Tiny House Blog
/With the world turning upside down where do tiny houses fit in? Two introspective articles in this month’s issue may not necessarily answer the question but will lend a little clarification.
In her article, “Options, Not Answers”, Emily Gerde states the following:
It seems a bit silly to talk about tiny homes when our world has been turned upside down, but tiny homes are more relevant now than ever. People have lost their jobs, their homes, and their stability. This makes a smaller, more attainable home a good option. There are so many ways the tiny home industry can shake out in the end.
Laura LaVoie talks about the other side of life in tiny houses in her article, “Why the Tiny House Movement Isn’t a Failure”. She discusses life changes and when it is time to move onto a different situation. Laura states:
It seems ridiculous to assume that someone needs to stay in their tiny house forever just because they live in it now. People change. Life circumstances change. Places change. Needs change. And you know what, that is not only okay but it should be encouraged and embraced. But what people do come out of the tiny house movement with is a new way of thinking.
Featured Articles
An Unconventional Path
How does the tiny house lifestyle feed into one that focuses on living a more prepared, self-sufficient, and intentional life? And where does ballroom dancing fit it?Why The Tiny House Movement Isn’t A Failure
Just because someone moves out of their tiny house doesn’t mean that the tiny house movement is a failure.Options, Not Answers
Living in a tiny house. Easy enough. But what kind of tiny house and how is that viable for the long term? Emily Gerde explores the future of real tiny house living.The Good, The Bad and The Tiny
Hannah Cole walks us through her and her boyfriend’s epic journey from homeless and freezing in a truck to the land of contentment in a tiny house.B-Hotel Is The New Campervan
Living in a bus is a feeling of freedom, a limitless adventure, and a real connection with nature.
Purchase PDF Issue 90 HERE
A few pages from Tiny House Magazine below.
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Full Article :
It seems a bit silly to talk about tiny homes when our world has been turned upside down, but tiny homes are more relevant now than ever. People have lost their jobs, their homes, their stability which makes a smaller more attainable home a good option. There are so many ways the tiny home industry can shake out in the end. Let’s discuss some avenues.
TINY HOMES ON WHEELS
Living in a tiny home on wheels during this chaotic time has me feeling pretty secure about my options. Knowing that I can just pick up and leave if need be certainly has its benefits, especially with the polarizing actions happening state to state. Most moveable tiny homes are made with wood or steel framing and are basically a regular house above the trailer. Meaning they are heavy and tricky to move. This being said we have very much enjoyed living the best of both worlds. The option to move quickly, and the regular comforts of home. Tiny homes on wheels are still in a limbo of being part-time or full-time dwellings depending on the city. We are allowed full time in the mobile home park in Hayden, Colorado, but we were only allowed for 6 months at the local RV parks. This didn’t work for us because we want a garden, consistent jobs, friends for our kids, sports programs, etc. For us, tiny house living was more about spending our money and time on the activities we enjoy rather than being able to travel with it. If you stay under around 20 feet travel is still very possible and you are doing so in luxury. Now more than ever we need tiny home communities that offer full and part-time residency. Some options are taking over an RV park and asking for full-time dwelling variance, creating a planned unit development, taking over a mobile home park, or finding land with no zoning restrictions. (I am sure there are more, but these are the ones I am aware of). I have a vision of a sustained, toxin-free tiny house community with community gardens, shared livestock, native plants, bees, and ample places to exercise and explore. Tiny home communities can offer that opportunity to create a place where people can thrive by making each one unique and customized for those involved.
MODULAR/MANUFACTURED HOMES
There is a rising number of people wanting tiny homes that are still tiny but exceed the 400 square foot definition. Some people have large families, hobbies, pets, jobs that require a little more space while still being in the minimalist mindset. The hard part is that it is very difficult as a business to be under the HUD manufactured home guidelines unless you are a big operation. This leads to cookie-cutter homes, shortcuts to save money, lower-quality materials, and fewer options for customization. Obviously this isn’t always the case, but the huge overhead cost means something has to give and it’s usually the quality of materials. How can we fix this? Many small home companies and enthusiasts are working on this right now. Trying to create a path that is similar to the tiny house movement (tiny house on wheels under 400 square feet) that still allows for self builds and customization. If you have some ideas start sharing!!! I know many people are excited about new housing options in this area.
SKOOLIES AND VANS
These two movements have really taken off! Rightfully so! As the world gets smaller and more connected, as more online jobs are available; people are seeking adventure and freedom. What better way to do that than in a custom bus or van? I love these movements as they offer true mobility. But there again places to stay can be tricky. Vans are a bit easier as you can just hang at people’s houses for a bit, but you often don’t have all the luxuries of the bus as far as holding tanks, toilets, water etc. I am amazed how far van life has come, however, as many creatives are squeezing every necessity into a tiny space. Skoolie life is great but they are not as welcome in most places! More reason for those creating tiny home communities to be sure they wrote in that skoolies and vans are allowed as well. Skoolies have a special place in my heart because it’s the epitome of repurposing something that otherwise would just sit to rot. I can only imagine how many buses are retired and just sitting there deteriorating.
THE FUTURE
It is expanding into new, yet old territories. There is much debate as many feel tiny houses on wheels are just glorified RVs. Others have been living in a mobile home for years saying they are the original tiny home. And yet others saying anything over 400 square feet isn’t a tiny home. I hear all of you. Perhaps the answer is about choices. The choice to live in a well built affordable house that fits your needs. Maybe it’s about getting our local Officials to see that we are no longer in the 1950s where every house and yard must look the same to be beautiful. Maybe we need to remove our conditioning and honor everyone’s right to live in a safe place in the dwelling of their choice. It’s not really about having the answers at this point. It’s about being open to the possibilities.