Simple living

Tiny Ten Minute Task

Like everyone else in the world people who live in Tiny Houses wear things out.  My husband’s jeans and my slippers are proof of this fact.

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I decided that these could have their lives extended with just a little bit time and effort, so I got the tools I need to do the job.

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To fix the slippers which have just a small hole – I used a darning technique that Grandma, Violet, taught me.  Simply… turn what needs darning inside out, knot the thread to the edge of the hole then sew with small stitches close to edge all around it.

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If I were darning a large hole I would not have done this, but in the case of this little one – on stretchy slippers, I just pulled the thread, stitched down the lump and tied a knot.  This took me less than a minute.   DSCF4796

Working inside of pockets is a bit difficult so I used an iron on patch and then hand stitched it to make it more secure.  I thought the hole looked cooler than the patch being on the outside so I decided to leave this showing.  After ironing it on I used small stitches all around the hole and then again all around the patch.  This took me about seven and a half minutesDSCF4798

I know that this is not exactly tiny house related, but it does save me money and time.  I don’t have to buy others right away and I used far less time repairing what I already have then I would have used going to the store to find new slippers and new jeans.  As well, I reduced, reused and recycled which is a lot to do with with the tiny house, tiny footprint morality.

So… if you are a math-E person like my husband you are probably thinking that the time does not add up… you are right.  The task took less than ten minutes, but still I had to get the tools and put them away and this took a little bit of time too.

Categories: Ontario, Simple living, Sustainable living, View | Tags: , , | 3 Comments

Searching for Alice

Sometimes when it is cold outside pulling on layers of clothes feels like a terrible nuisance.  On days like this I stand at the window and look out.

Window shopping

Before long something aways tugs at my curiosity at THO and this curiosity wins out over the desire to stay toasty.  So on goes the coat and boots and the camera also gets tucked into my pocket.

Looking back from the lane, the house looks cozy…

Looking back

Below my feet, right where I stand I see that I have had a silent visitor.

Footprints

Today, however, I did not get whisked down the rabbit hole.  A pity, I think.  Wouldn’t it be fun to be Alice?

Categories: Nature, Off Grid, Ontario, Open your eyes, Simple living, Sustainable living, Tiny House Ontario, View | 18 Comments

Plenty of Light

Most of my readers will know that I installed a solar panel this summer and ran wires and lights too.  When I did so a few of you cautioned that the 12 volt system would not meet my needs.  So far, not much has changed, every time I turn on the switch there is a ray of clear, free light that pops on.

The only let down I had, is that I can’t charge my drill.  This remains the only drawback of going with a small 12 volt system in my particular off grid situation.

The stand that I built for it seems to be working really well too.  It keeps the panel off the ground and it is also heavy enough to stay on the ground even with the huge winter winds that we experience here on the escarpment.

Pretty reflection isn’t it?

Winter Solar

Categories: Nature, Off Grid, Ontario, Simple living, Sustainable living, Tiny House Ontario | 7 Comments

Monochromatic

At Tiny House Ontario, the forest floor is crisp and white with snow and the trees are simply grey scale.  At night, the moon has been large and round in the sky drawing shadows across the smooth white surface.  It is lovely.  This morning when I woke it was snowing it was so breathtakingly lovely that I curled myself into a ball on the plush brown blanket and rested my head on my arm, simply watching the snow fall.   It is absolutely monochromatic here except the house which is, of course, the colour of chocolate.

I realized when my tummy started grumbling that I had been there three full hours.  I don’t know how the time got away on me, really… I felt as though I were there for just a moment.

The good news is: now I can snowshoe!  Woot!

 

Categories: Forest, Nature, Ontario, Open your eyes, Simple living, Tiny House Ontario, View | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Carbon Footprint

I took a test this morning to see what the carbon footprint for Tiny House Ontario is.

Here are the results

House 0.03 metric tons of CO2
Flights 0.00 metric tons of CO2
Car 0.00 metric tons of CO2
Motorbike 1.22 metric tons of CO2
Bus & Rail 0.00 metric tons of CO2
Secondary 1.76 metric tons of CO2

Total = 3.01 metric tons of CO2

It went on to say:

  • Your footprint is 3.01 metric tons per year
  • The average footprint for people in Canada is 20.00 metric tons
  • The average for the industrial nations is about 11 metric tons
  • The average worldwide carbon footprint is about 4 metric tons
  • The worldwide target to combat climate change is 2 metric tons

It is a pretty good result, but I have to say that I am very surprised to learn that I am over consuming in the secondary section.  Here are the answers that I gave:

Carbon Footprint Screen Shot 2013-01-18 at 2.44.03 PM

I guess this means that next year I have to hope for a better growing year so that I can reap as much as I sow. I am not sure how else I can reduce really as my bike is essential for me to get around and I really don’t buy much besides food and things to complete THO.  This gives me a lot to think about!

What are your results?  Do you see any way that you can reduce this number?

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Update: I just found that an acre of 15 year old forest will carry 1-2 cubic metres of carbon per acre.  THO forest is at least 9.5 acres of forest which means that it likely carries at least 19 cubic meters… not sure still what the different measurements are, but this does make me feel a little better.

Categories: Off Grid, Open your eyes, Simple living, Sustainable living, Tiny House Ontario, View | Tags: , , , | 11 Comments