values, qualities, and
philosophies.”
together, but we are by default since we so
publicly built our own home and shared our
story.
Looking back, it’s quite possible that we
always were a "tiny house" couple. When we
started to get to know one another we bonded
over a shared love of architecture, specifically
Frank Lloyd Wright. While Wright didn't
specialize in small homes he understood how
to use space in the most amazing ways. We
both have a passion for this gorgeous and
groundbreaking architecture and we’ve
visited dozens of FLW buildings all over the
country.
Frank Lloyd Wright isn't the only reason we
make a good tiny house couple. I remember
devising plans to buy an RV and travel the
country while we were still in our 20s. Then,
for a while, we wanted a sailboat. We
dreamed of all these things but kept thinking
we would get to it "later."
Finally, after living the conventional life and
working jobs that didn't fulfill us for far too
long, we realized we couldn't wait until
"later." That was when we discovered tiny
houses. This was not only something we felt
confident we could actually build but also a
way we could change our lives and live more
deliberately.
So when people ask us how we can live in a
small space with one another, my only
answer is that we never thought that we
couldn't.
For us, the tiny house isn't a place or a thing,
it's a lifestyle. It is a philosophy. Couples
don't have to share a 120 square foot house to
live the philosophy of tiny. So don’t think a
tiny home will make or break a relationship.
The only thing that can do that are the two
people involved.
on the cover
Designed and Built by Michelle Boyle and Mark Sharley, My Tiny Perch is a 148 sq.ft. (8’ x 18.5’) tiny
house on wheels available for rent in Sherwood, Oregon. Weighing approximately 7,000 lb., the
“Perch” was built for just $19,624 in 10 months. The house features a bedroom/lounge combo, a
bathroom with shower and a dry flush toilet, and an eat-in, galley-style kitchen. Best of all, it is
available to rent by the night (and long-term) on Try It Tiny. (view the full listing)

more photos on Instagram @mytinyhouses

UNDER ONE ROOF

Little Guy Trailers

Anyone who has shopped around for a
smaller, lightweight camper may notice a
pattern. They are not easy to find. In the sea
of colossal, white boxes that make up most
RV dealer lots, finding the perfect, tiny
trailer (for under 3,000 lb.) is going to be a
challenge. They are just not available.

“Trailers like the T@B are a niche market

and there is not as much of a demand for
them as the larger RVs,” says Mark Hagen,
owner of Little Guy Trailers.

By Christina Nellemann | Photos by Little Guy Trailers

 “Most RV dealers don’t have the variety
where customers can compare the different
trailers,” Hagen says. “You really need to do
this to find the one that fits you.”
In addition, you can only get so much information
about smaller campers from YouTube videos or
Instagram posts. If you are the type of shopper
that really needs to poke and prod a product
before buying, visiting the Little Guy Trailers
showroom near San Diego can give you an in-
depth look into a variety of tiny campers.
Little Guy Trailers, located in Chula Vista, Calif.,
has been in business for over 15 years and
features a wide variety of beloved tiny campers
and trailers under 2,800 lb. They are literally all
under one roof. These trailers are so small, they
can fit inside an average sized retail building, and
if they need to be taken outside, they are easily
pulled by hand by one or two people.
Little Guy Trailers owner Mark Hagen, and Eric Krag,
regional sales, are both tiny trailer owners and know the
individual trailers inside and out. Krag owns a 5x10
teardrop trailer and Hagen camps in a MeerKat, the Little
Guy Trailers own design (see Tiny House Magazine #55,
July 2017).
Little Guy Trailers also features new and pre-owned
trailers like the T@G, various T@Bs, Aliner Ascape,
MyPod, Silver Shadow, and the coveted T@B 400 from
nüCamp RV. The company also sells the Aliner popup
campers and the iconic Serro Scotty retro style trailers.
“Most RV dealers don’t have the variety where customers
can compare the different trailers,” Hagen says. “You
really need to do this to find the one that fits you.”
If you do need a little customization, the MeerKat
could work for you. The 900 lb. fully insulated
trailer features a dinette that easily converts into a
bed, a kitchen space with a sink where you can use
your own water container, a removable stove, and
plenty of storage. The best part is the popup roof
that gives the tiny trailer over 7 feet of height
without compromising its ability to fit inside a
garage.
Hagen says that the primary buyer of the MeerKat
are single females who want a little more space but
are a little intimidated by towing or backing up a
much larger trailer.
Little Guy Trailers has also introduced a side
awning with walls for the Meerkat. The awning fits
into a preformed channel on the side of the camper
and has detachable solar-powered lights along the
edge.
The MeerKat business seems to be doing rather
well.
“Last summer the only trailers we could show to
buyers were the ones that had already been sold,”
Krag says.
 “We just want to get people
out camping again.”

