Category: Resources

Permaculture – Aquaculture & Rainwater Collection

Posted on

We’re honored to bring you this guest blog from Tiny SMART House owner and founder – the man, the myth, the legend, Nathan Watson. 

Intro to Permaculture

Everyone has heard the term “Permaculture.” But what is it? The short answer is that it is the utilization of local resources to benefit the local community. Semantics aside, it’s the philosophy of making do with what you have on hand. When there is a surplus, it is redistributed for the greatest benefit to the land and people. Everything has connections that can be utilized. For me permaculture is the process of finding better ways to live. Ingenuity is the corner stone.  

With the resurgence of sustainable living, there seems, to me, to be too much information out there. There are   certificate courses available if you are so inclined, but personally I have a more casual outlook on permaculture itself. How do we start the transition to sustainable living? What are some of the things I, as an individual, can do with limited resources? Let’s jump into a few ideas that will reduce negative input and/or create positive output, preferably, both. Once you embark on the road to sustainability, your life will become your project. More than that though, “You” become the project. After all, you are the most important member of the system you live in. You can have a good impact, simply by moving away from conventional ideas. 

Aquaculture

Gray water can be used to support a small wetland, which will remove some toxins, before being used to water plants. A small wetland will attract wildlife and support its own communities. With some creativity you can add a lot of diversity to your space. Just by using water that is leaving the system, the system can be enriched.  

Rainwater collection 

When we think of harvesting rain, a lot of people imagine gutters, barrels and plumbing. I imagine a system where everything is used to benefit the project. I think of runoff management. The idea is to add as much of your excess rain water to your groundwater aquifer as possible. By using divots and berms it is possible to slow the water down enough to allow it to soak into the earth while moving it to a place it was be stored or used. This concept was used in Chile’ while I was volunteering there. The cabin had an old hand dug well that was always dirty and not very secure. There was an elaborate rain water collection system put in that never worked right. The well was used to water fruit trees and a garden. As the area developed, the water table got lower and lower. The area is in southern Chile and has weather similar to the Puget Sound. Just looking at it, you could see the water was not saturating and therefore contributing to the lowered water table. By using a series of tiny connected ponds lined with vegetation,  water is be allowed to return to the ground. As a single project, the impact is minimal, but allowing nature to help nature is the first objective. Stopping run off preserves top soil and maximizes a natural resource. 

Another idea is to use rain to generate power. First thought is electricity. But, there is kinetic energy also. Water can be used to pump water up hill, providing there is a surplus. Any surplus should be used to sustain the whole. Tanks don’t have to be big plastic eyesores. They can be integrated into buildings, covered in wood, rock, plants and turned back into usable space. I like the idea of a second story fort or patio myself. They can be put in the ground, but then you need to pump it back up. If you live on a hill, gravity becomes more of a resource, allowing the tanks to be elevated, but still intergraded with the landscape. Little generators can be installed on your gutters. Once again, this is a brave new frontier with lots of possibilities. Modern technology is ready for the next leap, even if it is back to old ideas. 

Permaculture- Old Tech with Modern Materials

Posted on

Intro to permaculture

Everyone has heard the term “Permaculture.” But what is it? The short answer is that it is the utilization of local resources to benefit the local community. Semantics aside, it’s the philosophy of making do with what you have on hand. When there is a surplus, it is redistributed for the greatest benefit to the land and people. Everything has connections that can be utilized. For me permaculture is the process of finding better ways to live. Ingenuity is the corner stone.  

With the resurgence of sustainable living, there seems, to me, to be too much information out there. There are certificate courses available if you are so inclined, but personally I have a more casual outlook on permaculture itself. How do we start the transition to sustainable living? What are some of the things I, as an individual, can do with limited resources? Let’s jump into a few ideas that will reduce negative input and/or create positive output, preferably, both. Once you embark on the road to sustainability, your life will become your project. More than that though, “You” become the project. After all, you are the most important member of the system you live in. You can have a good impact, simply by moving away from conventional ideas. 

Make use of old technology with modern materials 

A hay box can save you a lot of propane. In the days of yore, a wooden box was half filled with straw, then a boiling pot of food placed on that and then the whole mess was covered in more straw. The insulating properties of the straw are used to extend the cooking time without more input. In Chile, we made one using spray foam. I got the pot boiling, filled it with meat and veggies and put it in the box before I went to sleep. Not only was everything cooked, there was no need to worry about burning and it was still too hot to eat the next morning. My wife had used this same idea when we were backpacking. She would boil water, add rice and then wrap the pot in a towel and place it in a sleeping bag.  

