A THREE DAY, HANDS-ON Building and Design "TINY HOUSE WORKSHOP"- in MA!

HANDS-ON BUILDING AND DESIGNING- TINY HOUSE WORKSHOP #5 (with an emphasis on budget and recycled-material building) 

WE WILL ALL BUILD A TINY STRUCTURE TOGETHER! 

November 15-16-17 Canton, MA

As featured on NPR, Yahoo.com, The Boston Globe, Make Magazine....

Derek "Deek" Diedricksen giving a side tutorial on using a framing square....

 We keep getting asked to do another one, so here goes!

30+ contact hours of learning, building, designing, and networking

Each previous workshop has SOLD OUT, as we limit the number of attendees to around 24 or so to keep things intimate and to be able to give individual attention- if interested, secure your spot sooner than later....

Hosted by

The Diedricksen Brothers (Deek and Dustin)

with Paul "Touks" LaCivita

AND a roster of guest speakers!

SEE FIVE of Deek's Micro Cabins (featured on Yahoo.com, The History Channel, and The NY Times)

AND visit THE FIRST-EVER BUILT TUMBLEWEED TINY HOUSE

--------------

 "YOUR chance to build, work, and design alongside an HGTV Host, a Salvage Addict/Pro, an Environmental Engineer and House Designer, and many other tiny house pros (not to mention our guest speakers and tours)! BUILD a tiny cabin that will be showcased in an upcoming book, in a video tour (for "Tiny Yellow House") and Relaxshacks.com, and beyond!" MEET and Network with a tiny house enthusiasts- ones who just may help you with your eventual project, and even CAMP OUT on the premises!

"Tiny House Building Campout #5" is a HANDS-ON/get dirty workshop, a THREE day (and night) event (a fri-sun, but if you can only make the sat and sun, you'll be fine, we'll get you up to speed on what went down Friday). NOVEMBER 15, 16, and 17th are the dates- rain or shine. There will be LOTS of hands-on building, as we work on a small group build together, campfire discussions (making each day FAR more involved than a mere 9-5 workshop), slideshows, live demos, a good deal of focus on building for less, and with recycled materials, AND Dustin Diedricksen will cohost this event again- he's an environmental engineer and designer. Paul "Touks" LaCivita, a scrapper/salvager extraordinaire, will also be part of the team that helps to construct our weekend project. Add in a pizza-by-bonfire mixer, a tour of five of Deek's micro cabins, and in depth look into his salvage techniques and stash, AND a field trip to a tiny house (THE first built (EVER) Tumbleweed Tiny House), and it all makes for one heck of a LOADED weekend of learning, actual contact hours, brainstorming, designing and problem solving on the fly!

GUEST SPEAKERS....

CHRIS HAYNES- A tiny house dweller who has built BOTH a Tumbleweed XS AND a Tumbleweed Bodega! Chris will talk about his super-insulated home, and set-up a small solar array/system for us.

JAN KENNEY (from PA)- Jan lives in one of THE SMALLEST HOUSES on the scene (formerly the home of Gregory Paul Johnson). There's a lot to be learned from her stories of living in a space under 100 square feet in size. She's super fun and spunky- you'll love her!

VERA STRUCK - Vera is the impetus behind an in-the-works, mobile, educational, tiny-house-classroom on wheels that she has dubbed "The Silver Bullet"- she also makes some of the best darn pickles I've ever had. (Hint, hint, Vera....)

AND MORE TBA....

 The Writing Retreat/Greenhouse- this one's within sight of the workshop locale too....

We'll ALSO cover...

    Framing, deck building, alternative materials, pallet dismantling and construction-use, site selection, preparing for a build, a few post setting methods (for the base of your cabin), the dos and don'ts of building, safety, "redneck shortcut" tips, solar off-grid systems, and the overall weekend will give you a chance to pick the brains of several tiny house builders, bloggers, authors, geeks, and media hosts, on a one on one basis. Come with questions! BRING your tiny house plans to have them looked over too!

VISIT THIS CABIN (and many others)- a budget shed-conversion project Deek did for HGTV

Workshop includes Friday's pizza bonfire (we won't light pizzas on fire, we'll eat them...just in case...), snacks and drinks for the three days, course materials/packets, the provision of tools, and more. Camping on the premises is also a possibility.