There is a lot more in store for

Little Guy Trailers. In the next few
weeks they are planning on
showcasing their new teardrop
trailer design. The trailer will be an
entry level trailer built for people
who can’t afford the larger, more
expensive campers. The 5-wide
camper will start at $8,000 and will
be made of fiberglass.

“We just want to get people out

camping again,” Hagen says.
“Most RV dealers don’t have the variety where
customers can compare the different trailers,”
Hagen says. “You really need to do this to find
Christina
the one that fits you.”Nellemann writes for the Tiny House Blog, the Tiny House Magazine 

and her own camping blog, Tiny Yellow Teardrop. www.tinyyellowteardrop.blogspot.com
 Under One Roof:

Little Guy Trailers

Click to Play

Little Guy Trailers, located in Chula Vista, Calif., has been in business for over 15 years and
features a wide variety of beloved tiny campers and trailers under 2,800 lb. They are literally
all under one roof. These trailers are so small, they can all fit inside an average sized retail
building, and if they need to be taken outside, they are easily pulled by one or two people.

Little Guy Trailers owner Mark Mark Hagen and Eric Krag, regional sales, are both tiny
trailer owners and know the individual trailers inside and out. Hagen gives a little tour of the
MeerKat and Krag talks about options for the 900 lb. camper.

If you are shopping for a T@B, T@G, Serro Scotty, teardrop trailer, or the company's own
design, the MeerKat, Little Guy Trailers is a one-stop shop for all the "little guys."

Learn more at http://littleguytrailers.com

 a body in motion… by Joshua Becker

…stays in motion,” Isaac Newton explains in his first law of motion.

This is true of objects. It is also true of us.

Recently, I received an email from a reader with this question:

Did you know what your passion was when you started downsizing? What advice would you
give to people that don’t know because they’ve spent decades just accumulating things that
don’t matter?”

I thought I’d share my answer here. First, because it is a question I am asked frequently (not
necessarily at every speaking event, but most of them). And second, because I think the
answer leads to a larger principle I hope we all find helpful.

To those who are struggling to discern their passion in life, my suggestion is to pick just one
good that you’d like to bring into the world and take a step toward it—whether donating your
time, your talents, or your financial resources. Choose one, any one, and get started in some
small way.

If you have a passion or know of a problem in the world you would like to solve, there is
probably an organization nearby working on that very thing. Maybe your first step is a Google
search and a short email asking if there is any way you can help.
You may be surprised what you discover. You may quickly realize your talents and skills and
uniqueness fit perfectly into their needs.

Or, you may discover that they do not…

You may discover that your giftedness aligns better with a different organization or a different
passion or a different problem that you want to solve. But it seems to me, in either scenario,
you’d never make that discovery without taking a first step.

Any step.

Because it’s easier to find a vision or identify a passion if you are actively engaged searching
for it.

A body in motion stays in motion.

This principle applies to finding passion in life. But I think it also applies in countless other
areas:

• Want to be healthier? Take just one step—even a walk around your block. A body in
motion stays in motion.
• Want to declutter your home? Take just one step—minimize one drawer, closet, or shelf.
A body in motion stays in motion.
• Want to travel more? Take just one step—plan one short trip. A body in motion…
• Want to get out of debt? Take just one step—make one extra payment on a credit card
balance this week. A body in motion…
• Want to be a better parent?
• Want to start a new hobby?
• Want to become more spiritual?
• Want to write a novel or start a blog?
• Want to improve or save your marriage?
• Want to read more?
• Want to get more organized?
In every regard, a body in motion stays in motion. For every change or discovery we desire to
see in ourselves, it begins always with putting ourselves in motion toward it. And then
building on the momentum we started.

Your first step in a new direction doesn’t have to be a big one. And while one small step
probably won’t result in the entire change you are hoping for, the second step doesn’t always
reveal itself until you’ve taken the first.

