Comments on: 4 policy changes for 2009

By: thistinyhouse

thistinyhouse — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:14:59 +0000

Hi Judy,
Minimum size standards are at the local level. So the first step is finding a locale (like the City of Portland) that is friendly to tiny houses.

By: Judy

Judy — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 04:06:29 +0000

Is there an easy way to search for properties that don’t have minimum housing requirements. I’d love to have these redicoulous laws changed. Is there an “movement” anywhere someone is working on?

By: Going green

Going green — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:05:12 +0000

We are looking into buying rural property so there are less restrictions. We don’t want to live like “white trash” as some people call it, and we are not “hippies”, but I am happy to embrace some resource saving measures. Growing your own food, composting, and using fewer materials (or the more earth friendly kind) to build housing is awesome, since these activities work hand in hand with our earth’s preservation AND save money. I think that restrictions on these “green” activities should be done away with, but it needs to be federally mandated and not from county to county or based on what state you live in. People need to wake up and downsize!

By: Mokihana

Mokihana — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:50:06 +0000

This is a good base list of change. We are getting ready to hitch up VardoForTwo our wee home on wheels, and hanging laundry is right up there as our drier of choice. Washing with chem-free laundry product (ie. baking soda or no fragrance soaps) and air drying is gentle to the earth and me stuff. I live with multiple chemical sensitivities, so LESS is always BEST. We’re heading to the woods with friends who will be the mother ship. A shared garden space between us is a goal for 2009. We’ve a PETT (portable environmental toilet) which we’ll work into the scheme of things once we’re in the woods.

@Jen : Oh, the barking dogs … yuK. neighborhood covenants are really in need of a remodel, part of the mountain of educating that needs to be done.

TTH… thanks for this forum it helps spark the faith I need to keep on …

By: thistinyhouse

thistinyhouse — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:50:17 +0000

For a state like California facing drought, composting toilets are a great water-saving solution. There’s obviously a mountain-sized challenge of educating the public, however.

By: Refi your mind

Refi your mind — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 07:35:14 +0000

Human wast alternatives should be studied by the user before you go for it. I am all for composting toilets and other methods but they are baned here in california because of worms that hibernate when you try to kill them. Some funky stuff.

By: thistinyhouse

thistinyhouse — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:30:39 +0000

Hi DJ and Lynne, welcome to my little blog. Sure, I’ll write more about minimum size standards in my next post. Thanks!

By: Lynne

Lynne — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:52:44 +0000

If you have the time, could you expand upon the ‘minimum size standards in municipal housing code’ that we endure?

I’m been looking through my notes, bookmarks and such for a couple weeks now and can’t find my facts! Either way, thank you and thank you for your blog and the inspiration you bring.

By: DJ

DJ — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:14:43 +0000

I couldn’t agree more… a neighbor just got two hens in a coop in her backyard and is starting an urban agriculture group. Or trying to, anyway, the first meeting has been put off several times for holidays.

I’m always amazed that no one wonders about the health impact of putting sewage into the water system.

By: thistinyhouse

thistinyhouse — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 22:08:43 +0000

Wow, that’s a good sized garden. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and keep us updated on your chicken situation!