Sustainable living

Meanwhile in Boulder Colorado…

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Laura

Good Luck Boulder! What you are doing is important!

Categories: Environmentalism, Sustainable living, Wind Farm | 3 Comments

Insulation revisited

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Laura

I am on grid for a couple of days because I have a few things to take care of that require water and electricity. Part of this is preparation for my interview with Tiny r(E)volution. I wanted to catch up on listening to the podcasts I missed.

It got me thinking about my insulation. Unlike a lot of tiny house builders, I chose mineral insulation. I used R15 for my walls and R45 for the roof. Tiny House Ontario heats easily and stays reasonably cool in the day as well, but this is not just because of the insulation. Due to the fact that I took into account the location of the house on the planet, it is situated to get optimal sun in the winter and as little sun as possible in the summer. The large maples around the house really help with this. Because my house is in Ontario, I would have loved to use R45 for the walls too, but I did not want to lose the interior size to the walls. This was a concern only because I had to keep the footprint of the house under 108 square feet due to building code restrictions.

My reasons for using mineral insulation are clear. I don’t want to reinvent the wheel so here is an article that mirrors my own thoughts on the subject. Plus, it is light and easy to use. If I were to build a framed home again, I would use this product again.

I have to say that it is fun to revisit these early images. It is just 2 years ago, and I know it is a tiny building but I really cannot believe how much the site and home have improved. It gives me incentive to keep on keeping on!

Categories: Ontario, Sustainable living, Tiny House Ontario, View | Tags: mineral insulation | 4 Comments

FROST!

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Laura

No worries, this rural girl listens to the radio and I have it covered!

Categories: Food, Kingston, Nature, Off Grid, Ontario, Simple living, Sustainable living, Tiny House Ontario | Leave a comment

The Supervisors

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Laura

Hj and I dug up the garden yesterday. The chives are coming up nicely, but the parsley winterkilled, so more will have to be put in.

The four supervisors kept their eyes on us to make sure we were doing a good job.

Planting will begin in a couple of days.

Categories: Dogs, Environmentalism, Food, Off Grid, Ontario, Simple living, Sustainable living, Tiny House Ontario | Tags: food | Leave a comment

Gypsy Caravan

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Laura

UPDATE: (June 24, 2013) Bear has sold this caravan. He is currently building another that can be towed behind a modern vehicle. I plan on going down to give him a day when the rain slows – I imagine I will learn much.

If you are interested in a caravan, please contact Bear because he is considering taking orders. Thanks! Laura

The cook stove darkened from the light of the doorway

There is a wonderful caravan for sale.

It is a five year old traditionally built utilitarian gypsy caravan. It is 6x 12 feet and built on an original 1905 McLaughlin undercarriage. The McLaughlin undercarriage is significant, because this was designed specifically to carry glass milk bottles on rough roads. The ride on this wagon is very smooth and comfortable when compared to other gypsy wagons.

This wagon has ample storage. It is located under the double bed platform, under the double bench seats and also along the wall there is a shelved cupboard which is pictured below.

There is a hide away table which has a checker/chess board painted on.

The one small contemporary convenience is a small unobtrusive installation of a solar light.

A gypsy wagon is not built to be pulled behind a vehicle. It is designed to go horse speed. In fact Maurice “Bear” Leger, the man who built this caravan, has lived and traveled thousands of kilometres in this manner. You can read and see more about him and his lifestyle here and here.

The front can be removed so that a team or yoke hook up can be put on the front. (this means that if you wish to use two horses to pull it or if you want to pull it short distances with a contemporary vehicle you can do so.

If you wish to move it long distances, the wagon can be transported on a flatbed or behind a 1500 (or larger) pound horse.

The covering tarp on the wagon is military grade and therefore should last for tens of years, but like all gypsy wagons this is removable when it comes time for ordinary upkeep.

The wagon has a wood stove, but it is not insulated, rather it is built in the old way with pretty interior panels and a covering tarp. When the winter comes to those who choose the traditional lifestyle, a field is located, 200 bales of hay are ordered and delivered and when they come they are stuffed under the wagon and piled around it. Only the front and rear end are left open for the light. The hay is fed one bale at a time to the horse and by spring… when the insulation and the feed are gone the wagon is pulled away.

This wagon was not used this winter as Bear has had to leave this lifestyle behind; however when we went back to see it on Easter morning it was dry as a bone inside.