Thermal mass. Collect whatever heat possible for use later. Stone mantels do more than look nice. They collect heat and slowly release it. A concrete slab in the sun can warm a room long into the night. Water can be used to store heat energy. The sun can heat water and insulated storage can minimize the heat loss. In Peru’s famous Sacred Valley this idea is used on a large scale for agriculture. The terraces are built in a way to minimize frost damage and conserve water. On a scale we can use, water can be heated during the day and used to heat greenhouses or homes at night. The possibilities are endless. Find things that will work for your situation, modify them, improve them, share them. 

Permaculture- Resource Management

Posted on

Intro to permaculture

Everyone has heard the term “Permaculture.” But what is it? The short answer is that it is the utilization of local resources to benefit the local community. Semantics aside, it’s the philosophy of making do with what you have on hand. When there is a surplus, it is redistributed for the greatest benefit to the land and people. Everything has connections that can be utilized. For me permaculture is the process of finding better ways to live. Ingenuity is the corner stone.  

With the resurgence of sustainable living, there seems, to me, to be too much information out there. There are certificate courses available if you are so inclined, but personally I have a more casual outlook on permaculture itself. How do we start the transition to sustainable living? What are some of the things I, as an individual, can do with limited resources? Let’s jump into a few ideas that will reduce negative input and/or create positive output, preferably, both. Once you embark on the road to sustainability, your life will become your project. More than that though, “You” become the project. After all, you are the most important member of the system you live in. You can have a good impact, simply by moving away from conventional ideas. 

Resource management 

The first things that can be done around the house are simple. Use less of everything, reuse anything you can and some things may be eliminated entirely. I am not preaching austerity or some hardline ways to do things. I am sharing something I believe to be… simply a better way to live. Everything should be used to benefit the whole system. It is hard to talk about one thing in permaculture without all the rest. That is the main idea, everything is connected. As our environments get healthier, we do too. More than that though, it is an amazing feeling to see little changes starting chains of events for a positive effect. As we start living within the system, this becomes obvious. As the designers of these systems, everything starts at home, working its way out of the system.  

First things first. Use less energy. As we learn to reduce our consumption, it becomes easier to generate the energy on site, and more affordable. Reducing the size of the home, reduces the energy needed to power it. Using reclaimed material, lessens the impact of construction. With modern technology, efficiency not only becomes easier, it just makes sense. 

More and more people are downsizing. They are realizing they aren’t finding contentment in the standard model. There will always be the Jones’ striving toward unattainable goals. Then there is Us. The people who believe life should be simpler. Cookie-cutter McMansions are just too cumbersome. Old homes, while they have more character and are generally better built, eventually need to be rebuilt, remodeled and updated, are less insulated and more drafty Plus, you still have all the normal problems that come with owning a home. Living in a small space requires less of everything. Think about it. Less paint, less roof, less energy, less furniture, the list goes on and on. When you save money on these things, you can reallocate those resources to projects that make your life more meaningful.  

Finding ways to reuse material may seem a bit hokie, but they add instant history to new construction. While you may not want to use old windows in your home, especially if you live in an extreme environment, they can be used for mudrooms and porches, greenhouses and cold boxes and as wind walls, where we don’t want to obstruct the view. My favorite things to reuse are fixtures and cabinetry. Old wood can be used for shelving, planters, benches and more. I was at someone’s house and they had this shelf thing they had made while they were camping. The entire thing was built with stuff from an old collapsed shed. It was ugly, but we talked and laughed about it, spawning stories about ugly furniture for hours.  

I have lived off the grid, down a trail and up a mountain. Everything that was needed had to be hauled in. Gas for the generators and propane for cooking were essential. Since I wanted to conserve these resources, I reused them. Not literally, but none the less, I used every bit I could. I charged batteries any time the generator was on. I baked for days instead of meals. I did anything that needed power every time it was on. It makes sense to only pre-heat the oven once and make sure it is as full as possible. Shorter showers or better yet, don’t shower alone. Wood stoves can be used outside the home and still heat the house and water. Sunrooms use the sun to collect heat. Trees provide shade and material for composting, not to mention food for creatures. Grey water can be used to cool a slab and the same lines that heat the house can be used to cool it.  

