APRIL EDITION 2018
The Freedom of Living Simply
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APRIL EDITION 2018
Contents Shepherd huts that are works of “art” … Page
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For more fun and adventure, just add water … Page
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The tiny house that was fit for a queen … Page
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Published by: Tiny Living Productions, Ltd Glasgow UK Editor: Pamela Palongue Design by: Gilmour Graphics Email: info@tinylivingmagazine.co.uk On the cover: A lovely garden door in Watcombe, Somerset by Mark Bolton Photography
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EMMA APPLETON TINY HOUSES WARM, BRIGHT AND JUST ENOUGH! EMMA APPLETON Tiny houses and cabins handmade with love. Tel: 07889774716 www.emmaappleton.co.uk
Speaking of Tiny Houses The Social Bite is a registered charity with the goal of ending homelessness. It operates high-end sandwich shops located in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. Customers have the option of paying for food for homeless persons in advance, and the shops employ people who have struggled with homelessness to work in their cafes. They also recently organised the world’s largest Sleep Out event to raise money and awareness for the cause. But certainly one of their biggest projects has been to build a tiny house village for the homeless (Social Bite Village). The 11 tiny homes were designed by Jonathan Avery of Tiny House Scotland, and serve as a safe place for those who have been living on the streets. The former homeless are able to live in their home for 12 to 18 months, as they learn skills to help break the pattern of homelessness. To find out more, visit www.social-bite.co.uk.
Build Your Own Tiny House The Center for Alternative Technology in Wales, offers a course in building your own tiny house, taught by wellknown expert Carwyn Lloyd Jones. The course includes instruction in timber framing, window installation, basic plumbing and the installation of renewable systems. The next available class will be offered 4th October. This is a very popular class and will book up early, so be sure to plan ahead if you would like to attend. For more info visit courses.cat.org.uk.
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Office: 01684 310959 Workshop: 07946 413072 Email: info@fernhills.co.uk www.fernhills.co.uk
Tiny House Neighbourhoods in the UK Groups are popping up around the UK to build tiny house neighbourhoods. This community led initiative is growing increasingly popular! Planning permission is simplified, and there is great information sharing. It also makes sense for builders who would make little profit on a single tiny home dwelling of ÂŁ25,000, but would prefer to tackle a larger project worth ten times this amount. When individuals pool their resources, they can sometimes accomplish far more. The homes are designed to be affordable and sustainable, with different combinations of sustainable practices such as rainwater collection, solar and wind power, and recycling. Most will have shared community spaces for larger events and activities when more space is needed, along with community vegetable gardens and outdoor activity areas. For more information on community led housing, visit these websites www.communitylandtrusts.org.uk www.world-habitat.org.
Tiny Living Magazine is available in print for SCRAPBOOKING, VISION BOARDS and HOME JOURNALS. Have four seasonal issues mailed right to your door with all the same great articles as our online for just ÂŁ20 per year.
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A Shepherd Hut… Sans the Sheep
It seems that everyone wants a shepherd hut these days, the nostalgic little wagons which shepherds dwelled in, in order to stay close to their flock. When brother and sister team, Paul and Louise began building them in 2010, there were only 2 other companies in the UK. Now almost 80 businesses are engaged, full-time in the construction of them, each with its own version of how they should look. But Paul and Louise have a unique take on the nostalgic dwellings. Paul, who was an exhibiting artist and builder in Dorset in his previous life, brought something special to the huts that no one else could – his art. It all came about by chance when Louise decided she wanted a shepherd hut for her garden. Paul took on the challenge, and liked the finished product so much, he decided to build one for himself, which quickly lead to requests for others.
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One day while building one, he noticed some paintings left over from his exhibiting days and decided to use one as a panel in the hut. His instincts were spot on, and his ability to create custom murals on the walls and ceilings of the huts was soon in hot demand. Although his favourite genre is French impressionism, and he frequently paints pastoral scenes, he’s also done cityscapes and paints within any range desired. Louise, a former press photographer, also has an artistic eye, and they love to be challenged with new styles to create. They’re currently designing a hut which will be done in tudor-style with a fairy tale quality, to be used as a museum and occasional wedding venue. Louise says that the range of uses for the shepherd huts is quite varied. Many are used as holiday homes, which is a great way to experience nature with friends and
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family without the high cost of a hotel in a more urban environment. Shepherd huts, are also less expensive and require less building materials than a full size holiday home. They have the added benefit of being somewhat portable, but cannot be moved frequently, since each one weighs around three tonnes!
great way to experience A nature with friends and family without the high cost of a hotel
They are also frequently used as a semi-private place for teens, and students returning from uni, affording a greater degree of privacy than mum and dad’s house. One rather unusual project Louise and Paul took on, involved building a series of huts for monks, who use them for certain periods of time as a hermitage for meditation and reflection. Each one is a bespoke creation and requires a bit of time to build, which limits them to producing just eight huts per year! It’s quite possible to get planning permission for them, but laws vary depending on your location. Visit our website at TinyLivingMagazine.co.uk and click ‘The Library’ from the main menu for a directory of who to contact for your local planning commission. For more stunning photos of Louise and Paul’s creations, visit their website at Round Hill Shepherd Huts, www.roundhillshepherdhuts.co.uk. (Sheep are optional)
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For Fun & Adventure… Just Add Water!
