Washington Post Article

How do couples live in tiny homes without killing each other?The 325-square-foot tiny home where Emily Gerde and her family live in southern Minnesota. (Photo courtesy of the Gerde family)

By Rachel RaczkaMay 16, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. MDT

Most couples I know wouldn’t consider sharing a studio apartment. When my partner and I decided to move in together, we weighed the options of my centrally located studio versus his slightly distant one-bedroom. We ultimately decided on the latter, thinking that the lack of walls and personal space would be a dealbreaker.Other cohabiting city couples have similar concerns. “What if we’re in a fight? What if you get food poisoning?!” They find comfort in having a wall.But then, Instagram and Pinterest are full of the dreamy depictions of happy couples who — by choice! — live in quirky dwellings gone miniature: house boats, #vanlife and tiny houses. In particular, the tiny-house movement has stretched its legs since its initial boom. Not just for HGTV-happy hipsters anymore, couples and families who have made these tight quarters work.ADSo what can the intimacy-fearing and space-obsessed learn from couples who embrace a tiny-house lifestyle? I wasn’t sure. So I asked some.You lose private space, material possessions, separate bathrooms and full-size appliances. But what do you gain?For the most part, the tiny-house owners I spoke to found that the financial freedom they found from moving into smaller quarters directly benefited their relationships. And for the lack of sectioned space and stairways, they seemed pretty happy.“I really think the biggest thing is that we’ve found that we’ve been able to have a balance, of that time of alone and together,” said Emily Gerde, 32, who lives in a 325-square-foot home with her husband, Justin, 32, their 3-year-old son, a dog and four cats. About a year ago, the family traded a four-bedroom home for their tiny house in southern Minnesota. In return, they now have more time to spend with each other rather than spending it on cleaning and maintaining their larger home.The inside of Emily and Justin Gerde’s tiny home. (Photo courtesy of the Gerde family)“In the big house, [we were] frantically trying to get by. I never had alone time, because there always was something to do,” Emily said. “The tiny house has given us freedom and has helped our relationship get closer. [Justin’s] commute was 45 minutes one way. You double that, times it by five days, four weeks a month, and you get a couple days back. It’s been a huge blessing. We have both self-care and together time now.” 

In the past year, they’ve moved their tiny house twice to plots of land closer to Justin’s workplace. “To follow our dream jobs, it would take us literally a day to move,” Gerde explained. “You don’t even have to pack up.”Okay, but what if you need alone time? Everyone needs alone time, even happy healthy couples.Alexis Stephens and Christian Parsons have taken their tiny home across 27 states while working on a documentary about the tiny-home movement. Here, they’re shown in Winston-Salem, N.C., where they built the house. (Photo courtesy Tiny House Expedition)“I think there have been those occasions where I’m so angry that it frustrates for me to hear him doing stuff in the house,” admitted Alexis Stephens, 33, who lives in a 130-square-foot tiny house with her romantic and filmmaking partner, 41-year-old Christian Parsons. “Some sulking has happened, but it’s a good time to encourage going outside the house for a walk. The outdoors is the biggest room available.”Stephens and Parsons traveled with their tiny house across 27 states working on their documentary, “Tiny House Expedition,” adding a constant change of scenery to the mix, which has also aided in conflict resolution. That kind of anger “doesn’t happen a ton,” Parsons added. “But it feels like we talk it out more because you can’t hide in this house.”AD“Quicker conflict resolution through less stewing,” Stephens agreed. In the tiny house “you can get away from each other a little bit — you could go in a loft or outside — but for me, it affects the energy of the whole house. We’ve gotten to a point where we know something is up and it’s better for us to talk about it to resolve quickly.”How do you make the small space conducive to you as a couple?

Gerde is currently working on a book about minimalist living and home-schools their son, so custom workspace and storage were built-in to tuck their school supplies away after-hours. A length-spanning bench was also custom-made to inspire family time. “Lots of tiny houses have a love seat, but we can’t fit all four of us on there.”The couple’s tiny house is designed based on their life plans — a factor that she said is very telling. “A lot of couples have trouble [with tiny-house living] because they didn’t think about the future. But we designed ours with a family in mind,” Gerde explained. “We wanted it to accommodate pets and another kid, and meet our needs specifically.”

