I've had a few people contact me recently, asking my advice on their tiny house aspirations. I love talking tiny and sharing what I know; that's why we have this blog. I want to illuminate the path to more sustainable living any way I can. But I also find myself writing the same message again and again, sending the same links to online resources, mentioning the same workshops, conferences and books, recommending the same newsletters and magazines.
So here's the start on a list of resources I turned to when we were getting started. It's not going to be exhaustive—just what I think of first. I'll post again on other helpful resources, but today's resource is tiny house blogs. Find free plans, read "lessons learned," get ideas for space savers, learn the ropes of composting, read the pros and cons of lofted beds and so on and on and on.
So here's the start on a list of resources I turned to when we were getting started. It's not going to be exhaustive—just what I think of first. I'll post again on other helpful resources, but today's resource is tiny house blogs. Find free plans, read "lessons learned," get ideas for space savers, learn the ropes of composting, read the pros and cons of lofted beds and so on and on and on.
- Tiny House Build: Andrew and Gabriella Morrison designed and built their own fabulous tiny house. Recent blogs feature floor plan design, composting toilets and tiny house insurance. On the site, you can also get a free e-course, buy their house plans and sign up for one of their workshops. The Morrisons also post on the work they're doing to try to get building codes a little more tiny-friendly.
- The Tiny Life: Ryan Mitchell not only built the tiny house he lives in, he's built a tiny empire! He's written books/eBooks on tiny house electrical and zoning, retirement and reclaimed materials, as well as founding and running the annual Tiny House Conference. His blogs cover nuts and bolts (toilets, storage), lifestyle, resources and more. I like the variety—everything from specs on hot water heaters to big thoughts on how we spend our time.
- Tiny House, Giant Journey: Jenna Spesard and her partner made traveling the country towing a tiny house look like a breeze—so, if you're planning on moving around with your tiny, you won't find a better resource than some of her older blogs. These days, Jenna's house is parked, and she writes about tiny living and adventure travel. Some of the blogs that helped me in my tiny journey: her detailed materials/cost list and posts on biodegradable products.
- The Tiny House: Ethan Waldman's tiny house is beautiful. You'll want to look at pictures of it, but you'll also find a compendium of resources, building and product details, preparing a house for winter, and on and on. Ethan's also the author of Tiny House Decisions, which can take you through the process of going tiny step by step.
- The Tiny Project: Alek Lisefski reviews everything from toilets to trailers on his blog. Plus, you'll find building tips, finance ideas, two free e-books to get you started and an amazing list of tiny house resources. Alex is part of the Tiny House Collaborative, which offers workshops, and he sells complete plans for his mighty fine little house.