It’s the little things that go a long way

As you have read on many websites and blogs, there are a host of products and processes that you can integrate into your home or tiny house during its construction or remodeling to make it more Green. If you are a DIY person, a builder, or a person hiring a builder to build your home, large or tiny, there are choices you can make to be green.  However, Green is more than just low-VOC stains & chalks, insulation, and FSC certified lumber though - Green is an attitude, and a way of living.

If everyone changed a few small things they do every day, a big impact would be made on our environment and our planet. The following is a list of things that you could do to start living a more earth friendly and sustainable lifestyle.

1. Don’t print this article; instead, bookmark this page for future reference!
2. Bring your own bags to the grocery store.
3. Shop locally. Supporting your local retail establishments reduces pollution and the consumption of fossil fuels used by traveling.
4. Carpool, take public transportation, or ride your bicycle.
5. Purchase ENERGY STAR appliances.
6. Install a programmable thermostat.
7. Clean the coils on the back of your refrigerator for better efficiency.
8. Turn off any unused lights in your home.
9. Replace your inefficient windows with new double pane, Low-E insulated ones.
10. Do not recharge cell phones and electronic devices overnight. Most devices only require 1-2 hours to fully charge.
11. Take shorter showers and install low-flow showerheads.
12. Download electronic books online or get a library card.
13. Don’t let the faucet run while brushing your teeth.
14. Plant a tree.
15. Unplug electronic devices (TV’s, VCR’s, computers, etc.) when not in use or wire each outlet to a switch in the room to cut power to these devices. Many of your favorite household devices consume large amounts of electricity even when turned off.
16. Use environmentally friendly cleaners and detergents.
17. Use a clothesline instead of a dryer when possible.
18. Become a member of your local food co-op.
19. Install an inline water filter for your home in place of buying bottled water.
20. Carry your own reusable coffee mug or water bottle.
21. Use low-VOC latex paints and stains in all interior and exterior re-finishing applications.
22. Reduce junk mail by going to www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist.
23. Use shredded paper for packaging material.
24. If at all possible, try telecommuting.
25. Use the stairs instead of the elevator.
26. Check your tire pressure once a month to improve your gas mileage.
27. Print or write on both sides of the paper.
28. After using your oven, turn it off and leave the door open to help heat the room.
29. Write your congressman about your concerns.
30. Involve your children. Teaching them how to be more environmentally conscious from an early age will instill good habits.
31. Start your own compost pile.
32. Install motion sensors for exterior lighting.
33. Replace your paper coffee filters with a reusable filter.
34. Spread the word! Tell people about the Green changes you have made.
35. Pay your bills online and sign up to stop receiving paper statements in the mail.
36. Cancel your phone book delivery and look up numbers and addresses online.
37. Make sure roof and soffit vents are clean and free of debris.
38. Replace your standard light bulbs with CFL’s (compact fluorescent lamps).
39. Reuse paper, plastic, and Ziploc bags.
40. Use cloth napkins & dishtowels rather than paper.
41. Open your window shades In the winter to take advantage of the heat from the sun. Close shades in the summer to keep your house cool.
42. Practice “house flushing” during the summer instead of using the AC
43. Use houseplants to freshen the air in your home instead of air fresheners and sprays.
44. Buy rechargeable batteries.
45. If faced with the option to download computer software or be mailed a disc, choose the download and burn a copy to disc.
46. Replace your toilet with a low-flush or dual-flush toilet.
47. Keep your freezer full. The fuller it is, the less energy it takes to cool it.
48. Have regular maintenance performed on your vehicle to keep it running at its most efficient.
49. Buy in bulk to reduce packaging materials and trips to the store.
50. Get outside! It’s good for the body and mind.
51. Use your cruise control. Doing so increases your gas mileage.
52. Buy Fair Trade.
53. Buy organic food.
54. Cover pots to reduce the time and energy needed to boil water or heat food.
55. Plant a vegetable garden.
56. Donate! Whether it be your time, clothing, kids toys, furniture or food.
57. Don’t use pesticides.
58. Put an insulation blanket around your water heater
59. Check caulk around windows and doors annually to ensure good seal.
60. Drink shade-grown coffee.
61. Use ceiling fans to improve air circulation reduce heating and cooling costs.
62. Join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Visit www.localharvest.com for more information.
63. Plant drought-resistant or no-mow grass.
64. Recycle and buy recycled products.
65. Buy renewable energy by checking that little box on your utility bill.
66. Run only full loads in your dishwasher and washng machine.
67. Buy clothing made from sustainable or recycled materials.
68. Use cisterns or barrels to collect rainwater for watering shrubs, flowers, and plants.
69. Drive the speed limit; doing so increases your gas mileage.
70. Keep water heater set at 120 degrees or less.
71. Replace your HVAC filter on a regular basis to ensure peak efficiency.
72. Drink tap water instead of bottled water.
73. Order local entrees when available at restaurants.
74. Add your sugar and cream to your coffee cup first, then fill with coffee to eliminate the use of those wooden stirring sticks and plastic straws.
75. Live small