For AJ Zamora, 43, who lives in a Napa, Calif., tiny house with her wife, China Rose, 38, keeping their spare time rituals alive was imperative to their design. Rather than lofting their European queen-size bed, they built a mechanical bed that lowers down from the ceiling and rests on top of kitchen counters so they could enjoy weekend lounging.“We knew we loved relaxing together and we felt [a loft bed] could mean feeling cramped in your own space and not wanting to spend time in it,” China Rose explained.What about not-so-alone time? You know what I mean.“We always get the question, and we just giggle,” Gerde laughed. “You just find space like any other house. The lofts we have use blackout shades. It’s not just to [block] light [from getting] in, but it also provides privacy.”But what if the relationship doesn’t work out?Tiny-home living ultimately didn’t work for this couple, Christopher Carson Smith and Merete Mueller, shown here in Park County, Colo. (Photo by Kevin Hoth)Tiny houses aren’t exempt from breakups. Filmmakers Merete Mueller and Christopher Carson Smith decided to build a 124-square-foot house in Colorado in 2011 and made a documentary about it called, “Tiny: A Story About Living Small.” The film and tiny house were both relative successes — the documentary hit the indie circuit, the house still stands strong today — but Mueller moved to New York after a month, and the couple broke up a year later.AD“We started working on the film, and we both were super invested in and it occupied both of our lives,” said Mueller, now 32. “ And for me, I was just excited by the prospect of seeing a house come together from scratch. I was curious about his process: his figuring out where he wanted to be, settling down in a home for both of us, talking about our relationship. It wasn’t until the house was almost done that I was like: I don’t know if I can live in this space with another person. I wasn’t one of the people who was drawn to it because I was so excited about the lifestyle. It was something I fell into through him.”After Mueller moved to New York, Smith moved his tiny house to a more permanent plot of land in Boulder, Colo., as the couple attempted to make the distance work. He eventually moved to Los Angeles, where he pursued a full-time career in film. But after it all, Mueller still said the unique tiny-house experience helped the pair to maintain a friendship after the moves.“Even though Christopher and I didn’t stay together, it was going through those challenges that informed our friendship,” she explained. “I can’t imagine not having him as part of my life after those experiences. Even if you’re ultimately not the right people, those [experiences] are really important to draw on. No one else can really relate to those things often.”ADREAD MORE:10 things singles can learn from Adam and EveInstead of texting a love interest, try a voice memoI was raised by a single mom. I always wanted to be one, too.Rachel RaczkaRachel Raczka is an entertainment and lifestyle writer in BostonFollow

Full Article Here

Washington Post

Tiny House Blog

---

With the world turning upside down where do tiny houses fit in? Two introspective articles in this month’s issue may not necessarily answer the question but will lend a little clarification.

In her article, “Options, Not Answers”, Emily Gerde states the following:

It seems a bit silly to talk about tiny homes when our world has been turned upside down, but tiny homes are more relevant now than ever. People have lost their jobs, their homes, and their stability. This makes a smaller, more attainable home a good option. There are so many ways the tiny home industry can shake out in the end.

Laura LaVoie talks about the other side of life in tiny houses in her article, “Why the Tiny House Movement Isn’t a Failure”. She discusses life changes and when it is time to move onto a different situation. Laura states:

It seems ridiculous to assume that someone needs to stay in their tiny house forever just because they live in it now. People change. Life circumstances change. Places change. Needs change. And you know what, that is not only okay but it should be encouraged and embraced. But what people do come out of the tiny house movement with is a new way of thinking.

Featured Articles

• An Unconventional Path
  How does the tiny house lifestyle feed into one that focuses on living a more prepared, self-sufficient, and intentional life? And where does ballroom dancing fit it?

• Why The Tiny House Movement Isn’t A Failure
  Just because someone moves out of their tiny house doesn’t mean that the tiny house movement is a failure.

• Options, Not Answers
  Living in a tiny house. Easy enough. But what kind of tiny house and how is that viable for the long term? Emily Gerde explores the future of real tiny house living.

• The Good, The Bad and The Tiny
  Hannah Cole walks us through her and her boyfriend’s epic journey from homeless and freezing in a truck to the land of contentment in a tiny house.

• B-Hotel Is The New Campervan
  Living in a bus is a feeling of freedom, a limitless adventure, and a real connection with nature.

Purchase PDF Issue 90 HERE

Full Article Here

A few pages from Tiny House Magazine below.

Please Support Tiny House Magazine by subscribing today at:

Tiny House Magazine

---

Full Article :

It seems a bit silly to talk about tiny homes when our world has been turned upside down, but tiny homes are more relevant now than ever. People have lost their jobs, their homes, their stability which makes a smaller more attainable home a good option. There are so many ways the tiny home industry can shake out in the end. Let’s discuss some avenues.

