Vroom Vroom … Here I Come!

I have never really understood the desire to own a car. Roughly 25% of its value disappears the moment you drive it off the lot and in order to run it you are tied to a volatile energy source that is linked to pollution, health problems and wars. I do understand the need for vehicles. I love my auto-share programs (some things you just can’t bring home on a bike) and road trips are beautiful thing.

One of my goals in life was to not own a car until I was 40 years old and I have made decisions in order to protect that goal.

Deciding to buy land has made me need a car which I am good with. On June 4th I bought my very first car! 2 months before my 40th birthday but I am still declaring victory on my goal and am over the moon with my Honda Element!

Check out number 9 – Top 10 Lesbian Cars!

Posted by Live Small Think Big

Folk artist. Lifelong cyclist. Plant based. Zero Waste. Environmentalist. Lover.

Back to the beginning

I have hired an architect and have learnt that as much as I love my 3D model and my idea for small space living, I am not an architect. So back to the drawing board with the Ginger Shack plan.

The deck is out and a 10 X 10 concrete slab is in

The fireplace is out and a vented propane fireplace is in

The idea of not going over 14 feet is out and I am likely building a 18 foot tower and will be able to stretch out in any space I find myself in

My magical kitchen/stair area is out and I am awaiting to see the new option

The closet on the main floor is out

Here is to being flexible and to lucking out and finding a brilliant co-designer!!

Posted by Live Small Think Big

Folk artist. Lifelong cyclist. Plant based. Zero Waste. Environmentalist. Lover.

Realizing that I am small

and that my land is big and that Mother Nature even bigger.

The area in front of the tent is a complete mud pit with no hopes of drying up so 3 drains are going in, the ground has to be graded and 10 more large trees need to come down so more and more sunshine can pour in and the mosquitos breeding grounds can dry up.

The deck did not settle evenly and there is a 2 inch slope down to the one corner. If you ever drop anything at least you know where to start the searching. That will have to be fixed – thinking a car jack and a couple of patio slabs should do the trick but maybe not.

I won’t be building my little artist studio this year but I will be finishing one kick ass campground and starting the prep work for the Ginger Shack to be built the following summer.

After all these years I know that it is not about sticking to a time line but not losing sight of the end line.

Posted by Live Small Think Big

Folk artist. Lifelong cyclist. Plant based. Zero Waste. Environmentalist. Lover.

Persistence and Patience ….

Paid off!! I have landed my architect and could not have imagined one better!

He not only hit on my basic requirements; knowledgeable, interested in small space living, located in Canada, one I could afford, he is also politically and socially aware, a believer that moving towards renewable energy is the solution and loves cats (really loves them).

This bio on LinkedIn … Sole practitioner doing architectural design of various scales, as well as architectural renderings. No project too small or too weird.

This is one of his designs. I think we are going to have a good time building the Ginger Shack together.

My friend put me on to elance.com and I am so grateful he did!

I am over the moon. Thank you, thank you, thank you Universe and John!!

Posted by Live Small Think Big

Folk artist. Lifelong cyclist. Plant based. Zero Waste. Environmentalist. Lover.

Time to get 3D!

First there was the tape on the floor. I had to physically be in the space to have any idea of how to design the space. Once I felt like I had a grasp on the design I transferred everything over to grid paper and worked out the dimensions.

Final step – a 3D model!

As strange as this may sound this was the first time I realized how incredibly small my space is going to be. Once all the walls became real and had to attach to each other there was a ridiculously large closet on the main floor and an insanely big wood burning stove. I have taken a foot off the closest and have moved from the Grand Cook Stove to a much smaller wood burning stove.

View from the top … and space for Tigger!

Next step – will it stand the test of an architect/carpenter’s input…..

Posted by Live Small Think Big

Folk artist. Lifelong cyclist. Plant based. Zero Waste. Environmentalist. Lover.

Nailed it!

I found these rain barrels on Pinterest and have to say …. I think they turned out A-Ok!

Took all of 10 minutes to make.

Up on my land and hopefully they will be upright and full of water when I return.

Posted by Live Small Think Big

Folk artist. Lifelong cyclist. Plant based. Zero Waste. Environmentalist. Lover.

Burning down the house!

Heat. This is the biggest question right now.

Wood burning stoves are romantic and gorgeous but they also throw a lot of heat! The stove that I posted a while ago would basically melt my space once it was up and running at full capacity.

I looked propane heaters but the standard ones sold in Canada are for garages and well ventilated spaces. My homes it going to be well insulated and sealed to combat heat loss so this type of heat make me a little leery. There are also Catalytic Heaters found in RVs, but they are not CSA approved and infrared heaters are not allowed in living/sleeping spaces due to safety issues.

Thankfully I stumbled on the website LivingLightly and their post on Small Wood Stoves.

Looks like the Hobbit Small Cast Iron Stove is what I have been waiting for!

For more information on Small Wood Stoves click here.

Posted by Live Small Think Big

Folk artist. Lifelong cyclist. Plant based. Zero Waste. Environmentalist. Lover.

Reaching out

The layout is done and the tape has come off the floor. Next step, creating the blueprint to build off of.

From the beginning of this process I have never wanted to be the Building Foreman but I had to be the Architect! I love organizing space and making it work for me so this part of the journey had to be mine and mine alone. Originally I had a friend on board who was going to take over the construction side of things once I had the floor plan in place but life happened and that has changed. Thankfully there are hundreds of Tiny Home people out there so now I am on the search for my BluePrint person!

I have emailed these two guys …. so here’s hoping

Tiny Home Customs

Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses

Posted by Live Small Think Big

Folk artist. Lifelong cyclist. Plant based. Zero Waste. Environmentalist. Lover.

4 walls completed. 1 step closer.

First there was the tape on the floor. I needed to sit in my space to be able to come up with the floor plan. This helped a lot and I think I will be able to move about with a fair amount of grace in my 130 square feet.

The second step was to figure out what the actual measurements were going to be. I now have my rough outline completed, Thank You! grid paper.

The first page is the wall to your right once you have walk through the front door after that you are turning in a clockwise circle.

Welcome to The Ginger Shack

3D model coming next …

Posted by Live Small Think Big

Folk artist. Lifelong cyclist. Plant based. Zero Waste. Environmentalist. Lover.

BRUCE AT HOME DEPOT!

I finally went to a Home Depot to look around and this was in the first aisle that I turned down. Bruce is my last name.

I really have no idea what I am doing right now in the sense of the construction part. I own a glue gun and basic tools so I like that I am already a name in the world of construction!

Posted by Live Small Think Big

Folk artist. Lifelong cyclist. Plant based. Zero Waste. Environmentalist. Lover.

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