JUNE EDITION 2018
The Freedom of Living Simply
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JUNE EDITION 2018
Contents 3 7 9
A ‘Wee House’ – Scotland Does Tiny … Page
Gardening without the garden … Page
A Circular Journey … Page
Published by: Tiny Living Productions Ltd, Glasgow UK Editor: Pamela Palongue Design by: Gilmour Graphics Email: info@tinylivingmagazine.co.uk On the cover: Charming cottage and garden Photograph by Dedek
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A ‘Wee House’ – Scotland Does Tiny
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The average home in the UK is 76 square meters, the smallest in all of Europe. So, could you live in a home that’s just 24 square meters? If you think it’s too small, perhaps you should suspend judgment for just a wee moment... When Jennifer Higgins graduated from university, she found herself saddled with educational debt, but she and her husband, Mark still wanted a home of their own. The problem was, when they began to look around, there weren’t many options in their size and price range. Coming from a background of builders, she began to work with her father on designs and materials to try to create something within their budget. He shared Jennifer’s respect for sustainable architecture which he had used in establishing his construction business. The father-daughter collaboration resulted in a cottage-style modular home, with lots of charm, and some clever storage. (A modular home is one which has been partially built off-site. The different elements are then delivered to the building site, where the home can take shape rather quickly as its assembled).
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Jennifer and Mark lived quite happily in their diminutive home for over four years, with one small addition. About a year after moving in, they decided to build a small shed. This provided additional storage for larger items, such as the lawn mower, and other tools, which realistically would not have been stored inside the house, even in a larger, conventional home. Jennifer has since gone on to establish her own building company, The Wee House Company, for people like Mark and herself, who are looking for a smaller, more affordable home. She was awarded ‘Young Inspiring Businesswoman of the Year’ by the Association of Scottish Businesswomen in 2015. Some of the same clever hacks she used in her own home, are incorporated into The Wee House designs. A small area for coats has a high shelf for hats and bags. There is also a bench which opens to store shoes or other items, neatly out of sight. A wall bed creates a cosy reading or sleeping space, and saves precious floor space by keeping the bed flush with the wall. One of the things we like best about the design of this studio cottage, is that there is no precarious ladder to climb in the middle of the night in order to reach
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the bed. The bed is safely on the ground. And it manages to accomplish this in just 24 meters squared! For a wee look at more of their designs, visit www.theweehousecompany.co.uk
Office: 01684 310959 Workshop: 07946 413072 Email: info@fernhills.co.uk www.fernhills.co.uk
Happy Hutting Reforesting Scotland is an organisation based in Edinburgh. As the name implies, they do plant trees, but this is only one of many activities they take part in throughout the year. The group encourages the traditional practice of hutting, “the building and enjoyment of simple structures (usually wooden) for living, working and recreation in the countryside�. The website contains links to a guidance on the legal and safe practices with regards to hutting in Scotland. For more information, visit www.reforestingscotland.org
Newbury Waterways Festival! 8th July, 2018 Held at Victoria Park in Newbury, this free event will have colourful, decorated narrowboats. There will be boat trips, and Victoria Park will be filled with music and fun for the whole family! For more information, visit the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Events page at https://katrust.org.uk
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Gardening without the By Pamela Palongue
Have you ever considered how thoughtful plants are? They never argue with you, they don’t use all the hot water, and they won’t eat all of your favourite snacks without telling you. But they will bring a lot of positive changes to you and your environment. Studies have shown they can improve mental cognition, increase optimism, and can even affect the levels of compassion individuals have for each other. Besides all that, they’re beautiful and visually uplifting, bringing more LIFE to your life.
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But what if you don’t have a garden? How can you get your green fix if you live in a studio flat, or student accommodation without access to a garden? -Or maybe you live on a narrowboat where space is at a premium? We spoke with David at “Blooms for Flowers” in Glasgow, and it seems there’s lots of flowers that grow well in pots, that won’t make high demands of your time. Because most plants prefer indirect sunlight, even flats that don’t receive bright sun, have definite gardening potential. And your home is a much more temperate climate than outdoors.
Money Plants are extremely popular, possibly because they are believed to bring good luck in finances. They may have been named this because they grow quickly and easily, as one might hope for in one’s bank account. They grow so well in fact, that the challenge may be in repotting them as they grow. They also make great gifts, so you can always ‘share the wealth’ with your friends. A lovely plant is the Kalanchoe, available in flowering and non-flowering varieties. They’re native to Madagascar, making them ideal for indoors. They’re fairly healthy by nature, and the flowers are tiny little blooms that will add colour to your space. Another plant that’s low-maintenance is a spider plant. The unusual blades have dark and pale green stripes down the length of them and make a big statement in a small space. If you’re feeling really confident about your burgeoning plants skills, you may want to try herbs. Your home will need at least 6 hours of strong daylight however, and the whole watering/not watering issue can be tricky, but successful herb-tending will be rewarded with added flavour to your meals as well as your space. Some of the easiest are rosemary, oregano, thyme, bay laurel and mint.