TINY HOMES ON WHEELS

Living in a tiny home on wheels during this chaotic time has me feeling pretty secure about my options. Knowing that I can just pick up and leave if need be certainly has its benefits, especially with the polarizing actions happening state to state. Most moveable tiny homes are made with wood or steel framing and are basically a regular house above the trailer. Meaning they are heavy and tricky to move. This being said we have very much enjoyed living the best of both worlds. The option to move quickly, and the regular comforts of home. Tiny homes on wheels are still in a limbo of being part-time or full-time dwellings depending on the city. We are allowed full time in the mobile home park in Hayden, Colorado, but we were only allowed for 6 months at the local RV parks. This didn’t work for us because we want a garden, consistent jobs, friends for our kids, sports programs, etc. For us, tiny house living was more about spending our money and time on the activities we enjoy rather than being able to travel with it. If you stay under around 20 feet travel is still very possible and you are doing so in luxury. Now more than ever we need tiny home communities that offer full and part-time residency. Some options are taking over an RV park and asking for full-time dwelling variance, creating a planned unit development, taking over a mobile home park, or finding land with no zoning restrictions. (I am sure there are more, but these are the ones I am aware of). I have a vision of a sustained, toxin-free tiny house community with community gardens, shared livestock, native plants, bees, and ample places to exercise and explore. Tiny home communities can offer that opportunity to create a place where people can thrive by making each one unique and customized for those involved. 

MODULAR/MANUFACTURED HOMES

There is a rising number of people wanting tiny homes that are still tiny but exceed the 400 square foot definition. Some people have large families, hobbies, pets, jobs that require a little more space while still being in the minimalist mindset. The hard part is that it is very difficult as a business to be under the HUD manufactured home guidelines unless you are a big operation. This leads to cookie-cutter homes, shortcuts to save money, lower-quality materials, and fewer options for customization. Obviously this isn’t always the case, but the huge overhead cost means something has to give and it’s usually the quality of materials. How can we fix this? Many small home companies and enthusiasts are working on this right now. Trying to create a path that is similar to the tiny house movement (tiny house on wheels under 400 square feet) that still allows for self builds and customization. If you have some ideas start sharing!!! I know many people are excited about new housing options in this area.

SKOOLIES AND VANS

These two movements have really taken off! Rightfully so! As the world gets smaller and more connected, as more online jobs are available; people are seeking adventure and freedom. What better way to do that than in a custom bus or van? I love these movements as they offer true mobility. But there again places to stay can be tricky. Vans are a bit easier as you can just hang at people’s houses for a bit, but you often don’t have all the luxuries of the bus as far as holding tanks, toilets, water etc. I am amazed how far van life has come, however, as many creatives are squeezing every necessity into a tiny space. Skoolie life is great but they are not as welcome in most places! More reason for those creating tiny home communities to be sure they wrote in that skoolies and vans are allowed as well. Skoolies have a special place in my heart because it’s the epitome of repurposing something that otherwise would just sit to rot. I can only imagine how many buses are retired and just sitting there deteriorating. 

THE FUTURE

It is expanding into new, yet old territories. There is much debate as many feel tiny houses on wheels are just glorified RVs. Others have been living in a mobile home for years saying they are the original tiny home. And yet others saying anything over 400 square feet isn’t a tiny home. I hear all of you. Perhaps the answer is about choices. The choice to live in a well built affordable house that fits your needs. Maybe it’s about getting our local Officials to see that we are no longer in the 1950s where every house and yard must look the same to be beautiful. Maybe we need to remove our conditioning and honor everyone’s right to live in a safe place in the dwelling of their choice. It’s not really about having the answers at this point. It’s about being open to the possibilities. 

Tiny Home Industry Association

Emily Gerde’s Tiny Story

Oct 19, 2019 | Colorado Tiny Home News | 0 comments

Tiny House, Big Moments

Written By Emily Gerde

When choosing a name for our tiny house journey I didn’t realize how truly accurate it would be. I thought Tiny House, Big Moments was catchy and fun but I soon came to realize just how big the moments would be in our tiny house journey.

I’ll start back at the beginning where it all started. We had a 2,200 square foot house and I was running an organic daycare in my basement and coaching gymnastics part time. My husband was working full time and in grad school and we had a newborn. This was the tipping point! So many jobs and no time to actually enjoy our beautiful property and home that we were working so hard to pay for. We needed a solution and the tiny house movement caught our eye as a possibility. Fast forward a few months and we found the only builder at the time in Minnesota who had already built several tiny homes and we got to see their model. We fell in love with the minimalist lifestyle and so began our journey.

We started our tiny house build August of 2014 and moved in May of 2015. We stayed in several backyards which was fine at the time but the goal had always been to either have some land or create a tiny house community. We had some sketchy run ins with rent disagreements and people not honoring their contract but overall it was doable and affordable to live in back yards. We never had anyone call on us and never got caught. We even stayed a summer in a tiny house builders parking lot. We have friends who found great spots on farms and animal sanctuaries but we wanted to find a legal place to ease our mind after 3 years of “hiding”.

