ISSN 2631-326X
MARCH 2019
Small Space Inspiration Where Less is More!
Tiny Living Magazine UK in Print!
Our Spring Issue (Jan, Feb & Mar Online Combined) is sold at these locations: LONDON
Charlotte Street News, Fitzrovia, W1T 4QE
GLASGOW
Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA) Bookstore G2 3JD
GLASGOW
Tell It Slant Bookstore (in The Project Café) G3 6ST - And online everywhere at www.Newsstand.co.uk
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MARCH 2019
Write to Us!
Are you currently living in a small space and making it work? Are you working on a self-build, tiny house, or narrowboat renovation? Your story can inspire others to follow their dreams. Write to us at: info@tinylivingmagazine.co.uk
Contents 3 08 09 12 Have Violin, Will Travel … Page
Fieflies … Page
Colony Houses of Edinburgh … Page
Shepherd Huts … Page
Published by: Tiny Living Productions Ltd, Glasgow UK Editor: Pamela Palongue Design by: Gilmour Graphics Email: info@tinylivingmagazine.co.uk On the cover: Aiken House and Garden. Photograph by Carolyn Aiken
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Have Violin, Will Travel Maddi, pictured here with one of the bands which she plays with, ‘Drawn This Way’, live at the Clutha Bar in Glasgow. -Photo by Really Unreal Images.
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In recent decades, we’ve seen the landscape of work change from a generation toiling away for one company for decades, to one in which the worker must seek out their own job security, based upon talent. It’s a competitive world where a two-year contract is considered long-term, and people must be willing to go where the jobs are located, oftentimes at their own expense. This freelance type of employment has created a new generation of travellers which have no biological or cultural ties to Irish Travellers or the Romani people. But they share one very important thing in common – lifestyle. Maddi is a talented musician, who plays the violin and piano accordion. She has been sought after to play for bands in the UK and Europe for the past 20 years. Several years ago, Maddi was in France busking when some Scottish musicians approached her and asked if she would be interested in playing in their band. This officially began her life as a professional musician. Over the years she’s played with several bands in different genres in many locations far from where she grew up in eastern England. And she’s chosen the road less travelled – literally. Besides hotel rooms being expensive and cutting sharply into any profits made, they’re also impersonal and usually require a person to dine out for every meal, since they don’t include a kitchen. Instead of opting for life out of a suitcase, Maddi decided to purchase a box truck and have it converted to a living space in the back, complete with a washroom, kitchen appliances and bed. And she’s made use of some sort of mobile living space ever since. Although she does live in flats part of the time, she has spent a majority of time on the road. Along the way, she has managed to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree, and recently completed her Masters in Political Communications. She has a passion for helping charitable organisations to be seen and heard, while communicating their message effectively. However, this job also requires her to travel to the local organisations as well. If you think that people who choose to bring their accommodation with them are poorly educated, you might be surprised. Maddi was recently pitched at a park with approximately 15 of these “new” travellers, and half of them had university degrees and post graduate degrees. Maddi explains, “I have one friend who is a doctor, and she travels to different hospitals for her work and lives in a caravan while on the road”.
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the ility on den t a s r e v Hol g her by Iain showin Maddi ordion. -Photo cc piano a
Maddi ’s neighb converted tru our do gs who ck, and som e ’ve com e to pla y.
Some of Maddi’s most important belongings are her books (the tangible kind) her herbal plants which she uses for cooking and health, her rescued Romanian street dog ‘Heidi’ and her long-time companion, rescue dog ‘Ivy’. All of these things would be difficult to bring on a road trip, and these small touches are what helps make a house or in this case a converted truck - a home.
Maddi explains that one thing that could make the mobile lifestyle easier is more pitches. There are not always holiday parks available where the work is, and although councils provide pitches, there is often only a few when compared with the need. Her advice is to know the laws in the particular council where you will be working so that you will not encounter problems with locals or a civil offense.
A major drawback with finding housing alternatives for shortterm work is the length of stay. The work may require anywhere from a week to a few months to complete, and most flat leases are for 6 months minimum, require credit checks, and sometimes hefty deposits. There is also the problem of finding the flat, and the job may require the worker to begin almost immediately. Flats that can be let for short term are often extremely expensive and targeted toward executive level employees earning annual incomes of six figures or more.
When asked if she would have preferred to live a different lifestyle, Maddi has no regrets. “I love being on the road. And I’ve been able to stay near some of the most beautiful natural places. I wouldn’t change it”.
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One thing is certain; with companies trying to cut costs to survive, there will likely be more professionals who will find it necessary to travel for work. To hear Maddi in person, visit www.bogmyrtles.com for the band’s schedule.