Some of you are confirmed plant killers. –You know who you are. If you really are a herbicidal maniac, consider purchasing some silk plants! Some are quite reasonably priced, and if you plant them in real potting soil, they will look authentic, and will brighten your mood.
If you’re botanically challenged, but still want some life form around the house, there are other options which may work for you. The aloe vera plant is actually a succulent, but looks very much like a cactus. Similar to a cactus, it only needs to be watered about every three weeks, making it a great choice for people who travel a great deal. The leaves are also beneficial in treating burns.
How can you display your plants in limited space? There are tonnes of wall-mounted plant hangers, that will save precious floor space. The air plants can be suspended from the ceiling in the glass globes mentioned above. Herbs can be grown on a window sill. And old discarded crates can be painted to match your décor with the added advantage of stackability. (That’s a real word by the way) It will enable you to have several plants in a very small area.
Air plants are also extremely forgiving. They can grow without soil, but will still need watering every 10 to 14 days. They can be grown in beautiful glass globes specially made for this purpose.
There are all sorts of options for gardening without the garden. One caveat emptor: If you have small children or pets, be sure to check that the particular variety you’re purchasing is not poisonous.
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A Circular Journey
Photography: A reconstructed crannog on Loch Tay contrasts sharply with the rectangular lines of a church in the background - Photo by Dave Morris. Opposite page: Rotunda Roundhouse, rotunda.co.uk A circular journey might be described as one which leads you back to where you started. And building in the round is very much a journey which returns us to an ancient time where we began. Though round homes are unusual today, they were the preferred shape of our ancestors from about 2500 BC to 100 AD. The ancient Brits built what they saw around them, mimicking the shape of bird nests, tree trunks, the gently rounded hilltops, and riverbed stones. And whether by design or by accident, the houses the ancient Brits built were more aerodynamic, with strong winds passing more easily around the structure’s curved shape, allowing them to survive strong storms.
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This round design has seen a resurgence in the last 20 years, as people become more concerned about the psychological effects of their environment. In fact, certain studies by environmental psychologists seem to suggest that our brains may be hard-wired to prefer curvature in architecture. Spatial designer, Gemma Roe, designs circular structures exclusively. More than a style preference, she believes that the round shape is an essential part of providing a healthy, nurturing environment. The modular structures she designs have been used for meditation spaces, yoga studios, and even a school. But beyond a Zen place to enjoy for a couple of hours, people are also adopting the round shape for permanent dwellings. One distinct advantage of building round may be that it feels larger, partially because of a slightly pitched roof, that adds just enough vertical space to feel more spacious without seeming cavernous. Gemma explains that the roof has a 20 degree pitch which gives it some height, but it maintains a gentle rounded shape, rather than the sharp, angular outline formed by more steeply pitched roofs. Also, a round house just 12 meters in diameter, offers 113 (forgive the expression) “square” meters of space. From Gemma’s workshop in Hazel Grove, near Manchester, she uses British timber exclusively for all of her modular creations. But a roundhouse can be formed from other natural materials like stone and cob. If you’re looking for a home that blends with the natural landscape, that’s both ancient and cutting edge, then round may be the shape of the future.
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Photography: Rotunda Roundhouse, rotunda.co.uk
30 an th d 1 Jun st e Jul y
Chesterfield Canal Festival
Have a great time on the water at the Chesterfield Canal Festival held 30th June and 1st July at Stavely Town Basin! There will be boat trips, street theatre, a brass band, crafts, great food, and Real Ale Bar. Come enjoy the Friday night concert with the Swing Commanders, and Saturday with Some Antics, Judy Dunlop & Jon Scaife. For more information, visit the Chesterfield Canal Trust at: www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk
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Learn Something Special The Center for Alternative Technology in Wales, offers a course in building your own tiny house, taught by well-known expert Carwyn Lloyd Jones. The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) offers a plethora of courses in sustainable building which focus on renewable energy, land use, cob building, timber frame self-building and many others. CAT is located in the beautiful village of Machynlleth in Wales. For a complete listing of their courses, visit courses@cat.org.uk
EMMA APPLETON TINY HOUSES WARM, BRIGHT AND JUST ENOUGH! EMMA APPLETON Tiny houses and cabins handmade with love. Tel: 07889774716 www.emmaappleton.co.uk
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