And let’s face the brutal facts.

Practicing and living green is for a better lifestyle for us and future generations. It is not about saving the planet as many claim. Planet Earth was here a long time before we arrived and will go on no matter what we do.  Living green responsibly is about our families, now and for future generations. So, learn to minimize your carbon footprint with a sustainable healthy lifestyle.

I fell in love with Carriage Houses when I lived in a tiny house off of an alley in South St Paul.   Years ago, there was a large influx of workers that moved into the area to work at the Stockyards and processing plants and this high demand for simple housing created an opportunity for folks to convert garages and add tiny houses to their backyards as an added source of income. It was a win-win for everyone and it was great place for me to live for over a year.

My carriage house, tiny house was just over 400 square feet. It had a small bath, kitchen area, living/dining area, a small bedroom, and minimal storage.

Have you ever wondered exactly what a “granny flat” is? Granny Flat is a term used primarily in Australia and Great Britain. It’s a small, private home that sits on the same property as a larger home. A granny flat is a small, detached residential structure or tiny house that shares the same lot as a single-family home.  A tiny house is self-contained, having its own kitchen, bathroom, & bedroom, and physically separate from an owners primary home.  Carriage Houses are typically limited in size to no more than 800 square feet of finished living space.  Carriage Houses have also been called ‘Detached Accessory Dwelling Units, Granny Flats, Mother-in-Law apartments, & Tiny Houses. We have built several granny flats over 2 car detached garages as mother-in-law apartments or nanny quarters.

Another advantage of a tiny house is that they frequently are sitting on a trailer and transportable, so they miss the additional property tax fees. Since Tiny Green Cabins and houses are transportable, you can take them wherever life takes you.

A granny flat is a dwelling unit that can be in the form of an upstairs apartment, a garage apartment, a tiny house, or a carriage house. This tiny house has its own entrance and they are growing in numbers and popularity.

The main advantage to having a granny flat, from the homeowner’s view point, is the potential for bringing in extra income from renting out the unit. Some homeowners view the additional space as a great way to create a living place for their teenage family members to hang out, or even for their elderly parents to live. The granny flat also makes a great guest house due do its privacy.

If you have aging parents, moving them into a granny flat on your property has great advantages. By having your parents living on your property, you will be able to check in with them on a regular basis to see how they are getting along. Since the granny flat living unit is a separate from the main home, your elderly parents will still have a place of their own with a kitchen, bath, living space, and bedroom. Granny Flats are another way of keeping families together.

Another great advantage of a granny flat is that the energy bills will be substantially lower in this smaller living space. Many elderly couples find that they must move out from their large, spacious homes as they often find it difficult to maintain a big house and property.  Granny Flats are another way of keeping families together.

Living in a granny flat can be the perfect answer for single people, young couples, or aging grandparents due to their features and pricing.

Now is a great time to create your own Granny Flat, Carriage House, or Tiny House.  Give us a call and let’s explore the possibilities.

I was told by a friend that all a man needed to be happy was a polebarn, an ice fishing pad/house and enough space for a pillow and his blanket. The ice fishing house/pad sounds very much like man cave, as they are termed in the last couple of years. So what is a man cave?

Definition;

A man cave (also sometimes mantuary) is a male sanctuary, such as a specially equipped garage, spare bedroom, media room, den, basement, or Tiny Green Cabin.