Manchester Tiny House Village
A new group has been hatched for planning a tiny house neighbourhood in the Manchester area. It’s called ‘Manchester Tiny House Eco Village’. Three important meetings are scheduled over the next few months which will focus on housing needs, goals and solutions to filling those needs, and practical steps toward forming a legal corporation and securing land and funding.
For a look at the funny side of tiny living, visit our YouTube videos at Tiny Living Loco
The dates for the sessions are: • Sunday, 24th March, 3:00pm - 5:00pm, Ziferblat, Edge Street Manchester • Sunday 21st April - Time and location TBA • Sunday 19th May - Time and location TBA To register your interest in these discussions, visit the group’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/groups/1513516535614593
Online Strawbale Building Course!
Strawbale building is an ancient method of construction that is enjoying renewed life. The materials are inexpensive and organic, and it’s a great insulator, staying cool in the summer and warm and toasty in the winter. One of the UK’s best known strawbale builders, Barbara Jones, has partnered with Low Impact Living Initiative to create an online course with over 200 minutes demonstrating the building technique. In addition to Barbara’s instruction, there are diagrams and text for detailed illustration of strawbale building. For more information, visit the link below: www.lowimpact.org/onlinecourse/straw-bale-building
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Emma’s Tiny ECO Home UK Emma caught tiny house fever after viewing all the videos of them on YouTube. The idea appealed to her on several different levels. As a trained chef, her work schedule was frequently long and grueling! If she could reduce her monthly bills, she could achieve a healthier work/life balance and have more time for the things she enjoys. She felt that tiny house living might hold the key to a better life. Unfortunately, many of the videos Emma watched on YouTube, were about people from the US and Australia, and much of the information didn’t translate to the UK. So, she began researching tiny house builders in the UK. - A lot of research! Even though tiny houses were much less expensive than a conventional home, it was still a big investment, and it was important to find a builder she could trust. “I looked at a lot of different homes, but I didn’t really like the look of many of the houses I saw online. The ones at Tiny ECO Homes UK looked more like a small house…a little cottage”, explains Emma. So, her next step was to visit their gallery of homes. “It really helped to be able to actually walk through one”. Despite her online research, she had never been inside a tiny house! “It really helped me to decide on the size I wanted to actually see the space”. It also gave her lots of design ideas! Emma opted for storage in the steps of the staircase and also saved
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space by opting for a sliding door to the bathroom, instead of one that opens into the room. She also decided to go fully off-grid, with five solar panels for electricity, a propane hob and a wood burning stove. She ultimately chose Chris of Tiny ECO Homes UK to build her home because of his experience, and her preference for his designs. “I really loved his houses and I knew it would be done to a very high standard. Chris doesn’t go for price first. He’s concerned about the quality first”. Emma’s learned so much in her journey, and now wants to help others realise their dream. One of the biggest challenges can be finding a place to pitch your tiny house. She’s working exclusively with Tiny ECO Homes UK to find suitable pitches for individuals wanting to live in their tiny house. She finds at least two pitches, since the laws currently prohibit living in the home year-round at one location. The fee for her services will be included in the price of the home when purchased from Tiny ECO Homes UK. Emma’s tiny house experience has been life changing. She’s been able to reduce her work schedule to 30 hours per week, and now has time to pursue her love of riding horses. She’s also decided to get a dog to share her cosy tiny home. To see more of Tiny ECO Homes UK designs, visit www.tinyecohomesuk.com
Photograph by Adi Boustead
A Tiny Living Promotion
The glow worm found in the UK is a type of firefly species belonging to the genus Lampyris. These fascinating creatures can turn a woodland forest into a magical place at dusk! If you’re lucky enough to spot one, please don’t catch it in a jar as my bad poetry from childhood above would suggest! The numbers of these special insects have been declining in recent years, due to the loss of habitat, and they are also being adversely affected by artificial light at night. Besides being beautiful to look at, they have some unusual traits. Only the male of the species flies, and only the female produces the golden amber glow. Her light attracts the male,
and shortly after mating, her light ceases to glow. They are typically found on heaths and near hedgebanks, and favour areas with limestone soils. There is a wonderful site with lots of interesting information and videos on Glow Worms in the UK at www.glowworms.org.uk Visit the site to learn where scheduled walks to view them will take place, beginning in May. The site also contains forms and links to a national reporting service whenever glow worms are found, to help with important conservation and research on the insects. Be sure to watch the video by 10 year-old Rudi and his younger brother. It’s adorable – and informative!
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The 19th century houses that were built for community, not profit.