While we were searching for a more permanent spot we decided to store the tiny house and live in an RV  next to my parent’s house. We were in suburbia Minnesota so we knew we couldn’t hide a tiny house. Luckily, no one figured out that we lived in the RV, so we stayed in it for the winter. This was an eye opening experience on the differences between a tiny house and an RV. We had no issues with our RV for recreational use but after a week we had issue after issue. First off, it was not made for the winter and the lack of insulation created a lot of problems… including mold which we didn’t figure out till later. With the cheaper materials RVs are made of, we had a ton of things break just in the few months we were in there. The air quality was awful. Luckily we were only in it for night time and spent the days in my moms house. We were very thankful living in the RV was temporary, especially with the mold and chemical smells from the nasty glues and cheap vinyl. We had a greater appreciation for our well constructed tiny house and couldn’t wait to get it to Colorado.

Living next to my parents was a huge blessing because it allowed me the time to write my book, “Minimalist Living For A Maximum Life.” I love sharing how we downsized and minimized clutter, toxins, stressors, and debt thanks to tiny house living. We also spent this time at my parent’s place to figure out the best places to settle in Colorado. We finally found a spot come spring of 2018 and off we headed to Colorado to find adventure! We stayed at a farm, a tiny house builder’s parking lot, a family’s back yard, an RV park, and now a mobile home park. Moving to Colorado made me truly see the housing issues we have as a society. We were sheltered from it in the Midwest, but here in Routt County we have been in several situations that gave us much more empathy for those trying to survive and find housing.

Tiny house living has provided so many freedoms and yet there is that inherent issue of them not being legal in most areas. I started my advocacy back in Minnesota and helped a city allow tiny houses as ADUs. Then in Colorado I connected with the American Tiny House Association and presented to Jefferson County (along with Joe Callantine ) on the need for moveable tiny home communities. They were very excited about the concept and Joe took that on as his mission. Our family moved just outside of Steamboat Springs where we connected with a local tiny house developer, Michael Buccino, and have been doing what we can to help encourage tiny homes in the county. Now in Hayden, Colorado we have been able to get tiny homes allowed in mobile home park zoning (stay as long as you like), and RV parks (Maximum of 6 month stays). There is much more work to be done and I am honored to help out the Tiny House Industry Association in their mission to Make Tiny Possible.

There is much more work to be done as we work together as an industry to create a tiny house code, work with municipalities, and collaborate with builders. There is a stigma of tiny homes that municipalities are having trouble getting over. There is the “not in my backyard” mentality. Through education and the success of current tiny house communities, we can show the world how tiny houses play a role in attainable, healthy, high quality housing. Tiny houses offer the same quality materials and construction of a “regular” home in a pint size version. Be sure to support the Tiny House Industry Association by becoming a member and you can support my efforts by purchasing my book. For more insight into our journey, you can find us in all social media @tinyhousebigmoments.

May abundance flow to you with ease! May you follow your bliss, and live the life you always dreamed of.

Thank you Emily for contributing to THIA’s collection of What’s Your Tiny Story? We would love to know yours.

Find the article here

Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast

Emily Gerde and her husband Justin, son Wyatt, three cats and one dog live in a 325 square foot tiny house on wheels. Emily is the author of Minimalist Living for a Maximum Life, which provides insight on their tiny house journey and how a minimalist, organic, holistic, mindful lifestyle led to a life of their dreams. Emily will be speaking at the Colorado Tiny House Festival June 22-24 and will continue to move the tiny house movement forward with a passion for sustainable, mindful living.

In this episode:

• Why did Emily settle on relatively large (325sf) tiny house on wheels?

• What’s it like to move a 20,000lb tiny house?

• Why Emily and her family started living in a camper but have decided to abandon that project?

• How to deal with the judgement you receive from choosing to live in a tiny house as a family?

• Emily’s efforts to legalize tiny house communities in Colorado

• What will you do when your young children approach teen age?

• Do you have to live in a tiny house to be a minimalist?

• How do you control the space (toys, play area, etc.) associated with kids in your tiny house?

• How do you deal with receiving gifts when most people tend to give children toys?

• How have you dealt with the need for an address to enroll your son in school?

Listen to the Podcast Here

Featured in Dream Big Live Tiny

AS WITH MOST MEMORABLE STORIES, OURS STARTS WITH A PROBLEM.

My husband, Justin, my son, Wyatt, and I lived in a beautiful 2,200 square foot home on a 5-acre property. We had chickens, 4 cats and a dog. We had a large organic garden I tended to after my daycare hours and a stunning view of the Minnesota sunsets each night.
 
It sounds lovely, doesn’t it? Well, it was lovely, but we didn’t have time to enjoy our home and property because all we did was work in order to afford it!
 
