Relaxshax's Blog

Here’s a cool little photo gallery of EIGHT pretty amazing little homes/tiny houses from the new tiny homes/micro cabins book “Nano House. I thought you might get some ideas, inspiration, color and form schemes, and who knows what else, from checking these out….Its definitely a good book- TONS and TONS of color photos….   -Derek “Deek” Diedricksen

JULY 6-9th- FOUR DAYS of Tiny House Building, Learning, Touring, and MORE!

(Photo by Bruce Bettis)

     Here’s pretty much the final bill (well, unless we get crazy and add another person or two as speakers- which could very well happen!). I’m out the door in minutes for a Tumbleweed video and photo shoot in Boston, so I’ll add some specific photos later of the cabins you’ll stay in, the one’s we’ll visit, videos of the premises (the 10 acres where this will be held in Northern Vermont) and more details. Its a FOUR DAY workshop (last day isn’t a mandatory monday, its more of a fun, wind-down day, with some last min building and touch up, and a field trip to a tiny house/camp compound in a neighboring town). The workshop runs from 4pm on that Friday (sign up and set-up (where you’ll stay or camp), with a meet n’ greet campfire dinner, some touring of the grounds, and a campfire speaking/discussion group at night, and runs until 4pm on Monday. LOTS we’ll be going over- with some AMAZING guests……YES, we’ll collectively be putting together a tiny cabin too!

     I met Mariah last summer when she attended my sold out, backyard, tiny house and shelter building workshop. She was an instantly likeable person and VERY excited about her future prospects of making the move to living a tinier, simpler life. Well, she’s putting her money where her mouth is, and has been very busy. She’ll also be guest speaking at the Tumbleweed Tiny House Workshop in Boston, that I’m heading up/teaching, on May 19th and 20th AND will be coming up to my “Tiny House Summer Camp”- July 6, 7, 8, 9th in Northern Vermont– for more info on that, click HERE.

Anyway, I figured I’d hand the reigns to Mariah, so that she can explain what she’s been up to….

“Hi All, and thanks Deek! I’m Mariah: builder, maker, do-it-your-selfer, designer, tiny house and vintage trailer enthusiast, and student studying mobile and alternative dwellings (I design my own curriculum and major at school). I am building The COMET (Cost-Efficient, Off-grid, Mobile Eco-Trailer) as a response to the combination of dwindling resources on our planet and, ironically, the incredible amount of waste and excess that makes it’s way into the dumpster and the landfill every day. The plan is to turn this 1960’s Avalon travel trailer into an off-the-grid, self-sufficient, mobile tiny house that has virtually no impact on the environment and a big social impact by serving as a mobile green classroom. Using mainly re-used, free, and repurposed/recycled materials, and sustainably produced products where necessary, The COMET aims to empower, educate, and inspire people to live TINY, SUSTAINABLY, FLEXIBLY, AFFORDABLY and HEALTHY. In less than 112 square feet I will have 555 Watts of solar power, a self-contained rainwater harvesting/filtration system, a waterless composting toilet, solar shower, bumper garden, and most importantly, a HOME (all for under $8000!).

      I encourage people to follow the COMET and it’s progress at www.cometcamper.wordpress.com, as the website itself is meant to be a resource and tool for other DIYers who want to explore sustainable, tiny living. There will be tutorials and how-to’s aimed at empowering others to build their own composting toilet, solar power system, and build with re-purposed materials. My background in vintage trailer restoration and love for the Tiny House movement have brought me to this project.  When The COMET is done, we’ll hit the road, stopping all over the US doing open houses, tours, info sessions, and workshops. My hope is that people who see and experience The COMET will be inspired and empowered to live tiny and more sustainably.
I’m REALLY excited to be bringing The COMET to Deek’s “Tiny House Summer Camp” workshop this summer too. I’ll be showing you the camper itself and some really neat new stuff in sustainable building techniques, showing off my free and recycled finds that will be going into The COMET, explaining why vintage campers make great tiny houses,  talking about how to save $$ in your tiny house by having an entirely DC photovoltaic solar electric system like The COMET, and more! See you there
www.cometcamper.wordpress.com