Rowan's Tiny Home

This Saturday at the Woodstock Library I will be giving a presentation on building and living tiny. I'm also looking forward to having conversations with residents about how we envision the various shapes and ways mindful living could be encouraged in our community. It all starts at 5pm. Hope to see you there! For more information visit:  http://www.woodstock.org

*UPDATE- to see recent changes made to the rainwater collection system see THIS post. It has been a long time posting because, well, Willow and I have just been enjoying living. Exiting yet another long and very cold winter, the house has stayed snug despite a cat door that has decided to stick in the open position during subzero evenings. This year I estimate that I used less than a cord of wood for heating, and found that temperatures rarely dropped below 60 degrees, even first thing in the morning.  I have received a few requests for more information on the plumbing so here you go.  As of yet, the shower is still not hooked up, so it is sponge bathing using a pitcher and water heated in a kettle on the stove and then mixed into a two gallon bucket of cold water. Laundry is done in small batches in a 5 gallon bucket with a plunger.  These two 'piglets' hold about 70 gallons combined. An insulated plywood box then covers the sand filled area. The tank...

Spring is here and I have been celebrating by not being on the computer, so apologies for the lack of updates. While there is still much to do on the house, I have been enjoying the other aspects of life- the reasons why building the house was so appealing in the first place. Spring began with my trying my hand at sugaring. Tree identification during winter turned out to be not as easy as I originally thought, and accidentally tapped some ash (although no sap, so the harvest was safe- and yes, please enjoy the pun). I did ultimately find 3 new trees, and I think a few more for next year. I went low tech with a fire pit out back this year, although I think I'll try making a barrel stove for next year since my teaching schedule conflicted some with the needs of the sap boiling process. Still, was able to produce almost a gallon of syrup this year, and had a reason to enjoy the brisk beginnings of spring outdoors. The harvest after one was already given away. The ga...

This winter has certainly been the one to put the house through its cold weather tests. I am very happy to report that it has passed with flying colors, and has proven to be more comfortable than some of the apartments I have lived in. I wouldn't even consider the house as fully winterized as of yet (skirting was not completed, some of the older windows still need storm window), but if it could make it through these past few months without a hitch, than I am certainly not worried about future winters.  The cold, unfortunately, was the least of my worries this winter. On New Years Eve I found out that my cat, Willow, had Injection Site Sarcoma, an aggressive tumor cause by one of her previous inoculations. Lesson learned... cats should get injections only in their hind leg, where the surgery is more apt to get all of the tumor, or in the tail, which won't be missed if needed to be removed. The only option was radical surgery which required amputation of her front left leg. ...

I went with a great suggestion my brother gave me, which was to use tin ceiling panels as the heat shield for the stove, although it was a little flimsy, and so had to back with a sheet of aluminum. The stove is sitting on a floating steel shelf, so that wood and newspaper can fit underneath. After a few nights of unbearable heat and open windows, I've gotten used to the routine. On sunny days, though, the sunlight through the windows is enough to heat the whole house. I have yet to see my breath when waking up or coming back from work. Maybe it won't be the same in February, but this little stove has been doing more than I had ever hoped. Under-counter shelving next to the stove. The trunk I have been lugging around with me for over 7 years finally has a home. It slides out from under the bookcase and then the front flips open to reveal the drawers.  I was actually surprised how simple in was to make these shelves. Just ran vertical, and then diagonal cuts o...

The lights are on and the house is officially off-grid, which meant I could finally take the extension cord out of the living room window. Almost 2 months in, and no major issues as of yet. There are still wires to be run, lights and switches to install, and the more detailed monitoring system still needs to be installed. Still, there is an outlet and 2 lights, which means I am set for winter. Anything else is bonus. I have also started to turn off my fridge. Although I feel like the system could handle it even after 4 cloudy days, I am using my fridge like an icebox, freezing soda bottles of water and ice packs outside at night. Works like a charm. Testing out the first AC outlet. Drilling out blank switch plates I was able to install dc switches.  I blew out the dimmer switch that came with this lamp when I tried to remove the transformer and rewire it for dc. I have another dimmer switch ordered, but for now there is the toggle one dangling from the bottom. ...