    There are hotels nearby, and Canton, MA is easily accessible from Boston/Logan airport. Oftentimes, attendees can pool together for rides too.

Cancellations- we can offer full refunds if you cancel before one month of the workshop. Beyond that we will gladly offer you a credit to take any other workshop that we host, but cannot offer a refund. This is standard for many workshops.
    

Above: "The All Eights Micro-Cabin" lit up at night during our last workshop. Built and designed by Deek (on a micro budget for The History Channel show "The United STATS of America").

SIGNING UP....

Cost for the three day, intense course is $399.00

If interested, payment can be made to the paypal id: senorsell@hotmail.com, 

By check (email me for an address if interested).... email via kidcedar at gmail.com

Or by credit card via paypal through this link....

WE MAY also have an opportunity or two for a work trade arrangement for those in need of such a set-up....

 SEE this cabin as well!

"The Light Box" (its front wall lights up at night)- ANOTHER cabin you'll see

Deek's Vermont Cabin- Built by Deek starting at age 22 (with Dustin, when he was 18)

We'll talk about the triumphs, and mistakes made, with many of our builds....

A micro A-frame office- built and designed by Deek for a client

ANY questions, let me know

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

"Preppin' Props for the Cabin in the Copse"- a freebie/trashed table- rehabed!

 Here's what my "close-to-free" table looks like now (a console/entrance way table), and below is what it looked like before I hit it with a $0.99 can of spray paint, added two $0.99 Ikea drawer pulls, and painted the drawer itself a funky green (leftover "oops" hardware store paint). The boards on top- all free recycled plank work from a fence.Thanks to my neighbor Paul for finding this one on the side of the road and tossin' it my way!

AFTER

This table will either head to one of my cabins in Vermont, or be hawked on craigslist to bring in some loot towards finishing up those cabins....and bringing you another mini tour video!

BEFORE

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

File under: dumpster diving, recycled-material building, architectural salvage, free building materials

MY BOOK....

Photos from Lloyd Kahn's Homestead (with Kent Griswold)

 I had a chance to hang with two great guys the other weekend- Lloyd Kahn (from Shelter Publications- Author of "Tiny Homes, Simple Shelter", and Kent Griswold, of www.Tinyhouseblog.com  
I had hung/met with both of these guys separately before, so it was great to catch up and "talk shop".

    Inside the offices of "Shelter Publications"- home-run, on a homestead, by home-addict, Lloyd Kahn. L to R- Kent Griswold, Lloyd Kahn, Derek Diedricksen

     We met at Lloyd's homestead near Muir Woods in California while I was out guest speaking at a Tumbleweed Tiny House Workshop, and of course, the talk was hugely based around "Tiny Houses". Lloyd is busy prepping his upcoming book "Water and Wheels" for an eventual trip to the printer (Spring 2014?), and I'm excited to be a part of one of his books yet again (my micro camper on wheels, "The Cub").

Anyhow, here are a few photos I took while out there- a case where I looked, and lived, more than experiencing things through a camera lens (sorry all!). Lloyd's place is just great- laden with hippied-out charm, homemade pizazz, and then some. His book collection on alternative architecture is pretty legendary too.

 Lloyd's homemade, recycled-sash, greenhouse

Lloyd also gifted me a nice abalone shell while I was touring his grounds, and I've already re-purposed it into something you'll see in an upcoming post AND video....

 

 Lloyd's Sauna building...

an outdoor solar shower

An axe demo, by a collection of hand-carved spoons

ONE of Lloyd's workshop areas

His home, as the fog begins to roll in...

Kent: "I could hang here all day and still not take enough photos!"

Lloyd's Book...and mine...

Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

THE coolest bottle opener for your cabin/backwoods getaway?

Thanks to my brother Dustin "Dr. Demolition Diedricksen" and his wife for this cool cast iron bottle opener they brought back from Canada for me. Love it! It'll soon be hanging on the wall of my Vermont cabin, and put to good, repeat, use!

Here's another version of one you can get through Amazon....

Steven Harrell's Tiny House Office- "Deek Designed"- update photos....

A few photos from a PAST workshop build....and MORE info on our NEXT HANDS-ON Workshop....

