Micro Housing

[dpalme]

Anyone ever consider it? I've talked it over with m'lady and I think we may do it in the future if we can find some cheap land. It looks to be a decent way to wiggle your way out of the debt slave system.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qghZ2ao7GKM" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qghZ2ao7GKM</a>

[JustSayNoToStatism]

I have definitely considered it.

Not sure if I would build it myself though. The advantage would be knowing how everything works, and how to fix it all. For long term housing I'm thinking small, efficient, affordable, and sustainable. Cheap enough that I could keep it even if I became very poor. I actually prefer smaller living spaces, because you don't lose things, it forces you to be cleaner, it keeps you from becoming a pack rat, and it's cheap to maintain comfortable temperatures. <random thought>I also want to have a staircase going onto a nearly flat roof where I can grow a vegetable garden.</random thought>

[Syock]

I actually intend to do this, but with a different approach.  I plan on living on a sail boat.  It is tiny, as is that house.  There is of course a huge range of prices for boats, including cheap ones. 

I have lived in a relatively small cheep house before and while the price was right, the local regulations left me completely disillusioned.  I want a boat so I can easily leave if I find the situation unacceptable. 

If I were to build a house, it would be something like a hobbit house, to get the advantage of natural heating and cooling.  There are some insulation methods you can pair with that to keep it very efficient, assuming you like the ground temperature where you are. 

[Owen Kellogg]

I'm currently running a "feasibility study" to test this type of living:



The cabin was a pre-fab, but every other feature I installed myself - the solar power system (about 500 watts), water storage, shower, on-demand water heater and other luxuries.  So far, I've discovered that off-grid/under the radar living is completely do-able.  I'll continue this experiment for the next couple of years, then I'll obtain permanent land and build something a little bigger.

That's about all the details I have time to give now.  I intend to share a more detailed write-up as soon as I get time - if members here are interested.

The video in the first post was my inspiration when I saw it a few years ago.  There's plenty of off-grid forums on the 'net to give more how-to info to get you started.

[Seth King]

I'm currently running a "feasibility study" to test this type of living:



The cabin was a pre-fab, but every other feature I installed myself - the solar power system (about 500 watts), water storage, shower, on-demand water heater and other luxuries.  So far, I've discovered that off-grid/under the radar living is completely do-able.  I'll continue this experiment for the next couple of years, then I'll obtain permanent land and build something a little bigger.

That's about all the details I have time to give now.  I intend to share a more detailed write-up as soon as I get time - if members here are interested.

The video in the first post was my inspiration when I saw it a few years ago.  There's plenty of off-grid forums on the 'net to give more how-to info to get you started.

That's badass! I would definitely like to learn more.

[braindead0]

This guy has interesting plans

http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/pages/plans

[dpalme]

This guy has interesting plans

http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/pages/plans

That guy's badass. If you guys are looking for funky build plans, check out the book Humble Homes, Simple Shacks by Derek Deidrickson (I'm sure I butchered the spelling). He also hosts the youtube show Tiny Yellow House.

[Owen Kellogg]

This guy has interesting plans

http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/pages/plans

That guy's badass. If you guys are looking for funky build plans, check out the book Humble Homes, Simple Shacks by Derek Deidrickson (I'm sure I butchered the spelling). He also hosts the youtube show Tiny Yellow House.

Yeah, that's a great youtube channel.  I loved his tour of Walden Pond.  Thoreau is my hero.  I plan to make a "pilgrimage" to Walden sometime soon.

I'm thoroughly convinced that anyone can live off the grid and under the radar.  If I can figure this stuff out, anyone can.  I'm a welder by trade, but in the past year, I've learned basic plumbing, electrical, efficient solar power, gardening and raising small animals, as well as basic carpentry that I plan to put to full use on my next cabin project.  All you need is the will to learn and the determination to put your knowledge into action.