Purpose;

A man cave is loosely a male-only space to retreat to, watch sports matches, or play video games. According to psychiatrist and author Scott Haltzman, it is important for a man to have a place to call his own, referring to a male area to retreat to. Some psychologists claim that a man cave can provide refuge from stressful surroundings and be beneficial to marriage and committed relationships.

The Little Rascals had a Man Cave, except it was their club house; when I played Wild Wild West in my youth, my fort was my man cave; when my dad retreated to the garage to play with his car…that was his man cave; and now all those places have been elevated with the formal name – “Man Cave”

The Man Caves of today have high tech features, huge flat screen TV’s, bars that are fully stocked, and comfy seating for friends, internet hookups, and video games . In  man cave law, No man shall ever cancel plans with his buddies at the last minute. Exceptions: You win free tickets to the Super Bowl, Carmen Electra is unbuttoning your shirt, or in cases of death (your own). For more laws, click here

Triggered in part by the “Man Caves” series that airs on the DIY Network, men across America are daring to visualize something they’ve craved in the most primitive recesses of their brains for years: A place of their own.

It doesn’t matter whether the magic happens in a basement, a garage, an attic, a shed or a barn. What’s important is that the man of the house gets a refuge that’s tailored to his specific interests.

The Wildflower cabin is my Man Cave, as it is my place to think, talk with a friend or two via my cell, a place to relax, to read, and to feel safe. When I started living in the Wildflower Cabin, it was my proverbial doghouse and developed into finding out how to make the tiny cabin better. To that end, there have been thoughts for improvements, suggestions noted, and different designs contemplated. Since I built the Wildflower, there was already a lot of me built into the small cabin, so one could say I had a special attachment to it, it was my nest, my man cave.

Here are some pictures of man caves. One of them is mine. Which One? The  person to email me the right answer closest to the 27th email will receive a $50 gift certificate to Home Depot.

By definition from Wikipedia

Carpenter Gothic, also sometimes called Carpenter’s Gothic, and Rural Gothic, is a North American architectural style-designation for an application of Gothic Revival architectural detailing and picturesque massing applied to wooden structures built by house-carpenters. The abundance of North American timber and the carpenter-built vernacular architectures based upon it made a picturesque improvisation upon Gothic a natural evolution. Carpenter Gothic improvises upon features that were carved in stone in authentic Gothic architecture, whether original or in more scholarly revival styles; however, in the absence of the restraining influence of genuine Gothic structures, the style was freed to improvise and emphasize charm and quaintness rather than fidelity to received models.

We did mention that possibility in the previous post, and Tiny Green Cabins has a preliminary plan for a Carpenter Gothic cabin.

The history of the Carpenter Gothic style started in the early 1800’s via tents, and most notably the Methodists camp-meeting grounds. The largest of these camp meeting grounds was at Martha’s Vineyards off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. These tents evolved into canvas topped, wood framed, wood sided, and candle lit structures that glowed in the night. They are an interesting link to Carpenter Gothic designs and homes of the later 1800’s.

As time progressed, people dressed up the front of the canvas roofs by designing unique cutouts in the front flaps and adding carvings to the front to stand out from each other. The sides and rear remained simple and plain. So, in a nutshell, Carpenter Gothic homes have carved and unique decorative moldings/features on the front and few, if any, on the sides and rear.

This style works well on a Tiny Green Cabin as one could design their cabin with their own unique personal style and ideas without breaking the bank. Just think of the possibilities that your mind could play with. Are you a hermit - then play around with the door and other features, a person that loves moose - then create a moose motif, so many possibilities…..

Call Tiny Green Cabins TODAY to start your personal design of your own tiny house!

What are Tiny Houses? The Tiny House Movement? Tiny Living?

Simply put it is a social movement where people are downsizing the space that they live in. The typical American home is around 2600 square feet, while the typical small or tiny house is around 400 square feet. Tiny Houses come in all shapes, sizes and forms but they focus on smaller spaces, simplified living, and sometimes living off the grid.

People are joining this movement for many reasons, but the most popular reasons are because of environmental concerns, financial concerns, seeking more time, health concerns, freedom and making a statement.