Further reading on this subject: Are You Taking The False First Step?
 The Big Adventures of
Tiny House FESTIVALS!
By Susan Schaefer Bernardo

When I set out to create The Big Adventures of Tiny House with my illustrating partner Courtenay Fletcher a
year and a half ago, I had no idea that a picture book would take us all over America on a grand tour (just like
our main character Tiny!). In the past year, we were invited to read on stage at eight festivals--from Seattle to St.
Augustine and lots of fun places in between--and we’ve learned a few things.

In the tradition of tiny house people, I’d like to share!

SAY HELLO TO THE TINY HOUSE PEOPLE

As for him he was looking for a new way of living,
a community founded on sharing and giving.
Every tiny house festival has something in common: tiny house people! You know that
old song “Make new friends but keep the old”? That’s what tiny house festivals felt
like to me from the very first, when I attended the 2016 Jamboree in Colorado
Springs. Friendly.

I’m always so happy to see familiar faces - and I love meeting

interesting new people wherever we go, too! People in the tiny
living world are some of the kindest, most generous-hearted
people I’ve ever known. They’re willing to give advice, lend a
hand where it’s needed, and open up their homes for thousands
of people to tromp through. They’re living proof of that old adage that
“less is more” - choosing to live in a small space so they can pursue their
big dreams, maybe to travel or pay off debt or own a home of their own for
the first time.
 I’ve met families that downsized from 3000 square feet in
the suburbs to a 200 square foot tiny home, so they could
get closer to their kids and move to land in the country.
I’ve marveled at artists like Dominique Moody whose
traveling tiny the Nomad is a work of art itself. I’ve also
met folks homeschooling while traveling in Skoolies, and
photographers like Mandy Lea who travels in a teardrop
to remote wilderness areas for that perfect shot, and
grandparents converting an old caboose into a sweet little
retirement home.
This is a movement of REAL people - even the tiny house
celebrities who’ve been on television are friendly and
approachable. They are regular Joes...and Janes! (I LOVE
to see so many empowered women, turning on their power
tools to build tiny houses!).
So say hello, introduce yourself, share your dreams, and
take a selfie with your new tiny house friends!

ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS

They stayed up ‘til midnight swapping songs and tall tales
of the adventures they’d had on their tiny house trails.

One of the great things about festivals is that they gather a

lot of informed, experienced builders in one place - and you
can benefit from all that collective wisdom. Listen to great
speakers, attend in-depth workshops, and I’ll say it again:
ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

DIYers and professional builders are happy to tell you what

kind of insulation/roofing/framing/trailer they used, how they
like their composting toilet, how they cook in a small space,
or how they used salvaged materials. They can go into great
detail on all kinds of topics that you are itching to know more
about. They will tell you about the nuts and bolts of building
a tiny house (down to the actual size and brand name of nuts
and bolts they prefer!).
high tech trailers and framing solutions, and ingenious
If you get a chance, be sure to watch a screening of LIVING appliances.
TINY LEGALLY by Christian and Alexis of Tiny House
Expedition. They’ve traveled all around the USA in their For people new to tiny homes, it’s the best way to size up tiny
sustainably-built THOW for two years (inspiring our picture living and see if it’s a good fit for you. You can tour dozens
book along the way), to document what’s happening in the of tiny homes, from van conversions to yurts to skoolies to
tiny living community and help advocate for zoning changes THOWs to park models to see clever storage solutions and
to make tiny living safe and legal. If they don’t know the unique artistic touches and sample a variety of layouts. Even
answer to your question, they can probably connect you to better, you can talk to the DIYers and the professional builders
the person who does! and ply them with all your questions. I’m not going to say it
again. Hmm, actually, I will. Ask questions and take notes!
Wherever you go, you’ll no doubt see the very latest in tiny
house design, fun gadgets like incinerating toilets,
 SAVOR THE FLAVORS
Each festival has its own flavor. Literally! Did I mention
food trucks? A whole lot of yum happens at these festivals.
Make sure you sample the regional specialties. I had delicious
kielbasa and pierogis in New Jersey, and my son tried alligator
for the first time ever in Florida. Barbecue, kettle corn...I
even sipped a cappucino in a tiny (coffee)house! In Georgia
last year, I had a delicious scoop of lavender ice cream served
from a purple bus!

