Our forefathers came from Europe in ships that ferried people from the old country to the new places, such as South Carolina and other locations along the east coast of North America. They came in ships that packed people in the cargo holds, and if you could afford a berth, you had a carpenter build you a bed in part of the hold that your family could call their own space. Otherwise, the passengers found a place to sleep in the hold as they claimed a piece of the floor as their own.
Upon landing, say at Plimouth Rock, the people debarked from the boat and set up communal areas, and eventually small places, such as cabins and what we would call tiny, primitive log houses. The folks that did business out of their homes had a small area of the cabin as their work space (it was generally the front part of the cabin) and had a shingle hanging over their door so people knew who they were and what they did.
Thomas Jefferson had a small cabin on his plantation that sat to the front of his property and this was his office and lawyers’ office. From Plimouth Rock Plantation to Daniel Boone, to Abe Lincoln, to the soddies on the Plains, to mountain man cabins, to hermitages, to space exploration and colonization, small has been the rule. Make less do more, and create dual-purpose spaces.
In the pursuit of small, however, living big came into being the focus; keeping up with the Jones, bigger is better, living in high-rise condos that spew light into the night, etc. All for the sake of attempting to say, “See what I have, I am better than you!” without saying a word.
The size of a home varies around the world: while some families live in one room huts, others have gigantic homes which seem to never end. Whatever the case, homes tend to grow with their owner’s prosperity. Since 1970, the size of the average new American home has grown by 50 percent. This growth trend is similar in most Western countries. For every trend, however, there is a counter-trend. In the case of home size, more and more people are choosing to live in small homes. Most who downsize opt for more modest quarters, while some homeowners take this trend to a new level, choosing to live in tiny homes (and we mean tiny!). These tiny homes can be as small as 90 sq. ft. complete with bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and living quarters.
For our definition at Tiny Green Cabins, LLC, small housing is anything less than 1500 square feet. Tiny House living is generally thought of less that 800 square feet. Living really small or wee living could be thought of as less than 300 square feet, and this could encompass tiny cabins such as Tiny Green Cabins.
When you are thinking of downsizing, it’s a good idea to first get the feel of what that means to you. Start by seeking out Tiny House builders and ask them to tour one of their tiny houses, and if possible, ask to use one for the weekend. They just may be open to renting one out on site for your curiosity. Tiny Green Cabins has a model and would rent it out for those that want the unique experience of living small. Another option is to find a resort that has tiny cabins/houses for longer stays. You may find that you absolutely love it, or decide that “Gee’ this is nice, but not for me!” As one our visitors emailed us after a visit, “We can’t thank you enough for your time and information - and for letting us into the world of this special little home ”
On the West Coast, Tumbleweed Homes would be an excellent starting point. On the Gulf of Mexico, Tiny Texas Houses, and on the east coast Vermont Tiny Houses. In the heartland of the Midwest, Tiny Green Cabins is ideally located for all to visit. Based in Minnesota, they are built tough to withstand the wide temperature ranges, from Siberian cold to summer hot, and Tiny Green Cabins are also energy conscious.
At Tiny Green Cabins, we will customize a plan, construct it in the most energy efficient way, build it non toxic, build it to live partially or completely off the grid, or build it so you can finish it yourself, or build it turnkey. With more than 40 years of carpentry and builder/remodeler experience, we have learned to enjoy being different, and that means we can respond to what you want easier than builders that only do business “their way.” You are the customer, so we do business your way.
No frills, no gimmicks, we just love what we do!
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