Well, for those of you who were part of the North Carolina Tiny House Building Workshop this past April, here's a photo teaser update on where we left off on the build....a 96 square foot tiny guest house/office that I designed, and that we built for Steven Harrell (the future office space for www.tinyhouselistings.com). This cabin, dubbed "The Darrington" (a nod to Kevin Harrington from www.cozyhomeplans.com) also has a sleep loft that fits a queen-sized mattress.

Steven has since dryed in the loft, and is getting somewhat close to moving into the place, where he will then peck away at the interior needs and details. As you can see in the photo with the clear "swing-wall", there is still a little trim work needed here and there as well, but its certainly getting there!

Also, we have my NEXT HANDS-ON TINY HOUSE BUILDING WORKSHOP on the way!!!!
Its November 15, 16, 17th in Canton, Massachusetts (right outside Boston, MA).... (we moved it from October because of scheduling for a build/show shoot that just came up). kidcedar at gmail.com if interested.

3 DAYS- CAMPING, HANDS-ON BUILDING AND DESIGNING, GUEST SPEAKERS, DEMOS, TOUR FIVE TINY CABINS, CHECK OUT THE VERY FIRST BUILT TUMBLEWEED TINY HOUSE and MORE!

My Book....

Loft AND Bunk Beds in a Tiny Cabin/House- One PHOTO- TEN things I dig...

Here's a great shot from ONE of MANY cabins that the Blue Moon Rising tiny house compound (a retreat and educational center) has on its property. You can rent these out to get a taste for tiny house and cabin living- perhaps to see if its right for you/feasible. I really think this is a GREAT approach: Stay a night at a tiny cabin or rental listing, or two/three, and get a feel for what works, and what doesn't, first hand. I've stayed in several listed micro-properties, and its money well spent!
   Anyhow, from this one single photo, here's what I really like with this particular set-up/design....
                                             www.bluemoonrising.org for more on this cabin....

1. The loft serves as saved space for additional sleeping, but does not dominate the room, and as a result downplay the overall size and spaciousness (especially vertically) of the room.

2. The loft has safety railings for those who toss, turn, and sleepwalk (ouch!). This does close in the feel of the loft and you do lose some visual freedom as a result, but for many, it might be a trade well worth it.

3. The recycled barn board cladding give the room texture, interest, and color- all in one, AND probably saved them a bundle, cost-wise. Note: always be wary of lead paint though- know your source of wood.

4. You can't really STAND where a bed resides during the day, so its "space lost" in an upright sense, so why not consider putting in bunk beds? You can still recline, nap, and read on them during the day.

5. Each bunk has its own window- a huge plus. In terms of natural light, ventilation, and a view (a tricked expansion of space), its a "win" on all fronts. The bunks, in so darkly colored a room, might otherwise feel cramped, depressing, and too isolated.

6. The ladder isn't completely vertical AND has a small hand railing on it (tough to see in the photo). This makes getting to the sleep loft easier AND safer.

7. The loft has its own decently sized window. You NEED airflow and light in a loft, otherwise it feels like a tomb, or could end up one, should a fire break out below. This window appears to be just big enough for egress by most, and is pretty classy in its framing too.

8. Plenty of storage space under the lower bunk. With storage space in a tiny house, you'll want to take all that you can get.

9. The red, bold, trim, would be easy to make yourself, and darn inexpensive, and its still effective and pleasing to the eye.

10. The bunk nook appears to have a copper rod for a pull-across privacy curtain. Simple, but it works, and is a "must" for those who need to tolerate early risers.

My Book....

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

A NEW Video- Deek's $300 Tiny Cabin/Guest House In Vermont (tour)....

      Here's a new, simple, tour video I shot while recently in Vermont as I was working on a cabin we started with one of my workshops that I held/hosted in 2012. The cabin, all in all, will cost about $300, and was made from a HUGE variety of recycled, and FREE, building materials- I explain in the video. I hope to head up there to work on it a little bit more before the winter hits (which is like early september in Northern Vermont! lol). I'll give you an update down the road.

Also, I have a SLEW of unreleased DIY and tiny house touring videos I'd love to finish and get out there- if you'd ever like to reach a ton of people and sponsor one, please email me at kidcedar at gmail.com.

MEGA THANKS goes out to Brian Oxford and the crew at www.bluemoonrising.org tiny house education center and retreat in Maryland that just looks AMAZING! It IS on my list of places to visit, and perhaps host a workshop, in 2014. I can't wait to check out their ultra-cool tiny houses in person....