Real Estate for Tiny Houses, Episode 2: Residential

Posted on

Foundation-ready tiny homes

If there is already a structure on the property, the tiny house is considered an additional dwelling unit, otherwise known as an ADU. If the tiny house will be the only house on the property, it’s considered a prefabricated home. Both are built on site at Tiny SMART House and transported to their final destinations, where they are attached to a foundation and connected to utilities.

These types of tiny house can be built to suit the regulations for your specific property. This refers to the zoning. Each location will have its own set of rules, so if you already own land (or have something in mind) we can help pinpoint and translate the requirements for your spot once you’ve chosen us as your builder.

As for building codes, our foundation ready houses are built to the applicable residential building code that dictates how the house is built, including fire and life safety precautions, etc. We have built homes for Oregon, Washington, California and other exotic places. We use a program called SketchUp for our modeling and floor plans so that our clients (local or otherwise) can see a “3D” version of their house coming together.

If you happen to be looking for property on the Oregon coast or Willamette Valley, let us know and we can connect you with our contacts who have experience in tiny house real estate!

Tiny House Affordability, Episode 2: Nationwide

Posted on

opening

People choose to go tiny for many different reasons. Some people are attracted to the uniqueness and customization of each home. Others prioritize sustainability, eco-friendly housing and a commitment to living responsibly. We also come across many clients who are intrigued by the notion of simple living – less stuff generally equates to less stress and more time for the things that matter most. Our Build-It-Yourself’ers report being motivated by the gratification that comes with learning to build and literally (as well as metaphorically) creating a home for themselves. There’s much less to maintain, and if anything goes wrong they can likely fix it because they built it! Ultimately, the tiny house appeal is usually a combination of these factors, and almost always includes one influential benefit: affordability.

No matter what state you live in, it’s safe to say that purchasing a tiny house over a traditional house will save you a great deal of money. The exact amount you will save varies based on a variety of factors, including the average closing costs and real estate market in your area.

nationwide analysis

On the last episode we summarized some areas where the housing crisis is exceptionally severe. For a more general calculation of affordability, we can examine some statistics on the national averages.

We’ll begin with some figures from Zillow’s reports, as they specialize in the U.S. housing market and therefore have the ability to collect a plethora of real and reliable data. According to their 2018 that the current median home value in the United States is $210,200. It also states that home values have gone up 7.6% over the past year and predicts that next year they will rise and additional 3.5%. The median list price per square foot in the United States is $141. Additionally, the median price of homes currently listed in the United States is $261,500 while the median price of homes that sold is $232,300. The median rent price is not much more affordable, at $1,600.

HomeAdvisor is another great resource for dependable data. Their website states that custom homes can start at $350,000 – $1.5 million+. We fully believe in the value of prioritizing customization over mass appeal or resale value; however, if you’re looking to buy a traditional custom home, it will cost you. Tiny houses can feature the same special, unique features without the hefty price tag, but we’ll get back to that later.

Tiny living doesn’t make sense for absolutely everyone, and we totally understand and embrace that. At the same time, the average square footage is excessive for most of us and most of the space ends up going unused. As you can see below, only 22% of new construction in 2016 was less than 1,800 square feet. It’s only continued to increase since that time, and unfortunately this “bigger is better” American mindset has many people trapped struggling to pay rent or mortgages simply because they’ve been conditioned to believe that “success” is defined by belongings. Our place is to introduce people to another potential lifestyle and template for success and happiness.

The Tiny house alternative

Our tiny houses start at just $45,000, which is an incredibly affordable alternative especially when you consider that each one is completely custom and built from all new construction. Think of it this way:

Custom NEW Home: $350,000+
Standard Home: $232,300
RV: $122,715
Mobile Homes: (Most Basic) $30,000 – $70,00 | vs. | (Customized Models) $100,000
Tiny House: Averages $70,000

Below are some kind words from HomeAdvisor about what they had to say on the matter.

“Custom construction allows you to create a home that meets your exact aesthetic and functionality needs. The unlimited options associated with custom homes make them costly both in terms of money and time. Additionally, custom builds will require the services of a residential architect. Hiring design professionals can range from 5 to 15 percent of your construction costs.

Estimating the cost of a custom home is difficult because of the wide range of options. Generally, custom homes cost between $100 and $400 per square foot. Location and materials will play a major role in the price of your custom home. Tiny homes are a popular alternative to larger custom homes. These downsized dwellings offer the personalization of custom homes without the price tag.”

Additionally, a smaller footprint means less money spent on utilities, household maintenance, furniture and “stuff,” sewer, electrical, property taxes (RV-style) and even insurance premiums. So what are we waiting for?!