I was running a daycare during the day and coaching gymnastics several evenings a week, while raising my one-year-old son. Justin was working full time and attending a graduate program.
 
When I would have rather spent time with my family, I had to instead clean the house, prepare home cooked organic meals for the daycare kiddos and my family, keep up with daycare paper work and parent communication, go through accounting and plan meals for the week or catch up on laundry and dishes.

THE TIPPING POINT WAS WHEN I STARTED TO HAVE THYROID ISSUES DUE TO THE STRESS AND LACK OF SLEEP. I KNEW THERE HAD TO BE A BETTER WAY, BUT I WASN’T SURE WHAT IT WAS.

It was no coincidence that right at my tipping point my sister in-law, Frances, introduced us to tiny houses. We were sitting around after a family dinner and she mentioned that the local news had featured a tiny house contractor in our area (Jim Wilkins with Tiny Green Cabins) and a family who lived in a tiny house on wheels.
 
I looked it up and by no accident I had worked with the gentleman who lived in the tiny house during my days as a licensed teacher. I asked him if we could visit their tiny house for a tour and they said “Of course!” As they say “the rest is history.”
 
I was hooked! Now to convince the family. When people step outside the norm, there is often some negative feedback. At first, everyone was skeptical, asking questions such as:
           
“How will you fit that many people and animals in such a small space?”
 
“How are you going to raise a child properly in 325 square feet?”
 
“Won’t you be ruining your equity?” 
 
“How will you find a place to park it?”
 
“Won’t you get sick of being around each other all the time?”
 
“How will you have any privacy?”
 
And the list goes on and on…

LUCKILY, I HAD MY MIND SET AND I HAD DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH, SO THE ANSWERS CAME EASILY AND WITH CONFIDENCE. ONCE THE HOUSE WAS ALMOST FINISHED, EVERYONE’S SKEPTICISM TURNED INTO AWE!

They couldn’t believe how spacious it felt inside and how beautiful it was. “You have everything a regular house has!” A friend of mine stated after a tour. Which is exactly why we designed our tiny house on wheels the way we did. We wanted it to feel like a real home, but with our environmental impact in mind.
 
We have a ¾ size fridge with the freezer on the bottom to maximize energy efficiency.
 
We have a half dishwasher because studies show that by using a dishwasher you use less water than hand washing. 

We have a washer/dryer combo, but decided to line dry our clothes due to the inefficiency of the no-vent dryer.
 
We have a Hobbit SE wood/pellet burning stove that provides us with plenty of heat and ideally we will be able to cut down our own wood to ensure our goal of a self-sustainable lifestyle.
 
We have a Klimaire mini split air conditioner and heater that enables us to stay warm when the fire goes out in the stove.
 
In the spring, summer and fall, we do our best to use cross breeze to cool down the house thanks to our abundance of windows.
 
We designed the house with water storage tanks, so we can be aware of our water usage and waste as little water as possible.
 
We used all non-toxic paints and stains and cork flooring to decrease our exposure to toxic chemicals.
 
Tiny house living has been a great way for us to live more sustainably and greatly decrease our negative impact on the environment.

WHEN YOU LOOK INTO TINY HOUSE BLOGS AND WEBSITES, YOU OFTEN SEE THE WORD FREEDOM AS A MAIN THEME. OUR FINANCIAL FREEDOM HAS GREATLY INCREASED, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, OUR TIME HAS INCREASED.  

With less space to clean and maintain we have found ourselves with more time to do the things we love such as spending time as a family, traveling, exercising, reading and practicing self-care.
 
It takes me about 15 minutes to clean the tiny house. In our larger home, I spent at least two hours about three times a week cleaning. This was an average of six hours a week just vacuuming and mopping the house. Those six hours didn’t even include all the organization required for maintaining a home with kids, pets, and a business. The maintenance required for all these possessions such as toilets, water filter, furniture, air filters, light bulbs, appliances, etc. took up a lot of free time.
 
In our tiny house we of course still have several of these same items, but it’s the equivalent of maintaining the average size bedroom instead of an entire house.
 
Getting rid of all the knick-knacks and clutter has lifted a huge weight off our shoulders. It’s amazing how wonderful it feels to get rid of unnecessary stuff. It’s almost as if our minds are always thinking about where an item is, if it needs to be dusted or maintained or if it needs to be organized.
 
It is almost addicting to downsize, and we have even more we would like to get rid of as we sift through our possessions in the tiny house.
 
With all this extra time, we have been able to travel more, spend more time outside, and explore community resources such as museums, parks and libraries.
 
