Here’s the story of Andrea and her son who are turning a shed into a livable home. Andrea sent me a detailed description of the cabin, the work completed so far, and the process of moving it to its present location. Andrea’s story continues after the photos:

Continue Reading: Small Family Birdhouse

Small Family Birdhouse is a post from: Tiny House Design © 2010 Tiny House Design. All Rights Reserved.

So here’s a crash course in practical and sustainable solutions for moving yourself off-the-grid.

Photo of The Urban Rancher and his off-grid cabin.

Continue Reading: How to Move Yourself Off-The-Grid

How to Move Yourself Off-The-Grid is a post from: Tiny House Design © 2010 Tiny House Design. All Rights Reserved.

In the video Alex provides a little background information on how he got started blogging about the tiny house movement and reports having a tiny house ebook on the way that will contain resource and reference information on tiny houses.

Interview with Alex Pino is a post from: Tiny House Design © 2010 Tiny House Design. All Rights Reserved.

The Fencl measures just 130 square feet, has a tiny functional kitchen, bathroom, and queen-size loft bed. The interior is finished in wood and heat is provided by a tiny propane fireplace. Learn more about the Tumbleweed Fencl at The Lodge and reserve an overnight stay.

To learn more about the design and buy plans visit the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company.

Below is a video that shows this very tiny house under construction.

Spend the Night in a Tumbleweed Tiny House is a post from: Tiny House Design © 2010 Tiny House Design. All Rights Reserved.

If you dream of building a tiny house on a trailer dirt won’t work, but if you dream of a tiny homestead dirt may be the way to go. Rammed earth is the process of compacting dirt to form walls. It’s slower going than framing a house with lumber but the thermal mass an earthen wall provides can help you get a comfortable quiet home the old-fashion way. For over the last 200,000 years humans have been creating different ways of building with earth. Here are just a few of the most common methods.

• Earthbag – Bag filled with dirt and tamped into place.
• Adobe – Dry mud blocks stacked into walls.
• Cob – Wet mud blobs stacked into walls.
• Rammed Earth – Walls formed in place by tamping it into a reusable form.
• Compressed Earth Block – A cross between adobe and rammed earth.
• Wattle and daub – Mud filled woven lattice.

Michael’s book is available in print an as an ebook. He also teaches workshops in Europe. Visit his site to learn more about DIY Rammed Earth Manual, How to build with DIRT.

DIY Rammed Earth Manual, How to build with DIRT is a post from: Tiny House Design © 2010 Tiny House Design. All Rights Reserved.

One of the most common questions from new readers centered around how to build a tiny house. The other most common question was how much does a tiny house cost, but both questions are tied together so I’ll answer both in this post.

The following is an overview of what you’d need to do to build a tiny house for yourself. To do this topic justice I’d have to write hundreds of pages, but I think this outline should give you a good idea of what’s involved. I think you’ll also see that it is a project within reach of many do-it-yourselfers.

Below: Working on my Tiny Free House.

Continue Reading: How to Build a Tiny House

How to Build a Tiny House is a post from: Tiny House Design © 2010 Tiny House Design. All Rights Reserved.

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But before I begin, I’d like to mention that the Small House Book by Jay Shafer is a great way to really sink your teeth into the idea of extreme downsizing. Even if you’re not ready to move into an 89 square foot home, the inspiration Jay’s book provides can help you begin the process. As an added benefit, they are also giving away a free set of tiny house plans when you buy the book. Learn more about this book+plans promotion.

Q: How much does a tiny house cost?

Jay’s Tumbleweed Tiny Houses are really some of the nicest tiny houses available, and in my humble opinion they represent the pinacle of design and quality. They can cost $20,000 in materials for the do-it-yourselfer, and as high as $50,000 if you want one built for you.

But many people choose to build tiny homes themselves with their own design or house plans they find online. When materials are chosen carefully, the price of a home can be brought down significantly. Two of my favorite extreme examples of inexpensive homes are The Field Lab and the covered wagon at Whittled Down.

Q: Where can I buy a tiny house?

There are many builders around the county. Here are a few of my favorite builders:

• Tumbleweed Tiny House Company
• Tortoise Shell Homes
• Little House on the Trailer
• Tiny Texas Houses
• Yes Wee Cabins
• Tiny Green Cabins
• If I missed someone please let me know!

Q: Where can I buy plans to build a tiny house?

There are a few places to buy plans too:

• Tumbleweed Tiny House Company
• Tiny House Design
• Sonoma Shanty
• Sheldon Designs
• iStockHousePlans
• FreeGreen.com
• Yes Wee Cabins
• Tiny Green Cabins

• If I missed someone please let me know!

Q: Where can I learn more about tiny houses online?

• Tiny House Design (you are here now, please subscribe and join us on Facebook)
• Tiny House Blog
• Tumbleweed Tiny House Company
• DIY-Prefab
• The Tiny Life
• RelaxShax’s Blog
• Shedworking
• Small House Society
• Lloyd Kahn’s Blog
• Project Rolling Freedom
• If I missed someone please let me know!

Q: Where can I park or build a tiny house?