That’s just the food trucks...why not bring home a delicious

souvenir from one of the vendors, too? I remember the Florida
Tiny House Festival every time I spread wild mangrove
honey on my toast. Don’t get me started talking about the
other shopping, like the beautiful scarf and bracelet and
handcrafted goat milk soap I acquired in Georgia last year...
of course, some people even buy a new house while they’re
festival-lin!

BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY...AND YOUR HOUSE

These events are usually
pretty casual and
f a m i l y - f r i e n d l y.
Some of them
are even dog-
friendly. I’ve
even seen
young DIYers
exhibiting
their work at
festivals--like
11-year-old
Callie Hilton-
-displaying their
own tiny home builds.
Often, kids who live in
skoolies and tiny houses are
on hand to help with tours. If you are thinking of going
tiny with kids, why not have your kids get their questions
answered, too - by other kids?
And yes, if you already live in a tiny home, these festivals
could be an opportunity to spruce it up and show it off.
Contact festival coordinators to see who’s looking for
more tiny homes to display. Some might offer gas money
or other perks like meal vouchers. It’s a chance to show off
your skills and be in community with like-minded people
(and maybe get cool ideas for your next build, because
from what I hear, building tiny houses is kind of like
eating pistachios....).
In fact, I’ve brought my own son Charlie to a few festivals
and he always puts himself to work -- he’s helped in
the ticket booth, directing traffic, putting up yurts and
signage, and generally making himself useful.
One disclaimer to this: If your primary goal is to tour a
million homes to do some serious reconnaissance or to
participate in a hands-on building workshop, it might
be more effective to leave the kids at home with Nana or
bring a helper along to entertain the kiddos while you
work it. Your call! But if you DO bring your kids, and I’m
appearing at that festival, come find me in the kid corner
when you need some quiet time - I’ve always got coloring
sheets, crayons and other fun activities for the little ones!
AFTER YOU SEE THE TINY HOUSES,
SEE AMERICA
One of the greatest gifts of attending all of these festivals
has been the chance to explore parts of my country where
I’ve never been before...just like Tiny in our book! Think
about building a vacation around a tiny house festival
in some place you’ve never been - and spend some time
seeing the sights!
Here are some of my highlights from 2017:
The day before the Tennessee Tiny House Festival in
Chattanooga (my new favorite small city!), Courtenay
and I had an amazing time walking by the waterfront and
seeing the spectacular underground waterfall and caverns
at Ruby Falls.
In New Jersey, at the advice of a kind stranger on the
festival Facebook page, we detoured to the Poconos
to take my teenager on a ropes and zip-lining course
(with a great Groupon discount!). After the festival, we
meandered over to the East Coast, saw Cape Cod, ate at
Mystic Pizza in Connecticut and walked the Freedom
Trail in Boston. Along the way, we also got to climb into
one of Derek Diedricksen’s RelaxShacks’ tree houses!).
The Florida Tiny House Festival in November was during
fall break, so I brought my son and partner Kevin along and
we lingered a few days in beautiful St. Augustine, seeing
historical sites, the dazzling Christmas lights display,
climbing to the top of the lighthouse (where I faced my
fear of heights!) and combing the pristine beaches for
sharks teeth. We shared a tiny house Thanksgiving with
Shorty Robbins (builder of the darling Victorian Tiny
House)!
After the Northwest Solarfest in Seattle (where we saw
some cool solar car conversions and contraptions), we
rented a car, took it on a ferry, and were stunned by
the beauty of the Olympic Peninsula and the Hoh Rain
Forest during a memorable daytrip. It was summer break,
so Courtenay’s daughter came, too: we ate tacos by Pike
Place, toured the Art Museum, the Seattle Space Needle,
and the Chihuly Glass Museum, and enjoyed views and
sunshine at the beautiful Olympic Sculpture Park.
The Tiny Living Festival in Ridgfield, Washington was just
over the bridge from Portland, so we hopped into the city
for a delicious breakfast and a misty hand-in-hand stroll
through the Rose Garden in Washington Park. We were
also fortunate to get a tour of the Kenton Women’s Tiny
House Village, an amazing community effort to provide
shelter and hope for homeless women. As a bonus, our
Air BnB was at the beautiful home of Patrick Sughrue of
Artisan Tiny Homes and his wife Jill, and we had lots of
great conversations about tiny houses and books!
The 2017 Jamboree at the Arlington Convention Center
near Dallas was an exciting “bright lights, big city”
experience, with amazing workshops and seminars for
DIYers and professional builders, a giant convention hall
full of vendors, and a DIY and Skoolie village that had its
own entertainment stage.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg (hmmm, I wonder if Alaska
is going to have a Tiny House Festival?!), but I’m sure you
get the idea. Wherever you go, enjoy the adventure!
 TIPS FOR MAXIMIZING YOUR FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE
1) Read the fine print about parking, directions and all
before you go! You might be able to save some money by
buying tickets in advance online, too.
2) If you can stay onsite, it’s lots of fun! Some festivals,
like those put on by the United Tiny House Association,
offer perks for DIY builders who bring their tiny homes,
and also offer inexpensive camping and/or RV sites for the
public. After the festival closes for the day, you might have
access to campfires or evening entertainment (hello, fire
spinners!) that’s just for the overnighters.
3) If your schedule permits, stay a couple of extra days and
build in some local sightseeing!
4) Get there early! Lines for the popular tiny houses can
get pretty long - coming early or staying late can make a
real difference in how many houses you get to tour.