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Photograph Kim Traynor
Edinburgh features some of the loveliest period architecture The homes were built in approximately ten locations in all of Britain. -But what about the working classes of around Edinburgh from 1850 to 1910. They housed artisans, Edinburgh? How did they live a hundred years ago? craftsmen and other working class families. They were the concept of Model Dwelling Companies (MDC). These were Surprisingly, an affordable type of housing sprung up for private companies that built homes with philanthropic the “labouring classes” in the 19th century, that was designed principles in mind, while still managing to make a 15% profit. to enhance their quality of life, despite their lack of finances. Many of these enlightened design ideas could be used as The concept had begun in London around 1844, and by 1875 a model of affordable housing today. there were 28 companies using this model in London alone.
The designers also cleverly planned the housing to be a mix of one bedroom flats on one side, and flats with multiple bedrooms on the other. This created interaction between young singles and the elderly and widowed, most of whom lived in the single bedroom dwellings. Growing families with more children lived in the row of flats with two or more bedrooms. An elderly occupant who might have trouble carrying heavy bags from the market, might be helped by a younger neighbour who needed clothes ironed and mended. Families dwelling next door to each other might help each other with child care or cooking. In this way, people worked together to fill the needs of the tight-knit community in which they lived.
Photograph Peter Rowan
Small green spaces were included with each dwelling so that Ironically, the colony houses or flats in various parts of every family or individual had the opportunity to spend some Edinburgh now sell for around £150,000 for a one-bedroom time close to the Earth; perhaps growing something lovely flat, with two or three bedroom flats selling for £300,000. and colourful.
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Shepherd Huts The Practical Luxury Shepherd huts are not just for the rich and famous, although the recent trend of celebrities ordering super tricked-out versions of them has certainly helped their popularity. It’s true they also make a romantic weekend getaway. They can provide that special private place to practice your yoga, or write the next bestselling book. But perhaps most importantly they can fill a critical gap in housing alternatives for Britain’s oldest and youngest adults. Spaces for older adults have often been referred to as “granny annexes”. This is rather gender specific and not entirely accurate. Both men and women are living longer and need housing alternatives. The shepherd hut can provide a place where elders can entertain their friends, do gardening and enjoy some quiet time. -Or alternatively, rock out to ‘Deep Purple’ where no one will complain about the noise. A shepherd hut in the garden can provide a private living space for ageing parents, while allowing family members to be close by if needed. Independence is key in maintaining confidence and self-esteem for older adults, and having their own living space is an important part of this equation. At the other end of the spectrum, there are university students graduating now, who cannot afford a house payment – or even a payment on a small studio flat. After years away at uni, the newly evolved lifestyle of young adults may not mesh well with that of their parents. Likewise parents may have adjusted to living without their children, and may actually be enjoying the change. A shepherd hut can provide a separate living space that’s much less expensive than a house or flat. Even if financing is required, the payment is likely to be far more manageable.
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And the good news is that when the hut is no longer needed as a living space, it can easily be transported and used as a holiday home, or sold. The question of whether or not you will be allowed to keep a shepherd hut in your garden can be answered by calling your local council. With many councils, a separate structure in the garden is allowed and no planning is required. In some cases they can even have plumbing and electricity. Another important step in researching this possibility, is to ‘try before you buy’. The lovely shepherd hut featured on these pages was a bespoke build by Riverside Shepherd Huts. -And you can spend the weekend in this particular one! It’s available on Home Away as Christine’s Shepherd Hut in a picturesque area of Devon. For all of us, our lives are always in transition. A shepherd hut might be the answer to making those transitions a bit easier. Christine’s Shepherd Hut can be found at: www.Homeaway.co.uk Property # 8191403 Visit Riverside Shepherd Huts at: www.riversideshepherdhuts.co.uk
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Narrowboat Helmsman Course The Narrowboat Skills Centre, located at Debdale Wharf Marina in Leicestershire, offers RYA-recognised training courses, including a 2-day Helmsman Course on a regular basis. They also offer a more advanced course for experienced boaters, and have classes on boat maintenance. To access a complete list of their courses, visit www.nbsc.org.uk
EVEN A SUPER HERO NEEDS A HAND NOW AND THEN!
“ The impossible is possible. -Just build!” -Pamela Palongue
At Tiny Living Magazine UK we’re here to help! That’s because quality housing and minimising our impact on the natural world is our passion too. When you advertise with us, our print magazines are distributed to over 90 locations across the UK every quarter, and our online version appears every month! We offer one low price for all of it, to give you the most success. Call us for more info – 07715888981 or email infotinylivingmagazine.co.uk The impossible is possible – Just build!
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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 ÂŁ15,000 + 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 15
Well-read dogs agree: Tiny Living UK is fun and inspirational! DISCLAIMER: The above survey was conducted by dachshunds with questionable math skills and skewed scientific methods.
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