Most people park their mobile tiny homes on their own property or at friend or relative’s place. Some folks travel and move around from place to place. Jonathan built a Tumbleweed Fencl and is moving from campground to campground. Sam built a tiny adobe in New Mexico and kept it tiny to avoid building codes.

The truth is that tiny houses are not well understood by the public because they are a relatively new idea for many people. This seems a bit funny to me because McMansions are the fad, people have been living in tiny houses since we moved out of caves. But in America we’ve gotten so accustomed to more More MORE that we’ve forgotten that less is more sustainable, and simple living can be more rewarding.

But nevertheless, gaining acceptance and understanding are still battles to be won. So in the mean time many people simply look for loopholes in existing rules and regulations.

Q: Are tiny houses legal?

It depends where you are and how you use it. Some communities have few building restrictions, yes even today, and are very friendly to alternative housing solutions. Other places has rules coming out their ears plus oodles of uptight neighbors. A great ebook for finding states with few codes is available called No Building Codes.

The advantage of a tiny house on wheels is that you can move it if you need to, although this doesn’t really provide long term stability if local ordinances don’t allow you to ‘camp’ on your own land in a ‘travel trailer’. But it can help you avoid planning department red tape.

People who are motivated to find solutions to their housing challenges will find the ingenuity in themselves to make it happen. The best advice I have on this is to research and learn as much as you can about the community you want to live in, and look for zoning loopholes and friendly neighbors.

Tiny houses can also be built on foundations with permits if you want to go that route. Often the biggest hurdle is getting an exception to the minimum square footage requirement, assuming your location has limits like this set for single-family zones. One common loophole is to look for land zoned multi-family and then build multiple tiny houses. It’s common for multi-family zoned areas to have no minimum size for dwellings because these zones must allow for small apartments.

Q: Do I need building permits to build a tiny house?

If a tiny house is built on a trailer it typically falls into the category of ‘travel trailer’ and building codes don’t normally apply. But it is best to build to standard building codes and make sure your house is strong enough to withstand highway speeds.

If a tiny house fits the definition of a shed it may not need permits. It’s always best to check with your local planning department before building anything, and look for the loopholes.

Two good examples of this are The Urban Rancher in the mountains outside Los Angeles and Ryo Chijiiwa in the mountains of Lassen County in California. Both have tiny structures that are technically sheds.

Q: Is anyone designing or building accessible tiny houses?

Several of us are working on more accessible tiny home designs right now. We know there is a real need for them and we’ve even experienced it ourselves as our own parents (and ourselves) get older or run into mobility related issues. I’m just not sure when I’ll have plans ready, but we all know there is a growing need and have begun to move in that direction quickly.

Q: What kind of toilets do people install in a tiny houses?

Most people are using composting toilets or RV toilets with waste tanks. The most popular composting toilet seems to be the lovable loo, a sawdust toilet developed by Joseph Jenkins. Once you get over the idea of pooping in a bucket and covering it with sawdust you’ll realize this simple solution is far more sustainable, sensible, and environmentally friendly than other choices. It’s virtually free too, which is always a plus.

The main advantage of commercial composting toilets is that they break down the waste faster by adding air, movement, and heat. All of this extra help composts the material faster requiring less storage. A simple sawdust toilet also requires a compost bin/pile so it can cook for a couple years. After that time the compost is safe for the garden.

If you build a mobile tiny house and plan to move it from place to place a commercial composing toilet is probably a better choice. If you stay on your own land a sawdust toilet may be the way to go.

Q: How do I heat and cool a tiny house?

Most people use small propane heaters or electric space heaters if they have a utility grid connection. There are many marine propane heaters on the market. Some people use wood stoves but they tend to overheat such small spaces.

Q: How do I deal with waste water (grey water)?

Many people setup their homes with grey water tanks like an RV but if you are living in one place setting up a grey water system seems ideal.

Q: Can a family live in a tiny house?

Sure, and there is no one-size-fits-all for housing. A family will need more space than an individual or couple. People that work from home will need more space. The whole idea of living simply in small spaces is that the true value of the home is realized, and the home doesn’t become a burden. In other words it’s about finding balance and the first step is reducing the number of possessions.

Q: Land is so expensive, how can I live mortgage free?

In some places land is expensive, probably due to too many regulations and demand. But there are still many places where land is cheap. The trade-off is usually location or the quality of the land. Lamar at Simple Solar Homesteading has done a great job showing people how to live mortgage free and find cheap places to live.

This is in fact one of the main reasons I blog about tiny houses. I’m really searching for the true value of a home and I don’t think homes should cost any where near what they do. The tiny house I’m building right now is nicknamed the Tiny Free House. It’s a pallet house I’m trying to build without spending money. What money I do spend, I’m recapturing by selling free stuff I find. So in the end the house will cost nothing but my time.

I’m also searching for super cheap land to park the Tiny Free House, and have found a remote subdivision in Northern California where 1-acre lots sell for about $1,500 at tax lien auctions. The place is called California Pines and has a reputation as being one of the most notorious real estate schemes from the 70′s and 80′s. Now it’s virtually deserted with just a Property Owners’ Association standing in the way of prospective do-it-yourselfer owner-builders looking for an inexpensive place to build a tiny alternative homes.