READY? SET? ROLL...TO A TINY HOUSE FESTIVAL NEAR YOU

(or heck, hop on a plane and fly somewhere cool!)

2018 Tiny House Festivals

list from www.tinyliving.com

Georgia Tiny House Festival - Mar 02 - 04, 2018 - Atlanta Motor Speedway, GA
Tiny House Conference - Mar 17 - 18, 2018 - Charlotte, NC
St Pete Tiny Home Festival - Apr 7 - 8, 2018 - St Pete, FL
Tiny House NC Street Festival - Apr 27 - 29, 2018 - Pink Hill, NC
Chicago Tiny Homes Show - May 11 - 13, 2018 - Schaumburg, IL
Spring Tennessee Jam - May 25 - 27, 2018 - Newport, TN
Great American Tiny House Festival (3 simultaneously across the country!) - June 15-17 in San Francisco, Omaha
and Virginia
Colorado Tiny House Festival - Jun 22 - 24, 2018 - Denver, CO
People’s Tiny House Festival - Aug 3 - 5, 2018 - Colorado Springs, CO

Author Bio: Susan Bernardo is an award-winning poet and indie author whose latest picture book
The Big Adventures of Tiny House (illustrated by Courtenay Fletcher) tells the story of an old
farmhouse that gets salvaged and repurposed as Tiny, a little house with a big heart and WHEELS!
It’s a celebration of tiny homes, sustainable living and following your heart to a life that is big and
amazing...no matter what size you are. Meet Susan and Courtenay at the Georgia Tiny House
Festival from March 2-4th at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, where they’ll be giving a special Read
Across America Day presentation! More at www.susanbernardo.com.

All illustrations © 2017 The Big Adventures of Tiny House: Fletcher & Bernardo
one to watch
Try It Tiny connects people to give them the
opportunity to rent a tiny house or share their
land with tiny house enthusiasts nationwide.
The company started from their dedication to
help tiny house owners in need of a parking
solution.
Whether for a short or long-term stay, they aim to
aggregate as many options as possible. It has
quickly evolved to also engage tiny house
enthusiasts and offer a way to give tiny living a
try, before they buy.
You can find them on Instagram at @tryittiny.

In the very early days of the Tiny House Blog
back in 2007, I was mainly blogging about
different types of construction. I was a big fan of
straw bale construction and during my search on
the internet I came across Andrew Morrison and
StrawBale.com.
I was fascinated with his instructional CDs and
ordered several of them immediately. I contacted
Andrew and his wife Gabriella responded to my
query. I wanted to share their instructional CDs
with my readers on the Tiny House Blog. They
were both excited to participate and it was their
introduction to the exciting new world of tiny
house living.
Since that time Andrew and Gabriella have
become deeply involved in the modern tiny
house movement.
Andrew designed and built hOMe, their own tiny
house, and created plans to go along with it. He
made them available for sale at their website.
Learn to Build a
Tiny House
and
Create a Beautiful
Tiny Life
by Kent Griswold
Andrew also started doing tiny house workshops
around the country. Andrew has previous
experience with hands-on workshops through his
straw bale business where he goes around the
country and helps people build their own straw
bale home.
During Andrew’s tiny house workshops he
travels to different cities around the world and
lectures about design and construction. Since
2006, Andrew has taught over 2,500 participants
at his workshops.
Unfortunately, like many of you I have never
been able to attend one of his workshops. Until
now!
Andrew and Gabriella have just introduced their
first online workshop. You can attend it at any
time and take it at your own pace.
I’m really excited about this and have been going
through the workshop myself and want to share it
with you.
The workshop is broken down into easy to watch
segments. Here is a outline of what you get with • hOMe digital plans
the “Learn How to Build a Tiny House” course: • Materials List
• hOMe SketchUp plans
• SECTION 1: Tools, Design & Road Rules • All 4 How-To Videos (6+ hours instruction)
• SECTION 2: Foundations • Tool list
• SECTION 3: Framing Systems • How to read plans video
• SECTION 4: Drying In Andrew and Gabriella have also offers an
• SECTION 5: Utilities exclusive discount to Tiny House Magazine
• SECTION 6: Finishing Up readers for a limited time as well.

