25-10 - Flipbook - Page 89
October 2025
Tiny Houses
The idea of living in 400 square feet or less won9t appeal to everyone. But for
those who plan to spend most of their time outside or in their community a tiny
house can be an intriguing idea.
The small space is inexpensive and tiny houses can be moved if you want to
pack up and take your house with you. The concept is becoming so popular
that some people are adopting a minimalist lifestyle and living in tiny houses anywhere 4 not just off the grid.
Natural Homes
Natural homes home have roots going back hundreds of years. They come in
different forms, for example, underground houses, cob houses, and earthbag
houses.
Underground houses are far from a rabbit9s burrow, but they do spark the idea
of hobbit homes. You can purchase a modular home designed to be covered
with soil, grass, and even large vegetation. The earth around it provides excellent insulation and the homes are very durable and long-lasting.
Cob house designs are based on ancient building principles of using sand, clay,
straw, and whatever other organic materials you can find. The thermal mass of
the structure helps regulate the temperature inside.
The materials for cob houses are very inexpensive and you can even do it yourself to cut down on the labor costs. You can make cob houses large and spacious and they can last for decades if built properly.
Another way to build a natural home is with bags of dirt. An earthbag house is
built by piling sacks of dirt in a circle to build a dome. It9s cost-effective and you
can do it yourself. The dome design is very strong and it also takes advantage of
the thermal mass.
Once the earthbag dome is finished, it can be finished off with plaster or covered with a living roof to make it blend into the ground. The concept is basic,
but with a bit of creativity you can build a large, comfortable home.
Cabins
Cabins are a kind of rustic off-grid living experience that hails back to the pioneer days. Homes are often built with local materials, particularly if they are located in the woods. If an image of a log cabin from Little House on the Prairie is
coming to mind, you9ve got the right idea.
Many people already have cabins for summer vacations or as a place to stay
during the hunting season. However, with a few additions like renewable energy
and a good heat source, cabins can be a comfortable year-round off-grid
home.
This is a great option in areas that are hard to get to. Trailering in a tiny home or
shipping container or bringing the material to build from the ground up can be
difficult. However, clearing a few trees from the land itself to build your off-grid
home is a little more feasible.