There are places like this all over, and if you do your research and make good connections with neighbors and local authorities finding a inexpensive place to live is not impossible. It will likely come with some trade-offs and lifestyle changes though.

Q: Where can I learn to live more sustainably?

One of my favorite green bloggers is The Good Human. His blog is packed with ideas for moving toward a sustainable life. Another favorite blogger is Tammy at RowdyKittens. She lives a car-free minimalist life and regularly shares her learnings. Her ebook, Simply Car-free is a great value, so if you’re considering moving away from fossil fuels start with this ebook.

If you want to peek into extreme sustainable lifestyles investigate places like the Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, and the Pickards Mountain Eco-Institute.

Q: Are tiny houses off-the-grid?

Any tiny house can be powered by off-grid electricity, but like any off-grid house choosing to use less power will get you the lowest cost system. Giving up things like microwaves, electric heaters, blow dryers, and electric clothes dryers, will allow you to really scale down your electricity needs.

Q: How do I insure a tiny house?

Check with your insurance agent, and put it in terms they can undertand. Typically calling it a ‘custom travel trailer’, or cabin, will help them undertand what you are talking about.

Q: Can I finance a tiny house?

This is tricky because most lenders don’t undertand tiny houses yet. Some builders are working toward getting licensed as RV manufacturers. When this happens I suspect the flood gates will open up and more people will be able to build and buy tiny houses.

As tiny houses become more popular and lenders become more familiar with them I’m certain we’ll begin to see more mini-mortgage opportunities.

Q: Can you send me more information?

Not really… what I have to offer is all here in this blog and the vast majority is free. There are over 560 posts from more than two years of blogging and design. Enjoy!

Tiny House Frequently Asked Questions is a post from: Tiny House Design © 2010 Tiny House Design. All Rights Reserved.

As Jay points out in the video, a lifestyle of simplicity frees up our time and money. Taking on large mortgages and vast amounts of unused square footage doesn’t typically pay us back in the way we had hoped. Many of us who have traveled down that path, are instead left with a bit of an odd sense of loss and the weight of debt.

For those who aren’t ready for extreme downsizing, or who are stuck where they are, I hope that you can still take away the idea that Tiny Houses are Icons of Freedom. They are low cost and attainable. As you visit the pages on my blog you’ll find many stories of people literally building their own secure futures with their own hands on very limited budgets.

• Join Us on Facebook – Get started by following us on Facebook & Twitter.
• Subscribe to Tiny House Design – I regularly blog on tiny houses with an emphasis on do-it-yourself projects. Subscribe to Tiny House Design for regular updates.
• Small House Book by Jay Shafer – I also highly recommend that you pick up a copy of Jay’s book. You’re in luck because they are running a promotion right now and giving away set of free tiny house plans when you buy the book. Visit the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company for complete details.
• Tiny House Blog – Another great blog on Tiny Houses.

Below is a sample floor plan from the Popomo Tiny House Plans.

People Have Been Living in Tiny Houses Since We Moved Out of Caves is a post from: Tiny House Design © 2010 Tiny House Design. All Rights Reserved.

View Land and House Available Near Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage in a larger map

Now imagine taking this 80-acre parcel, with an existing home built from an old church, and develop a new ecovillage based on living simply & sustainably in small homes. The seller is asking $240,000 for the property and since there is an existing home, a traditional mortgage is probably possible, unlike raw land. So theoretically this community could be started by one founder with a good work-from-home job or someone prepared with seed money. Another way to finance an endeavor like this could be to simply collect a few founders with the money, or credit & income, to make the initial investment.

The existing home could eventually serve as a common building, and with the bones of a church seem well suited to be turned back into a space co-owned by the community. It would be up to the founders and community members to decide what kind of community to grow here but it seems like an ideal location and the price seems very reasonable. To learn more about this 80-acre parcel for sale and continue to daydream the possibilities visit the Dancing Rabbit website.

Above are some photos of the main house. Below is a photo of some cob house dwelling neighbors at the Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage. To learn more about Ziggy’s cob house visit The Year of Mud: Cob and natural building. Photo by Stephen.

Can you imagine a Tiny House Community next to the Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage? is a post from: Tiny House Design © 2010 Tiny House Design. All Rights Reserved.

The hour talk show is called Swimming Upstream and is hosted by Mike Litchfield. Mike has been a professional writer for many years and has written eight books on home design and renovation. He was also the founding editor of Fine Homebuilding magazine.

Stephen and I had a great time talking with Mike about our favorite topic. Stephen was in the studio with Mike and I was on the phone from my home in Fair Oaks, California.

To listen to a recording of the radio show just click the play button in the player above.

The only correction I want to mention is that there was a little misunderstanding about my background, I’m not an architect. I couldn’t figure out a way to slip that correction in on the fly.  :-)

Tiny Houses on KWMR Talk Radio is a post from: Tiny House Design © 2010 Tiny House Design. All Rights Reserved.