Build Tiny Coming to the DC Housing Expo & Home Show

Build Tiny will be at the DC Housing Expo and Home Show on June 24, 2017. Hosted by the DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the DC Housing Expo and Home Show is a free event with a wealth of information on housing, goods and services and related topics.

Build Tiny will be among over 150 exhibitors offering workshops, demonstrations, and exhibits. Walk through Build Tiny’s signature houses and see for yourself how our tiny homes meet the need for comfortable, affordable and sustainable housing.

Free tickets to the event are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ninth-annual-dc-housing-expo-and-home-show-tickets-32535623927

EVENT DETAILS

Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place NW
Washington, DC
Saturday June 24, 2017 10AM – 3PM

build tiny - tiny home construction east coast

Social Media Fail?

We are each good at something, maybe a bunch of somethings. I like to think that I am good at building and teaching – two somethings. I seem to be not good at social media.

I could be better at it if I tried. But I don’t think I will try.

Let me explain.

The way I see it, to be good at social media you have to be current – posting things as they happen. I like to experience things as they happen, absorb all the nuances of the moment – the personalities, feelings and interactions.

Here’s an example.

Last weekend I hosted a tiny house building workshop. I truly enjoyed meeting new people and spending 3 days getting to know them. We spent the time working together, sharing meals, sitting around a bonfire (perhaps with good bourbon and a bit of peach moonshine) and sharing life experiences. As usually happens, I never even thought about posting pictures or sending out a tweet during the workshop. And then after the workshop, on Monday, I started getting back in to my normal routine of having no routine. The Monday after each workshop is processing time. I spend the moments between tasks rerunning situations and conversations from the weekend. I enjoy them all a second or maybe third time. In my memories I may even pick up on something I missed while it was happening, a little tidbit that helps me to understand someone or something a little better. I cherish my thinking time after a workshop and really don’t want to rush to my computer or phone to get my post up while it is still relevant. I guess there is something about posting that makes it feel like it is over. And if it is not over until Wednesday for me, then that will just have to do.

I’m ok with just being good at building and teaching.

As seen on TV Tiny Chapel at NC Tiny House Street Festival

April 21-23, 2017

Join us for a weekend dedicated to the modern tiny house movement in North Carolina!

tiny house maintenance is low - build tiny

Unconventional multi-use?

frying pan propped up on deck - tiny houses are low maintenance - build tiny and enjoy your leisureI shoveled my tiny front porch with my frying pan. This should sound crazy, but it seemed perfectly normal.

I am living in my tiny house; I named it Chickadee. The bird themed name seemed a natural choice coming from a Robin.

Now you see my double doors open out, a wonderful, space saving design decision that has just one drawback, snow.

And yesterday it snowed.

I love snow days. Not a bunch of them but just one or two each winter. It is my down time. I am a builder and I spend almost every day outdoors. That is exactly how I choose to live. I wouldn’t have it any other way. But every once in awhile I like to have a day or two that I can read a book or even work on work stuff inside while it is still light out. I am a very logical and practical person, so if it is light out I feel as though I should be out there working on something. Or riding my horse, or something that takes advantage of the ability to be outdoors.

Now the snow doesn’t preclude me from being outside, I actually like to be out in it sometimes. But when it is snowy and blowing and so cold that even the dogs don’t want to go out, I turn into a house cat. I want to be curled up in a warm house with a book or drawing paper.

But I have out-swing doors.

The last thing I wanted to do was bundle up in a bunch of outdoor wear and trek out to my shop and get a shovel and trek back and spend 2 seconds shoveling the snow off my tiny porch. So as I was finishing the eggs I had prepared an idea came to me. It may have stemmed from the memory of my mom “mowing” our tiny condo backyard with her scissors. She could not afford a mower and she enjoyed a manicured lawn so she created a space with what she had. She was also logical and practical.

I had a frying pan.

I knew I would not have to bundle up to just step out the door and quickly pan the snow off the porch, but I did replace my slippers with some boots. It took about 2 minutes and the porch was cleared and as an added benefit, the frying pan was clean too.

Today the snow has ceased and the porch is clear, but the wind is still blowing.

Surely one more day inside is going to be alright.