I lived in the Wildflower Cabin/Tiny House of 120 square feet plus loft for 8 months and I enjoyed it. Before that, I lived in a tiny house of 400 square feet, and to put a perspective on that, think of a standard 2 car garage, my carriage house was slightly smaller. Cleaning, utilities, and upkeep is minimal and opens up your time to do some many different things. It gave me freedom to do something else besides maintaining a larger home in both time and money.

Another benefit of tiny house living is that it is easy to add curb appeal of Country/Gothic/Victorian details without breaking the bank. Just think of your possibilities……Carpenter Gothic…..

I am remembering a story – about baseball:

I belonged to the Flying Eagles and as each summer approached, we looked forward to baseball. Besides building minnow traps, minnow boxes, bird houses, a bus shelter, small forts, and chicken coops, I liked playing baseball.

The season of 1966, we had a walk-on to our team who lived in Marinette, WI, 20 miles away from our club. He joined our 4H club to play ball as a pitcher. Gary loved baseball and loved to pitch sidearm. Watching him wind up to deliver the pitch told you instantly that his pitches would sizzle across the plate! Everyone on the team tried catching for him, and everyone decided they would rather try a different position. I saw this as an opportunity to play ball and be an important part of the team, so I just needed to learn to catch for Gary. Could I do it?

After several games of practice, it became easier to catch for him, except that a fielder’s glove did not soften the impact of the baseball hitting my hand – more padding was required. My dad said he would loan me a few dollars, so I purchased a good catcher’s mitt, with lots of padding. As each evening practice and Sunday game went by, catching became easier and more fun. I was involved in every play, and was never bored – and I did not need to run to centerfield and back all the time. By the 3rd game, my new mitt was charred black from where the ball hit the pocket, and no one cared to take my position.

We won the league and Gary made it to All Stars for the county, and because no one else in the rest of the county would catch for him, I was named as All Star catcher! While I was good, my goal/intention was to be part of the team, play ball, and make a worthwhile contribution. It was a win-win for everyone.

That is a trait I still use to this day: find the niche where I can be part of the team, have fun, and make a worthwhile contribution. Tiny Green Cabins are a part of that niche and philosophy. Each cabin and shed is fun to build, and I view the building process as being part of the team of the buyer and myself, and we are making a worthwhile contribution to sustainability and our planet.

We also contribute 10% of our profits to nonprofit organizations or other humanitarian efforts. These nonprofits have to have a history of doing community service projects. Recently, Tiny Green Cabins contributed funds to help build a grade school in Cambodia, Habitat for Humanity, and Appalachian Service Project.

Tiny Green Cabins does Sheds

Tiny Green Cabins Sheds are built with the same exacting care as a Tiny Green Cabin. They are built to sit nested on the ground in your backyard or lake lot. They come unfinished on the interior without electrical so the “do it yourself” person can finish at their own pace and choice of material.

Size is 8×10

This shed sells for $4,999.00

Upon landing, say at Plimouth Rock, the people debarked from the boat and set up communal areas, and eventually small places, such as cabins and what we would call tiny, primitive log houses. The folks that did business out of their homes had a small area of the cabin as their work space (it was generally the front part of the cabin) and had a shingle hanging over their door so people knew who they were and what they did.

Thomas Jefferson had a small cabin on his plantation that sat to the front of his property and this was his office and lawyers’ office. From Plimouth Rock Plantation to Daniel Boone, to Abe Lincoln, to the soddies on the Plains, to mountain man cabins, to hermitages, to space exploration and colonization, small has been the rule. Make less do more, and create dual-purpose spaces.

In the pursuit of small, however, living big came into being the focus; keeping up with the Jones, bigger is better, living in high-rise condos that spew light into the night, etc. All for the sake of attempting to say, “See what I have, I am better than you!” without saying a word.

The size of a home varies around the world: while some families live in one room huts, others have gigantic homes which seem to never end. Whatever the case, homes tend to grow with their owner’s prosperity. Since 1970, the size of the average new American home has grown by 50 percent. This growth trend is similar in most Western countries. For every trend, however, there is a counter-trend. In the case of home size, more and more people are choosing to live in small homes. Most who downsize opt for more modest quarters, while some homeowners take this trend to a new level, choosing to live in tiny homes (and we mean tiny!). These tiny homes can be as small as 90 sq. ft. complete with bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and living quarters.

