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Another tiny home.
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Tavascarow



Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall
PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 12 9:49 am    Post subject: Another tiny home. Reply with quote
    

Link.

Seven years ago Diana and Michael Lorence moved to a 12-foot-square home without electricity in the coastal mountains of Northern California.
They're not back-to-the-land types- they're not growing their own food, nor raising animals-, but, like Thoreau, they were looking for a place where they could get away from the noise of society and focus on their inner lives.
For nearly 30 years they have lived in tiny houses, often in guest homes, though their current abode is the smallest and most fitting their needs. It was designed by Michael based on their experiences living in nearly 20 tiny homes across the country before finally settling here.
They don't have electricity nor any other type of alternative energy (i.e. solar power). They don't have a refrigerator so they eat a lot of vegetables, fruits, grains and nuts.
There's also no oven, but Diana says she doesn't bake anyway and she cooks their meals with their one cast iron pot over the fire. The fire is also their source of hot water, heat and light (in addition to candles).
The Lorences are a private couple, but recently they have begun to speak out more about their lives in hopes of showing others that options such as theirs exist.

alice



Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Posts: 2820

PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 12 10:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nice.
I'm really keen on the idea of managing without 'energy' rather than trying to find alternative ways of making it.

jema
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28100
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 12 10:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

All too idealised.

How to they pay for the food? how about nights without electric light?

I'd prefer to hear something a little more balanced and real.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45381
Location: yes
PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 12 10:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

external chimney ,umm

apart from that looks quite nice

alice



Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Posts: 2820

PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 12 10:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

jema wrote:
how about nights without electric light?



It is possible to do without you know

earthyvirgo



Joined: 24 Aug 2007
Posts: 7972
Location: creating prints in the loft, Gerlan
PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 12 10:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It's absolutely stunning, a beautiful showhome/getaway but for 'real' living, I can't see how it could work.

Where is their 'stuff'?

EV

alice



Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Posts: 2820

PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 12 10:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Maybe they don't have any. Again, it's not unheard of

Midland Spinner



Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 2931
Location: Under a green roof
PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 12 10:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Are they there all the time, or is this a 'retreat'?

jema
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28100
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 12 10:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

alice wrote:
jema wrote:
how about nights without electric light?



It is possible to do without you know


Not saying it isn't just that the video looks at things in the most sympathetic light possible and ignores the realities of living that way. Show me the place in mid winter when the wood for the fire won't burn as there is no dry wood and when its dark 16 hours a day.

Nicky cigreen



Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9702
Location: Devon, uk
PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 12 10:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

strikes me as unnecessarily small - like a house built for one that two now share. their knees would bump each other if they both sat by the fire at the same time.

Personally, I dislike reading by candlelight - and the same goes for mending etc...so presumably these things are done in day light - just like the scenes of her writing or prepping veg - which means there is no day job to pay for all of this. So what is it then? a retirement pad for people with excellent eye sight?

The part I am most cynical about is the food. They do not grow their own, and have no fridge. In California. This probably means they jump into the huge 4x4 (not shown) every single day and go to the shops to buy their food. ie they have no ability to store food, so choose to store it in someone elses premises, and go out every day. Not so much living in a tiny house, as sleeping in one.

crofter



Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 2252

PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 12 10:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

jema wrote:


How to they pay for the food?


Maybe they have jobs?

jema
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28100
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 12 10:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

crofter wrote:
jema wrote:


How to they pay for the food?


Maybe they have jobs?


So they therefore have to drive a 4x4 to the job....?

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45381
Location: yes
PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 12 10:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

i have lived in spaces smaller in and out of the woods off and it actually looks ok ish ,
but where is the chainsaw,dog beds ,half built snowshoes for winter ,food stores etc ?

i suspect a minimal home that they supply from outside much like a city flat but in a nice place

no electric light is easy if one uses paraffin stormlamps

crofter



Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 2252

PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 12 11:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

jema wrote:
crofter wrote:
jema wrote:


How to they pay for the food?


Maybe they have jobs?


So they therefore have to drive a 4x4 to the job....?


Or work from home... or walk?

jema
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28100
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 12 11:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

crofter wrote:
jema wrote:
crofter wrote:
jema wrote:


How to they pay for the food?


Maybe they have jobs?


So they therefore have to drive a 4x4 to the job....?


Or work from home... or walk?


Does not exactly look like either walking distance, or suitable for any home working profession that I can think of. Crafts tend to require bits and bobs, so that leaves writing which would need someone else to transcribe to computer.

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