In the other course titled “Create a Beautiful Tiny

If you purchase now and use the discount code
Life” here is the outline:
THB at checkout you will receive 25 percent off
the Digital Workshop.
• SECTION 7: Codes and Zoning
• SECTION 8: Money, Insurance & Contracts I would encourage you to take advantage of this
• SECTION 9: Creating the Life You've offer before it goes away. Join other participants
Always Dreamed of
who have taken this course and have gone on to
build their own tiny houses.
These workshops can be purchased separately or
together for a lower price. I personally would
recommend getting both courses.

Andrew also includes some fantastic bonuses.

When you purchase both courses you will receive
over $269 worth of these helpful extras:
Imagine Your Tiny House

Purchase your copy of the

popular FLOOR PLANS
book with over 200 interior
designs for tiny houses. Use
it to help build your own
tiny home ownership dream.
 Building With Bear Creek
Since 1991 William Rockhill has led his construction team at Bear
Creek Carpentry to success with dozens of builds that include tiny
house on wheels, tiny houses on skids or foundations, prefabricated
mini cabins, camping cabins, cottages, and shells, playhouses, storage
sheds, outhouses, and much more!

O n a typical, snowy, Adirondacks morning,

you can find William Rockhill and any number
of his adult children prepping for another day of
construction. Bear Creek Carpentry is as much
about quality construction as it is about family.
The core of the Bear Creek team consists of sons
Billy, Mike, Connor, and daughter Melissa. The
family ties are not hard to imagine since Bill
himself came to carpentry through his
relationship with his step-father’s towing
business, a few hooligan friends in east Harlem,
and a true friend on the lower east side of NYC.
Bear Creek Carpentry is a
family business, we have had
all three sons and my
daughter for short stints
working with us since they
could hold a hammer at 5,6
and 7 years old. Now the
boys are all grown men, all
working in the trade.

Through a series of events in 1978, Bill found friend’s brother came out of the woodwork
himself the owner of four wooden crates of needing some labor and some tools in order to
tools. At the time he had no reason to own them build a private nightclub. Rockhill made himself
and didn’t even knew how to use them. But a and his tools available.
 The Rockhill kids: Billy 25, Mike 27, Melissa 19, Connor 23
Over the course of the next four
months Rockhill worked
alongside his new friend and
learned all that he could. It
turned out the “on-the-job”
training would serve him well
since the New York City
District Council of Carpenters
was opening up their books and
offering 400 apprenticeship
positions. It was an extremely
rare opportunity. 40,000 people
showed up over the testing
weekend and Rockhill and his buildings made of concrete and
five friends whom he had been steel. He did commercial
camping out with in line
received apprenticeships. The
year was 1979 and Rockhill was
beginning his union career.
Over the next four years he
would apprentice older, more
experienced union men,
followed by two years of
journeyman classes.