Our marriage has greatly improved due to increased communication and quality time that I usually spent cleaning, working or maintaining our property. Everyone asks how we can manage being around each other all the time, but we have a better balance now of alone time and time together than ever before. In our larger home we simply co-existed as we worked and did chores. 
 
I’ve had time for yoga, meditation, gardening, and running, which allows me to be my best self and give my husband and son quality time instead of just being physically present and mentally absent.

“TIME IS FREE BUT IT’S PRICELESS. YOU CAN’T OWN IT, BUT YOU CAN USE IT. YOU CAN’T KEEP IT, BUT YOU CAN SPEND IT. ONCE YOU’VE LOST IT, YOU CAN NEVER GET IT BACK” ~HARVEY MACKAY.

 
Since living in a tiny house, we have been able to reclaim the priceless commodity of time and our time has been spent more wisely allowing us to feel great joy and fulfillment in our lives.
 
Another freedom we have gained is the freedom of location. By being on wheels we can follow our passions and desires. It’s almost like living in a portable home gave us permission to explore new career options, because we can pack and move within one day, instead of the three months it took to prepare our larger home for sale.
 
We don’t feel obligated or tied down by possessions and this gives us confidence to apply for any and every career choice that feeds our soul. By following our dreams, work doesn’t feel like work, it’s so refreshing to be able to fulfill our purpose and give back to the world.
 
We are conditioned to graduate college, get a job, get married, buy a house and have kids. All these things are not inherently bad, but they tend to drive people to look for a big paycheck instead of a big impact on humanity.
 
If we follow our greatest bliss, we will have a huge impact on the world, whether we mean to or not, because we will be doing what we love with a smile on our face and love in our heart.  Others will see that and be inspired.
 
I loved what I was doing as an educator and coach, but just because I am good at it, doesn’t mean it meets all my needs.
 
Since living in the tiny house, I have followed my dreams of becoming an author, participating in organic farming and educating mothers on how to live a holistic lifestyle that honors their mind, body and soul. All of which I didn’t have the time to contemplate in our previous lifestyle, let alone take steps towards achieving those goals.
 
By being able to move quickly we can continue to follow our dreams, seek out climates, resources and communities of our choice as we evolve as individuals and as a family. With homeschooling/unschooling our son, we can move to places that best fit his needs and desires for mental and physical growth.
 
We purchased a 1988 camper with the plan to give it to our son when he is ready to travel the world and get to know himself as he learns from the world around him. By modeling a lifestyle that allows us to follow our own path, our son will have the tools to do the things he needs to do to be happy and create change in the world. Not everyone needs to move around the country to be happy.  For us, the freedom to move gave us the push we needed to find our greater purpose.

FINANCIAL FREEDOM IS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, A GOAL FOR THOSE CONTEMPLATING LIVING IN A TINY HOUSE.

 
We had the blessing of making enough money from selling our large house to fund our tiny house. This allowed us to work toward our goal of a debt free life.
 
I do have to say that there were more expenses than we expected. After watching all the tiny house shows, we were expecting to spend between $40,000 and $50,000, but after new appliances, a composting toilet, a quality trailer, insulation and paying our amazing contractor (Jim Wilkins with Tiny Green Cabins), we ended up at $80,000. We certainly could have purchased used appliances, salvaged woods and other building materials, but we wanted something that would last us a lifetime and a home that was as non-toxic as possible.

SO HOW DOES TINY HOUSE LIVING COMPARE FINANCIALLY TO A LARGER HOME?

 
We were house poor after purchasing our larger home for several reasons.
 
First, there was a lot of extra space that we didn’t have in our previous home. This meant we had to fill up the empty space with furniture, artwork and other visually pleasing knick-knacks, of course.
 
It was over $2,000 dollars to make the electric and plumbing up to code due to our home being built in the 1970’s. Extra expenses included a recliner set for the living room, a riding lawn mower to accommodate the large five-acre lawn, and a trailer to pull the lawn mower when it needed repairs.
 
We put in a whole house filtration system for the well water which was about $3,000 and we needed a new washer and dryer. We did a great job using family hand me downs for most of the furniture in the rooms but all the little stuff adds up quick such as rugs, night stands, lamps, etc.
 
After only four years in our house, we were due for a new roof and a new septic system. We knew if we put all this money into the house we would feel that we needed to stay until it was paid off. If we decided to stay in our larger home, it would eventually need remodeling. The bathroom, kitchen and upstairs bedrooms were especially desperate for updates. If we did remodel, we would then say, “Well, we might as well enjoy the newly remodeled features for a while before we sell.”
 
This would again tie us down both financially and to the location, thus inhibiting our opportunities to travel. Our tiny house will cost the same or less than updating an average bathroom in a larger home due to its size and simplicity.
 
