Greg Johnson

Media Request: HGTV Seeks Small Housers

February 28, 2015 by Greg Johnson, posted in announcements, media

Organization: HGTV

Type of media: Video

Contact: Jason Preston

Email: smallhouses@pietown.tv

Deadline: (to be announced)

Request:

Are you looking for or about to buy a tiny house – 500 square feet or smaller? If so, the producers of HGTV’s “Tiny House Hunters” is currently casting for people buying tiny homes to feature on upcoming episodes. Energetic, fun and enthusiastic tiny house home buyers interested in being on Tiny House Hunters should email smallhouses@pietown.tv. Or call Jason at (818-205-0640).

Converting Bamboo into Bamboo Cloth & Bedding

February 25, 2015 by Greg Johnson, posted in Resources

The journey from a bamboo stalks into a yard of soft bamboo bedding results into 100% organic bedding that is both environment and skin friendly. This chemical free conversion process helps you sleep comfortably in the Night that helps your skin to breath all Night. Below is an elaborate process in the form of infographic by which organic bedding manufactures convert the bamboo grass into fine bedding.

This Infographic is created by Cozy Earth talks about manufacturing of products like Bamboo sheet, Bamboo comforter and silk sheet.

Microhouse Video by Portlandia Features Tiny House Satire

February 25, 2015January 20, 2023 by Greg Johnson, posted in announcements, community, media, news, video

NOTE: As of 20 Jan 2023, the video mentioned below is no longer public. [Source]

Today, for the first time in over 12 years we had a member leave the Small House Society. So, the Small House Society is now a little smaller. Here’s what happened…

In response to the above video posted to our Facebook page, Mary P. stated:

“this shot will definately get me to ‘unlike’ …. sorry … we all know IT happens …. I’m guessing you’re trying to build up your likes ….. if this is so …. then I, for one will have to say bye bye ….. seriously??? I’ve seen WAY too many other FB pages that actually know how to build a desk seperate from the toilet …. SHAME!!!!”

Mary left before we could respond to her.

We’re thankful to everyone for the lively Facebook discussion and many positive comments/likes in response to this video. For the few people, like Mary, who were upset about the video, we wanted to respond with the following.

This video appears to have been created by people close to the small house movement, and we assume it was not mean spirited or meant to offend.

It may have been created as a way of being satirical and self-effacing, or it may have been created as an effort to be mean and try to discredit the small house movement and tiny house dwellers. Either way, it belongs here as part of the larger discussion about simple and small living.

We don’t silence and censor our critics. To the extent that people have criticisms about the small house movement, we want to hear those criticisms, reflect on them, respond courteously, and work to improve what we do.

For this reason, in any movement, it is essential to become the authoritative source and platform for the criticism of your movement. Instead of censoring others in an effort to create a cult-like myopic sectarian strict observance of narrow dogma, it’s important to have a diversity of ideas, the ability to laugh at yourself, and recognize your own faults or areas that can improve.

This is the spirit upon which the Small House Society was founded, and in that spirit we continue.

Your Home Is Your Castle, No Matter Its Size

February 5, 2015 by Greg Johnson, posted in Resources

We all know our homes come in many sizes and shapes. The castles, mansions all the way down to the condo, apartment, modular, mobile, or the Mini, Small, Tiny, Miniscule etc. They all have one thing in common….

The amount of floor space or sq. footage is what we all have to presently live/work within its confines unless we add more outside dimensional space. These dimensional changes are usually special designed roofs to make attic space, tip-out in walls and/or windows such as bay windows etc., adding room additions, and even adding a basement/cellar to get more living/ working space.

Those restrictions/solutions may not be all the options. Presently, there is patent pending construction/design options to possibly allow anyone to add extra living/working space that a home has without adding any outside dimensional changes to an existing home…regardless of its size.

I am not talking about padded storage boxes that act as kitchen seats, or beds that are atop of a storage locker, or closets buried in all the different wall spaces, or pull down beds etc. Nor am I talking about the sliding walls or sliding storage shelves that you may have seen elsewhere either. I am talking about patent pending new ways to actually provide you an addition 25-40% more living/ working utilization space within the set confines of the sq. footage that you have to live with.

I am not at liberty at this time to go into a lot of details. However, I will share more specific information (same narrative information presented to Provisional Patent Office), with those that contact me. I would like to know if there is an interest in this or not, as I am in the process of building a table model top model (about 90% finished), showing the basic concepts in action.

Yes, I am the inventor of these concepts, and I am very interested in talking with those that are interested and/or wanting to pursue what I feel would be a very profitable business development agreement. The options are vast and world-wide in scope.

My email: is addhomespacenow@gmail.com I would enjoy hearing from you as to your level of interest. I promise I will do my very best to reply to all those that contact me in a very timely manner.

Thanks for your time and interest in reading this. I hope to have a video completed in early 2015.

Lee Marcum

Small House Society Annual Fundraiser

February 3, 2015 by Greg Johnson, posted in announcements, news

3 February 2015

Dear Friend,

At the start of each new year, we focus on fundraising for only a few weeks.

