Students living off the grid

That was a great, if brief, article on low cost, low impact living.

I've long been a fan of the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, and Jay Scafer, the founder.

There's a lot of interest in building small, highly efficient homes which don't need large capital and maintenance investment.

Thanks for posting the article link.
 
That is really inspiring, though i'm not sure my college would spring for it. Maybe an under-the-radar operation in the woods is in order :D
 
I lived for a couplke years in a sub 100 sq. ft. trappers cabin. Much easier to heat in the winter.

Ther once was a book titled "Tiny Houses" you should check out.

The propane heater inside is a very bad idea. Deaths with those things due to carbon monoxide poisoning are high. They also have a tendency to catch fire.
 
I've always wanted one of those tiny houses.

I was looking at getting a yurt -- even have them made to stand Cat 3 hurricane winds. Had a nice little plot of land chosen that had just gone up for sale -- all woods -- and just as we were about to close, the company clear cut the damn thing, all 20 acres.

I told them I specifically wanted a wood lot, so no deal. What a pisser.
 
I have been thinking about a teardrop camper. There are some super nice models available and you can pull it with a car. Chris
 
I have some pals who live in a Yurt.

I had a friend who used to live in a Tipi and one in a bus.

I never understood why one or 2 people need a huge house.

The sad part is that in most places small houses aren't available or at least not well known.
 
Very cool Sharp Eye. :thumbup: Thanks for posting the link. Bushman... Those treepods look pretty sweet as well.

Jeff
 
Good stuff guys, always wanted a little cabin in the woods and this year it will happen!!!

My 90 year old great aunt left me 90,000 last year and knowing myself I wanted to use the money before I whittled it away. Paid off my Toyota, half the credit card and 74,500 on the 10 acres. I wanted a lasting legacy with the money, just got married on November 7th and kid's in a couple years. I would have kicked myself for life if I wasted it away with nothing to show except regrets and recycled beer.

I am building a 10x12 cabin/shack this spring on the 10 acres we bought last year in the caribou about 5hrs north of Vancouver right across the road from Bridge lake.
Could not afford lakeshore but we have views of the lake and a seasonal creek. Caught 2 lake trout around 10lb in the spring on flyrod's!

The dump a half hour down the road was a recycling bonanza. There is a lot of waterfront properties that have been recently sold and the new owners haul everything out to the dump or as the locals call it The Interlakes Shopping Mall
We found 47 eight to 10 ft 2x4, some larger, 4 decent 4x8 sheets of plywood and enough vinyl siding to clad the entire shack in really good condition. A fisher double door wood stove in good condition-it is worth a few 100$, 2 coats of engine paint and it looks sharp. It is all tarped for the spring.

We don't have a ton of cash and I am trying my best to gather cheap or free materials.

Never built one before but this fall I levelled the area saving the topsoil and hauled a few tons of small sized rock from the ditch/quarry down the road. about 15 trips with the toyota. We put it down and stacked/leveled about a foot packed with some pea(free)gravel I scraped off the road, good drainage and foundation I hope.

Any links or ideas for small structures and off the grid would be appreciated. There is no power, well etc. I did buy 2coleman 60 watt solar panel kit's from costco before the cash ran out, I really hope they will work well.

I am not a carpenter to say the least but I am giving it a go.

Hope this was not a highjack but this thread is relevant to my plans.

regards
 
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I am digging this thread. Keep the cool alternative houses coming! Please! (congrats Brad!).
 
this is a project ive been wanting to accomplish for awhile... www.hexayurt.com you can always mess with the dimensions but its a great start...it might be helpful for you brad..

Bushman5 they gotta keep up with the jones'
 
Brad "the butcher";7694595 said:
Good stuff guys, always wanted a little cabin in the woods and this year it will happen!!!
Click to expand...

Congrats! You'll have a lot of fun with that project. :thumbup:

Jeff
 
thanks for the hexayurt link mcjhrobinson that is really cool.

How do you think it would stand up to a northern snowy winter if built with plywood and insulated?
Would you put a woodstove in the center with the pipe straight up?
you have my head spinning with idea's

you have some good threads Bushman5 and this one is a winner!
anyone else????
 
^ SharpEye is the thread OP :)


I built a "hexayurt" style shelter about 6 years ago for winter camping. I used 4 x 8 corrugated plastic board and recycled foil insulation from water heaters, and duct tape to hold it together. I stood the corrugate on end, duct taped together, and build a shelter big enough for two plus gear. Lined it with the reflexite foil and roofed it shanty roof style (flat, sloped). A a single candle would keep the interior temps at around 25 celcuis, as well as keep it VERY bright inside as all the light reflects back.

one could, if they REALLY wanted insulation.......adhere 1 - 2" pink hard insulation board next to the outer wall, then cover the insulation board with Reflexite water heater foil ......
 
Brad. Ask around at construction sites. My uncle is a contractor In northern BC/Gulf Islands and they Always bring in more Supplies than they need. They always just throw the stuff out. Also you could ask a local contractor to add to his orders to cut down on shipping and prices of materials. Northern contractors like my uncle will do what they can to help out.
 
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