For our definition at Tiny Green Cabins, LLC, small housing is anything less than 1500 square feet. Tiny House living is generally thought of less that 800 square feet. Living really small or wee living could be thought of as less than 300 square feet, and this could encompass tiny cabins such as Tiny Green Cabins.

When you are thinking of downsizing, it’s a good idea to first get the feel of what that means to you. Start by seeking out Tiny House builders and ask them to tour one of their tiny houses, and if possible, ask to use one for the weekend. They just may be open to renting one out on site for your curiosity. Tiny Green Cabins has a model and would rent it out for those that want the unique experience of living small. Another option is to find a resort that has tiny cabins/houses for longer stays. You may find that you absolutely love it, or decide that “Gee’ this is nice, but not for me!” As one our visitors emailed us after a visit, “We can’t thank you enough for your time and information - and for letting us into the world of this special little home ”

On the West Coast, Tumbleweed Homes would be an excellent starting point. On the Gulf of Mexico, Tiny Texas Houses, and on the east coast Vermont Tiny Houses. In the heartland of the Midwest, Tiny Green Cabins is ideally located for all to visit. Based in Minnesota, they are built tough to withstand the wide temperature ranges, from Siberian cold to summer hot, and Tiny Green Cabins are also energy conscious.

At Tiny Green Cabins, we will customize a plan, construct it in the most energy efficient way, build it non toxic, build it to live partially or completely off the grid, or build it so you can finish it yourself, or build it turnkey. With more than 40 years of carpentry and builder/remodeler experience, we have learned to enjoy being different, and that means we can respond to what you want easier than builders that only do business “their way.” You are the customer, so we do business your way.

No frills, no gimmicks, we just love what we do!

Mountains and mountain cabins have always captured our imaginations, calling us to scale their heights and go to a place to relax, to gain a new perspective, recharge our energies and just enjoy the views. Mountains can be seen from thousands of miles away, but if we are lucky enough to be on top of one, or in our very own mountain cabin, we can see great stretches of the surrounding area. As a result, mountains symbolize vision, the ability to rise above the adjacent lowlands and see beyond our immediate vicinity. From the top of the mountain, we are able to witness life from a new perspective-cities and towns that once seemed so large when we were in them now look tiny. We can take the whole view in with a single glance, regaining our composure and our sense of proportion as we understand how much bigger this world is than we sometimes realize.

Mountain cabins are a part of American lore and psyche, a safe place to live the life one can only imagine in the city. They epitomize the  way we would love to live our lives, if only for a few days.  Here one returns to nature, to  ”roots,” living a life one dreams of, as one gazes out the office window, or while making the way through the crowds of foot traffic, caught in the congestion of the freeway on the way home from work.  Living in  one’s very own mountain cabin design is almost always considered a spiritual place, and the energy is undeniably unique. When one is on top of a mountain in one of our tiny cabins, it is as if he or she has ascended to an alternate realm, one in which the air is purer, the energy lighter, and almost magical. People go to our mountain cabins to connect with a higher source of understanding, and many have come back from that retreat feeling stronger and wiser. Whenever one is feeling trapped or limited in one’s vision, a trip to the nearest mountain and one of our tiny cabins may be just the cure.

We take our mountain cabin designs and cabin designs and create your very own safe place, your little niche in the world. We create a space that gives you the ability to escape from feeling trapped and to expand your visions and dreams of what is possible.

There’s a reason that mountain views and mountain cabins are so highly prized in this world, and it is because, even from a distance, mountains remind us of how small we are, which often comes as a wonderful relief. In addition, they illustrate  the ability to connect with a higher energy. As they rise up from the earth, sometimes disappearing in the clouds that gather around them, mountains are a visual symbol of earth reaching up into the heavens. Whether one has an actual mountain view out the window or just a photograph of a mountain cabin  to look  at every day, one can rely on these earthly giants to provide inspiration, vision, and a daily reminder of man’s humble place in the grand scheme of life.