Donations help us have greater impact throughout the year ahead in promoting and supporting the small house movement.

You can give using PayPal, Fundly, or by sending a check to: Small House Society, PO Box 2717, Iowa City, IA 52244-2717.

Those who give are added to our listing of contributing members.

As we start a new year, it’s good time to reflect back on what’s been accomplished and what we hope to do in the months ahead.

This past year has been amazing. Here are just a few highlights of what we’ve accomplished this past year:

We’ve been able to help with the launch of two major network television shows focused on the small house movement: Tiny House Nation and Tiny House Hunting.
We helped with the website launch for a local small house group, TinyHouseIowaCity.com.
We’ve connected with major media from coast to coast and around the world.
We’ve responded to numerous emails and phone calls from those wanting to embrace smaller, simpler, and more sustainable living.
We’ve also helped promote small house designers and builders.
Our website now has almost 17,000 followers through direct subscriptions and various social media sites.

If you you’re able and willing, please consider giving or our work as indicated above.

Thanks. I want to thank the global team of volunteers and contributors “behind the scenes” who help make all this possible. I’m very grateful to the many people who continue to uphold and advance the mission of the Small House Society.

Everyone who is connected with the Small House Society at any level is part of the success and progress of the movement. However you’re involved, your work is appreciated and having an impact.

Thanks again for your support. Please let me know if there is any way that the Small House Society can serve you better.

Regards,
Gregory Johnson, Facilitator, President, Co-Founder
Small House Society

Internet: http://www.smallhousesociety.org
E-Mail: shs @ resourcesforlife.com (without spaces)
Postal: c/o Resources for Life, PO Box 2717, Iowa City, IA 52244-2717
Phone: (319) 621-4911
Subscribe. Enter your email address below and click the Join Now button to be notified when the latest Small House Society newsletter is available.

* * *

Global Reach. During a typical week, we have thousands of visitors from over 120 countries visiting our website. The map below is just a snapshot of just a few hours. So, the need for additional helpers is great. We have over 15,000 people that we communicate each month through email, phone, or these updates. Click for a larger image.

Small House Society News 201501

January 31, 2015February 1, 2015 by Greg Johnson, posted in announcements, news

Small House Society – News 201501 | 31 January 2015 | Saturday

Dear Friend,

Here’s the latest news from the Small House Society.

Annual Fundraiser. At the start of each new year, we focus on fundraising for only a few weeks.

Donations help us have greater impact throughout the year ahead in promoting and supporting the small house movement.

You can give using PayPal, Fundly, or by sending a check to: Small House Society, PO Box 2717, Iowa City, IA 52244-2717.

Those who give are added to our listing of contributing members.

As we start a new year, it’s good time to reflect back on what’s been accomplished and what we hope to do in the months ahead.

This past year has been amazing. Here are just a few highlights of what we’ve accomplished this past year:

We’ve been able to help with the launch of two major network television shows focused on the small house movement: Tiny House Nation and Tiny House Hunting.
We helped with the website launch for a local small house group, TinyHouseIowaCity.com.
We’ve connected with major media from coast to coast and around the world.
We’ve responded to numerous emails and phone calls from those wanting to embrace smaller, simpler, and more sustainable living.
We’ve also helped promote small house designers and builders.
Our website now has almost 17,000 followers through direct subscriptions and various social media sites.

If you you’re able and willing, please consider giving or our work as indicated above.

Everyone who is connected with the Small House Society at any level is part of the success and progress of the movement. However you’re involved, your work is appreciated and having an impact.

Thanks again for your support. Please let me know if there is any way that the Small House Society can serve you better.

Regards,
Gregory Johnson, Facilitator, President, Co-Founder
Small House Society

* * *

Global Reach. During a typical week, we have thousands of visitors from over 120 countries visiting our website. The map below is just a snapshot of just a few hours. So, the need for additional helpers is great. We have over 8000 people that we communicate each month through email, phone, or these updates. Click for a larger image.

Micro Loft Designs That Avoid Violating Building Codes

January 26, 2015February 9, 2015 by Greg Johnson, posted in codes and standards, news

“Apartments under a certain size aren’t allowed. What I did to get around that is to have this fall under the rooming house code. Rooming house code doesn’t allow for cooking facilities inside of the unit, but a microwave for some reason, even a convection microwave, is not considered a cooking device. On a small unit of 225 square feet, you’re not allowed to put a door between the sleeping area and the rest of the space because you would create a sleeping space which is prohibited under building code also.” (@3’20”)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmL2l-bcuUQ]

“The last two units to be rented out were the larger units. Everyone wanted the 225-square-foot units. Those were the high demand units.” (@12’30”)

Video originally published to YouTube by Kristen Dirksen on 26 Jan 2015.

Description from YouTube. The Providence Arcade is nearly 2 centuries old, but when Evan Granoff bought it was considered one of the city’s most endangered properties. Realizing that the demand for commercial space would never match that for downtown housing, Granoff decided to convert the upper floors of the country’s first indoor mall into tiny loft apartments.