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If you’re a finding the process of building a tiny house a bit daunting, maybe a tiny house that floats could work for you. There’s no planning permission, your home will be completely portable, and you can buy a boat in liveable condition, starting at around £25,000. There are challenges to be sure, but if you’re independent and willing to learn new things, living on a narrowboat may be a viable option. Here’s some things to think about… Although much attention has been given to the fact that narrowboats are only about six feet wide, they actually have quite a bit of vertical length, giving you more space than you might expect. They can range anywhere from about 20 to 70 feet in length. In the UK, you can cruise the canals continuously, but by law, you must move to a new location every two weeks. Another option is a permanent mooring. Consider that you’re generally safer in any location where you’re familiar with your surroundings. Remaining in one location will also give you more of a chance to get to know your neighbours, and enjoy the camaraderie of other boaters. If you need a permanent mooring to be close to work or school, it’s wise to shop for a mooring before shopping for the boat. More popular moorings, close to public transport and markets will fill up first. If you want to keep your car, you’ll need one with a car park close by. One of the main concerns most non-boaters have, is staying warm in the winter. Actually, boats are fairly snug in the winter cold. Being a small space with low ceilings, they will heat up quickly. But what about other necessities, such as electricity and water?
Photography: Boat with Swans - A narrowboat named Inertia with some curious swans, Tim Green Red Boat - Narrowboat on the Peak Forest Canal, Derbyshire, Renata
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Electricity can be provided by a generator, and you can also run your boat’s engine as a power source. This would be a really good time to make use of solar and wind to supplement your power. Solar panels are improving in the ability to absorb sunlight, and there are special kits built just for narrowboats. Water is another essential, and you’ll need to navigate your boat to the nearest watering station for filling on a regular basis. Since boats can only travel 4 miles per hour, you’ll want to be fairly close. (There is no competency test for navigating a boat, as there is for cars, but the boat itself must be licenced) Now… what about that most dreaded subject of all narrowboat subjects - sewage? One option is to collect the waste and dispose of it yourself at designated receptacles. This seems rather more like a self-imposed penance, than an option really. A better choice may be to have a tank which operates similarly to the systems used on campers. It will need to be emptied from time to time, and you can do this by taking your boat to the nearest pumping station. There’s an increasing number of service boats traveling the
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waterways that can pump out your tank for you, and also sell you gas. Many people fear that Wifi won’t be available on a boat, but there are Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) systems, which are satellite systems with a small dish. There are also 4G router solutions which can be lower cost than VSATs, and generally faster. So your friends will not have to miss out on all those selfies of you chilling on the deck of your narrowboat. You will need insurance of course, and like cars and houses, boats require maintenance. One very important tip from seasoned boaters and brokers is to get a boat survey prior to buying your boat. It’s equivalent to the homebuyer’s survey on a house, and the sale can be made contingent upon the results of the survey. If you’re feeling fairly aquatic at this point, visit these sites for some more info: www.waterways.org.uk www.scottishcanals.co.uk.
The Gypsy Queen & Her Tiny Palace
Nestled into the Cheviot Hills of the Scottish Borders area, a tiny house with a mysterious past, greets curious travellers winding along High Street in Kirk Yetholm. Its diminutive size and simple, yet beautiful design is probably enough to draw in the curious. But the history of this enduring little cottage is fascinating, and believed to date to the 1600s.
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The current owners, Tracey and Steve Bloxham, purchased the home about 10 years ago, unaware of its connection with gypsy royalty. In researching the property, Steve learned that a woman named Esther Faa Blythe lived in the house, the last Queen of the Gypsies. The Faa Family had ruled the Scottish gypsies for centuries and were a branch of the English Romanichal people. Queen Esther was interviewed by Romany expert and author, George Borrow in 1866, who described her as a “gentlewoman� who refused to take money in exchange for their interview. She was said to have bright eyes, a dignified manner and was quite shrewd. Despite these endearing qualities, she fell upon financial hard times, and the prejudice often shown towards the Romany people, likely did little to improve her lot. Sadly, she died penniless and is buried in the Yetholm Church graveyard, without a marker. At the time she lived in the cottage, it was a simple one room dwelling. But more recent owners, have made the most of the vertical space by turning the loft into two bedrooms, which are accessed by a tiny, winding staircase. The thatched roof was replaced with more fire-resistant slate, and every inch of space has been put to good use, with the Bloxhams transforming a small nook into a dining space just large enough for two.
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“If I’m working in the garden for more than 10 minutes, usually someone comes by and wants to know more about the house” says Steve. He’s had several visitors from Australia who have Romanichal roots, anxious to learn more about their possible family ties in the Yetholm area. The Gypsy Palace demonstrates that a tiny house doesn’t have to be new to be charming, affordable, interesting – or fun! The countryside is dotted with cottages that can make a welcome place to call home. They sometimes just need a bit of love… For information on renting The Gypsy Palace, visit www.gypsypalace.co.uk. Our thanks to Tracey Bloxham for the beautiful photos, and to www.scottishgypsies.co.uk, where most of the historical information was obtained.
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o longer the Faa at N the head of her race. Returns to thy palace with spoils of the chase. In the smuggling foray no longer is heard, The song of wild mirth, nor the clash of his sword A 19th century poem, dedicated to Queen Esther, Anonymous.
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Interest in the house and its colourful past is high, and Steve says that he has had tourists from as far away as China and the U.S. visit the Gypsy Palace, which is now available as a holiday let.
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Big Facts About Small Spaces The average size of a home in the UK is 76 square meters, which is the smallest national average in Europe Over 15,000 people in the UK live on the water on narrowboats and canal boats, with several thousand in London alone A shipping container home can be converted into a permanent dwelling with building regulation compliance for around ÂŁ35,000 + VAT There are now over 80 companies building shepherd huts in the UK, with an increasing number of them used as granny (or grandpa) annexes for aging parents According to the British Property Federation, a record 8,000 ‘micro homes’ were built in the UK in 2017 13
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