Our utility costs are half of what they used to be. We didn’t have to buy any furniture or anything new for the tiny house besides appliances. Yes, we still need to pay for property if that’s the path we choose, but for now we have been care taking and harvesting for organic farmers, which allows us to work in return for a place to stay.

WE ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN A TINY HOUSE.

 
We have more time as a family, financial freedom, and the freedom to explore and follow our dreams. Our relationships are full of love and joy because we are taking the time for self-care and reflection.
 
Whether you live in less than 500 square feet, or in a big house, it’s about giving yourself the permission to follow your bliss and live as sustainably as possible so our children and loved ones can enjoy this big beautiful world for generations to come. I hope our story inspires you to simplify your life, follow your dreams and no longer be tied down by your possessions.

https://www.dreambiglivetinyco.com/blogs/news/why-we-decided-to-go-tiny-and-why-we-have-not-looked-back

Peace Love Progress Article

My story starts with a problem. My family and I lived in a quaint 2,200 square foot home on a beautiful five-acre property. We had animals aplenty, great neighbors surrounding us, and gorgeous views of stunning sunsets. Every spring, the thunderous roar of hundreds of frogs echoed from our marsh down the cul-de-sac, awakening slumbering creatures from hibernation. We loved our slice of heaven, but a hidden fire-brewed in my soul.

Like most families, we thought we were living the “American Dream.” Until one day out of nowhere, I awoke to the truth: I wasn’t happy! I was far from happy! I was tired, sick, stressed, and in turmoil.

I ran a licensed organic daycare in our home and also coached gymnastics part-time. I loved and excelled at both jobs, but I was worn down. A year-and-a-half into my daycare adventure, I became pregnant and lost touch with self-care. Almost every night I was up past midnight cooking, cleaning, doing paperwork, researching how to have a natural pregnancy, and trying to spend as much time with my husband as possible. I was walking on eggshells trying to be sure everything got done and everyone was pleased.

My health started failing after another year-and-a-half of living like this. I later learned I had adrenal fatigue and hyperthyroidism. With a heavy heart, I closed my daycare, thereby closing the door on teaching and caring for other children. Our livelihood could no longer depend on my gymnastics coaching. We needed a big idea to stretch our income.

That’s when we discovered tiny house living.

We have been living in our tiny house for over a year and can’t believe how our lives have changed for the better! It now takes about fifteen minutes to vacuum, mop, and dust. The more than two hours I used to spend cleaning are now dedicated to self-care, writing my latest book, and spending quality time with my family. We also have time to do what we love: biking, hiking, nature walks, rock climbing, swimming, and gardening.

Two hours per week spent cleaning, or approximately eight hours per month, were reclaimed for me. Multiplied by 52 weeks, I saved 104 hours per year, increasing quality time with my family. This has brought joy to my marriage and our relationship with our son.

We were always rushing off to work, running errands, or maintaining the house, garage, second garage, lawn mower, water filter, garden, yard, and landscaping. We sat in the same space, but didn’t mindfully engage with each other. Our tiny house ensures we are always within earshot of each other. Some may see this as a downside to living in a small space, but it provides us more time for self-care, so it all balances out. It encourages us to be more mindful of constructive conversations.

The financial freedom that attracts many to the tiny house community is not solely a financial benefit. Being mortgage-free has allowed me to homeschool our son, write a minimalist book to inspire others to love the life they live, and write a mother’s book on holistic parenting. I have had the freedom to harvest for organic farmers and have my own large organic garden at home.

My family loves to travel, but in the large house we felt stuck—extra income went into maintaining the property. We now live within our means and are stress-free, giving us ample time to reflect on our goals. This summer will be spent driving around our state exploring parks and lakes in our camper, which we had neither time nor money to do when we were tied down by the responsibilities of our large house.

Decide what you most value. Maybe your living arrangement doesn’t support those values, with possessions tying you down. Perhaps you’re living outside your means. A minimalist life doesn’t necessarily mean a less than 500 square foot home. It can mean living simply with great joy in your heart and with the Earth in mind.

Free yourself from your possessions by adding memorable experiences to your life and sharing those experiences with the ones you love!

https://peaceloveprogress.com/tiny-house/

Featured in our Local Paper

We were luck enough to be featured in our local paper, The Pioneer Press, as we shared our love of tiny house living.

https://www.twincities.com/2016/09/23/tiny-houses-minneapolis/

Our HGTV Premier Season 2 Episode 13

We had the joy of being featured on an episode of Tiny House Big Living. They followed us through the whole build of our tiny house. It was such a blessing to be a part of their project. We miss our tiny house dearly but we will be building a similar small version shortly. After living in a large house, apartments, double-wide trailer, camper and tiny house, we now know for sure that tiny houses are our favorite way to live! 