At just 225 square feet, the smallest units would have fallen below the city’s minimum size standard for apartments so Granoff decided to classify his micro-lofts as a rooming house. The Providence rooming house code allows for rooms as small as 80 square feet (single occupancy), as long as they don’t have a cooking facility. Fortunately, for Granoff and tenants, a microwave is not considered a cooking device.

The tiniest units rent for $550 per month, almost half the city average, and all of them rented out almost immediately (there’s now a waiting list). Many of the tenants don’t spend a lot of time at home. We talked to Naz Karim, a doctor who works emergency room shifts, and plans to spend much of the year on a fellowship in Africa and Sharon Kinnier who uses the loft for when she’s working in a Providence lab formulating organic cosmetics (she spends the rest of the time with her husband in Washington D.C.).

The bottom floor of the mall is still commercial, but Granoff limits it to micro retail so no chains and they’re all focused on fashion and art design. We stopped in at nude boutique where Amy Stetkiewicz, one of the 6 local designers, was closing up shop downstairs from her micro loft.

Click here to read the original story on FairCompanies.com.

Canadian Student Launching Small House Business Needs Guidance

January 24, 2015 by Greg Johnson, posted in announcements

16 January 2015

Greetings Small House Society Members:

My name is Cory Stephens. I’m an Instructor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Victoria currently teaching a program in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada.

We have a student in our program who is developing a contractor business specializing in Tiny House Construction for Aboriginal Communities in Northern British Columbia and Yukon.

As part of our entrepreneurship program, we include a mentorship component during which students work with mentors to validate business assumptions working towards development of a stronger business plan. Previously, our student a red-seal journeyman carpenter, has been the team manager for a small-house project completed in Altin, British Columbia (4 small houses built).

The small-house initiative was the inspiration for his new business and hopes to expand the small-house movement throughout Northern British Columbia and Yukon.

At this stage of his entrepreneurship program, our student is seeking a mentor which will provide guidance in developing his business plan and building his business.

Any referrals to a potential mentor for our student would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Cory Stephens,
Program Manager, Northwest Aboriginal Canadian Entrepreneurs
Email: cory_stephens70@hotmail.com

Media Request: San Diego Reader Seeks Small Housers

January 7, 2015January 7, 2015 by Greg Johnson, posted in announcements, media

Organization: San Diego Reader
Type of media: Alternative, Weekly publication
Location: San Diego County
Contact: Moss Gropen, Esq.
Phone: (858) 271-1915*
Email: mgropen1@san.rr.com
Deadline: 16 January 2015

Request:

I’m writing a front-cover story on local “small/tiny” homes for the San Diego Reader. Accordingly, I’d like to interview San Diego area residents who live in these types of houses. (I’d also be interested in chatting with architects, builders and other locals who are involved in some way, including advocacy.)

Thank you for your kind assistance.

*please note that (858) 271-1915 is also my law office #

Land Caretaker Opportunities Directory

December 30, 2014December 30, 2014 by Greg Johnson, posted in announcements, community, Resources

Many of you responded positively to the post from Janet Thome of Tiny Portable Cedar Cabins about her need for a caretaker. As a result of the overwhelming response she received, Janet assembled the caretakers opportunities list below for those still seeking a land caretaker opportunity.

* * *

2 December 2014

I am very excited regarding all the interest in my Caretaker position and the other possibilities for my community in Marlin, Wa. The only bad thing is I cannot take everyone and it will be very difficult to choose. I want to thank everyone who shared my post, I am very grateful. I am going to take my time on deciding, so please feel free to contact me. I will spend the next few weekends talking to people.

Because I cannot take everyone, I would very much like to help pass on some information where there are other communities and care taking possibilities. The fact that my post wanting a caretaker was viewed over 97.000 times tells me there is a great need and interest. I hope these resources help others.

The Caretaker’s Gazette

The Caretaker’s Gazette is a wonderful resource to find care taking positions all over the world. It is very affordable to get a yearly subscription. You can put an ad in if you are seeking a position or if you need a care taker. They also do regular emails listing new opportunities.

Intentional Communities

Intentional Communities is a website listing intentional communities all over the world. They usually have their homes and land established and are often looking for workers and members to join. You can list a free ad.

Workers On Wheels

Workers on Wheels is a free resource to find paying positions as a care taker or a camp ground host if you have your own RV or tiny house on wheels.

New Community Outside Of Eugene

There is a new Tiny House community forming 2 hours from Eugene, Oregon in a very rural location. It is on 10 acres and it will have full hook ups for tiny houses and RV’S. It is so new it does not have a name yet, but I am going to work with the owner to send people his way, so please contact me if you want to know more about this community. He does not have a website yet. I will add more information as I get it.

__________

Janet Thome is the proprietor of Tiny Portable Cedar Cabins in Marlin, Washington.

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The Caretaker’s Gazette

Intentional Communities

Workers On Wheels

New Community Outside Of Eugene

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