During that “coming of age”

Rockhill was on crews
constructing 50-70 story
drywall and steel studs, architectural
woodworking, acoustical ceilings, concrete,
computer floors, entries, commercial roofing,
and just about every aspect of the construction
trade. On weekends he worked on a crew
framing and building residential structures. “I
was a sponge for construction knowledge,”
Rockhilll says.
With so much experience under his tool belt, it’s
no real surprise that Bear Creek isn’t Rockhill’s
first business but rather his third company. In
1979, along with his lifelong friend Chris
Donnelly, he formed “The Rocksmiths”, doing
commercial interior renovations, steel studs,
drywall, woodworking, flooring, etc. Primarily a
commercial enterprise, The Rocksmiths did a
number of X-ray labs with lead coated 5/8”
drywall and acoustical ceilings. The true
transition came in July 1993 after Rockhill had
moved his family upstate and spent time
working with a couple different local
contractors. The family invested in a portable
sawmill "Woodmizer" LT40 hydraulic in 1994,
and they began constructing their woodshop. At
the same time the family began building smaller
buildings, cabins, camping cabins, sheds, mini
cabins, and more. In a short amount of time Bear
Creek built hundreds of buildings.
 William Rockhill posing in front of a “floating” tiny house.

One of those builds, and perhaps one of the

most under-appreciated out buildings
constructed, is the outhouse. Because of their
deep Adirondacks location, there is more than
enough need for an outhouse and Bear Creek
has accommodated through the years. “We
build a very fine outhouse as there are a number
of them in our region that are ‘grandfathered’
in. We build them with holding tanks, like
porta-potties, or with a very sanitary plastic
culvert,” Rockhill says.
Bear Creek Carpentry has built a reputation on
quality builds of all sizes that hold up to even the
most extreme weather conditions; a problem often
lamented by the modern tiny house community.

The Adirondacks is a harsh environment for a

number of reasons. Surrounded by the north
woods, Bill’s land, home, and shop, are subject to
extreme cold and six months of snow annually.
They also endure a muddy season and black flies
of biblical proportions. But Bill is quick to add, “I
wouldn’t trade this for anywhere else. We live by
our wood stoves. We live simple lives.”

In addition to being a master carpenter and

running a successful, family business, Rockhill is
also an active paramedic and fireman. He is an
elected councilman in his third, four-year term.
Suffice it to say, community is a big part of the
Bear Creek world.

“Our surroundings and local history has had a

very big influence on our building styles and
strengths. We build along the style of our
Adirondack predecessors with natural local
woods, beams logs, etc. we also build with our
extreme weather/ temps in mind,” adds Rockhill.

Bear Creek Carpentry Company builds attractive

and functional buildings including tiny houses.
They know from experience what designs work.
Like their family, their homes and buildings are
simple and strong. They produce a product in the
standards of “Old World Craftsmanship, Using
the Latest Technology”.

To find out more about Bear Creek Carpentry

Company and Bear Creek Tiny Houses you can
find them online or on their popular Facebook
page.
Click to view on Youtube

Purchase the iPad Version

Purchase the Print Book

 Tiny House Listings

26' Fifth Wheel Tiny House Wine Country Custom Tiny Home
Price: $25,000 Price: $80,000
City: Franklin, VA City: Paso Robles, CA

Premier Tiny House "Cado" by Thimble Homes

Price: $49,500 Price: $87,250
City: La Conner, WA City: Newberg, OR

Micro Mansion, Tiny Luxury Craftsman on Wheels

Price: $67,750 Price: $64,900
City: Port Townsend, WA City: Salt Lake City, UT
 e c o d
cap
This is a 30x10 foot tiny home that was just delivered to Cape Cod several weeks ago. The home has a
main level master with two loft spaces. A Queen size Murphy bed desk and full closets in the master. It
also has locking barn doors to the master bedroom. Over the master bedroom is a loft big enough for a
full mattress and there is a hidden storage room that’s 40 square feet for deep storage. The house has
full size appliances, bamboo flooring, built in entertainment center, butcher block counters with cutting
board over the 30″ copper sink. It also has exposed beams and skylights.
“They can be as environmentally friendly as
you want,” said Boyd Riding of Alpine Tiny
Homes. “The best way I’ve heard it described
is ‘live simply so others can simply live.”
Visit their website here: Alpine Tiny Homes.
Marketplace
 I can't believe I get to explore this great country by van.
Four days ago, I camped with people I only knew
through Instagram. Three days ago, I passed through
three states and stopped in all of them. Two days ago, I
broke down, so I explored a small town and chatted with
the people that have never left. Yesterday, I woke up at a
mechanics shop and hit the road again. Today, I'm with a
familiar friend in a place that I've never been. The road
is paved with hopes and dreams. But I feel like this
lifestyle lets me be able to live each day like it's my last.

Text: Kathleen Morton Photo: Nicole Brown