http://www.hgtv.com/shows/tiny-house-big-living/episodes/young-couple-builds-custom-tiny-birch-house

You can also find the episode on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP8NLLmvuw&index=11&list=ELrYeqgmoyrndU7XfBeWYAQA

Outside Magazine Video Interview

Below is an article/movie for Outside Magazine:

"Life on Wheels: Stories from the Road

Oct 24, 2016

You've probably seen them: camper vans, Airstreams, and old RVs chugging down the road, heading off to some impossibly remote mountain pass, trout stream, or Wal-Mart parking lot, carrying the sorts of adventurers who are more concerned with experience than the size of their house. What they've given up in possessions and comfort, they make up for in enthusiasm and opportunities of the open road. Erik Nelson talked to four of these wanderers to find out why they chose to live like this, and how they customized their trailers, vans, tiny homes, and RVs. Here, he presents stories from their lives on the road. "

https://www.outsideonline.com/2129101/life-wheels-stories-road

Article with Bulletin

Excerpt from the article:

"Gerde is currently working on a book about minimalist living and home-schools their son, so custom workspace and storage were built-in to tuck their school supplies away after-hours. A length-spanning bench was also custom-made to inspire family time. “Lots of tiny houses have a love seat, but we can’t fit all four of us on there.”

The couple’s tiny house is designed based on their life plans — a factor that she said is very telling. “A lot of couples have trouble (with tiny-house living) because they didn’t think about the future. But we designed ours with a family in mind,” Gerde explained. “We wanted it to accommodate pets and another kid, and meet our needs specifically.”

http://www.bendbulletin.com/lifestyle/5326689-151/how-do-couples-live-in-tiny-homes-without

Article with goMN.com

An interview with GoMN.com about living in a tiny house in Minnesota. 

https://www.gomn.com/life/a-minnesota-couples-tiny-house-will-be-featured-on-hgtv

Matt Belair and My First Podcast Interview

Join me in a discussion with Matt Belair as I share insights from my book in my first every podcast (so be kind it was my first try at podcasting..wink wink..) 

Matt was kind enough to let me interview for the first time as we discuss simple ways to downsize and the future of affordable housing and much, much, more.

http://mattbelair.com/tinyhome/

Matt's podcast will bring you to a whole new understanding of yourself and the world around you! 

http://mattbelair.com/podcast/ or http://mattbelair.com/

Don't forget to check out his amazing book "Zen Athlete" as Matt takes mindfulness and sports to bring you to a new level of athleticism.

"Zen Athlete is a practical guide to self mastery, clarifying the art of mental training, flow and peak performance."

Podcast Interview with Sheila Sutherland

Join Sheila Sutherland and I as we discuss how to ignite your purpose through minimalist living. By minimizing the distractions in our lives we can focus on what's important to us. We discuss ways simplifying your life can forever change your life through increased abundance, time and joy. 

http://www.reigniteyourpurpose.com/podcast/ep85-minimalist-living-for-a-maximum-life-with-emily-gerde

Sheila's podcast, "Reignite Your Purpose-For Life, For Love, For You." Will inspire to you to make the changes in your life required for love, joy and laughter to return to you in full. Her guests will inspire you to make baby steps towards the new you with love in your heart and abundance on your mind.

"Sheila Sutherland is a Certified Life and Relationship Mastery Coach, Professional Educator, Speaker, Podcaster, Best Selling Author and is the ONLY licensed Oh, Shift® Facilitator in Canada. Sheila believes that the relationship with self is the foundation upon which everything in your life is built and is on a mission to take the selfish out of self-care and self-love, as you deserve to be a priority in your own life!
 
Sheila empowers people to effectively manage their emotions through shifting their mindset, behaviors and communication, so they can live a more authentic, connected and vibrant life."

My interview with Sustainable Living Podcast

I had the honor of being interviewed by Marianne for her podcast "Sustainable Living Podcast" in an effort to share my love of living simply, to encourage others to try a more sustainable lifestyle. Find out what minimalist living can do for you and how it will open the door to healing your mind, body and soul, as you acquire more money, time and enjoyment for life! 

http://sustainablelivingpodcast.com/tiny-house-family/

Join Marianne and Jenise as they discuss the following on their podcast "Sustainable Living Podcast"

"What would it be like to live in a world where we no longer create endless trash; are no longer bathed in toxic chemicals; and where all our activity no longer revolves around working 40 hour-a-week jobs we hate?

What will we eat? Where will we sleep? How will we spend our days?

Join us, Marianne West and Jenise Fryatt, as we attempt to draw a detailed picture of what Charles Eisenstein calls, “the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible.”  Not only do we believe it’s possible, we, along with countless others from around the world have already started to create it."