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Hangin' at Ella Jenkins Tiny House in California- A photo tour....

Its Official, Oct (18) 19, 20- Deek hosts his next HANDS-ON Tiny House Building and Design Workshop- Stay Tuned for more info! Or kidcedar at gmail.com to be notified... We'll all be building a new design Deek came up with, Campfire Discussions, guest speakers, tour several tiny cabins, and more...

     Both Ella (Jenkins) and I, among other things, present/host workshops for The Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, and that's the reason I found myself on a plane to San Francisco the other week- to guest speak at one of their events. Beforehand Ella was my ride from the airport, and was also kind enough to give me a tour of her self-built tiny house, which she has dubbed "Little Yellow". To cut to the chase, here are a few photos of her great little home, and I have more photos I'll post down the road, where I specifically will point out some GREAT space saving designs and techniques she has employed in her micro-dwelling. Oh yeah, we also shot a video tour as well- but of course....

 

Take ONE of the photo you saw earlier....

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

My Book....

"Lonely Plains" Small Building....Tiny House Eye Candy.....

Love this photo- one taken by John Henderson of www.mainetooregon07.blogspot.com. Good eye John! This one's painting or poster worthy, wherever it is....

The Rainbow Cottages of Ellsworth, Maine- Funky!

  

 'Been CRAZY BUSY, and traveling, TOO MUCH, so I'll have those details on my October 19/20th (prob a third day too) workshop real soon, I promise! kidcedar at gmail.com if interested.... 20 folks tops....HANDS-ON building, guest speakers, salvage demos, tiny house tours, and MO'! 
     ALSO, thanks to this week's sponsor - www.BLUEMOONRISING.org- a new AWESOME tiny house compound, retreat, and educational center in Maryland- and one I'll have more KICK-BUTT blog photos on soon- Just you wait!!!

SAN FRAN Tiny House Trip photos coming soon too! -From my trip out there with the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company. It was a GREAT time, with an incredible array of bloggers, designers, architects, and builders- such a good group of damn-bright minds. 

As for THESE photos, I had a shot of this on my facebook page- www.facebook.com/tinyhousehub but here's a few more.....

   On my way to Acadia Maine I made the family roadster take a u-turn so I could hop out and shoot a few photos of these great looking little cabins/tiny houses at the Sunset Motel/Motor Lodge in Ellsworth, Maine. If you ever have the chance to take the ole Route 3 drive in northern Maine, it is LOADED with funky flea markets, antique shops, junk stores, and a slew of tiny homes and rental cottages.

MORE "tiny cabins of Maine" photos coming soon!

 The view from the top of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park- the highest point on the East Coast....

The little porch nook is so simple, yet so inviting and effective!

Some of these shots (and others I haven't posted) MAY end up in my in-the-works TINY HOUSE BOOK (my second, well, third, actually).

Another Pre-fab "Modern Tree House" Wall Completed ($18)

 MORE info on my tiny house building workshop- one heavily involving construction techniques with free and salvaged materials- coming soon! kidcedar at gmail.com if interested....it'll be a group limited to about 20 people....

 Above: I LOVE this free lot of spruce 1" by 6" planks I nabbed! Some of them even have a blue-ish hue- and no, its not mold....

I've been traveling lately, A LOT. I've been in Vermont twice, San Francisco, Maine, and Vancouver, BC all in the past month or two, and soon head to Boulder, CO and The Berkshires (MA)- and all because of tiny house, and design-related things. I can't complain though- EXCEPT for the fact that travel, teaching, blogging, and writing about tiny house and shelter building often cuts into my true love, ACTUALLY BUILDING them. 

For this reason, I've slowly been pecking away at a pre-fabricated tree house I'm building for a woman outside of Boston, MA. Its been a fun, and very free-form project- one that's HEAVILY relying on free and found materials too, which makes for some challenges (while also being rewarding in the endrun).

So, its not done, nor fancy, but here's a wall I built, for a grand total of about $18.

-FREE SPRUCE PLANKS (rich guy's house- he was about the toss them)
-FREE WINDOW (roadside)
-YARD SALE NAILS and SCREWS (a huge lot of them)
-SEVEN 2by3's- which are perfect for tree houses- strong, yet light.

I also came across this little wooden spool the other day, which just may become a mini table inside the tree house- painted some wild, bright, color, no doubt.

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen