It’s no surprise the topic of tiny homes is of interest on the Sunshine Coast. And Thursday, March 1 was just one indication.
The Sechelt Library hosted a talk on tiny homes, with builders, dwellers and dreamers of tiny homes. Elizabeth Innes and husband Craig Peterson built a tiny home to explore a new paradigm of living. Their 214-square-foot home was a labour of love. Peterson says with a tiny home, they have more time for family and doing things they love, rather than spending time repairing and the upkeep of a regular home.
Kim Hadley loves living in a tiny space. Part of it is financial and part of it is letting go of stuff. Her tiny home living started with the renovation of an Airstream trailer and travelling in Canada and the U.S., parking for periods of time in backyards and property of various friends. However, having roots became important. She found a live-aboard boat in Smith’s Marina in Gibsons. The renovations began, and this became her new home, complete with roots on the Sunshine Coast.
Violette Clark’s dream caravan adorns her backyard. It’s a place for meditation and her art studio all in one. She has always been fascinated by caravans, and her dream came true when her partner, affectionately known as Mr. G, agreed to build it for her.
Laura Glasstetter spent lots of time in RVs and thought a small space is all she needs. She started building her tiny home in the driveway of her parents’ home on the Lower Mainland, on a flatbed trailer. With the help of her mother, sister, father, son and father-in-law, her tiny home was built without a single dollar spent on labour. It was delivered to the Sunshine Coast, where she added a lovely deck and reading nook.
Jesse Clark, a red seal carpenter, shared his experiences of building alternative homes, such as earth dwellings and straw bale. His take is sustainable building, which can also be incorporated into the tiny home movement.
Pamela Robertson shared her dream of having a tiny home and alternative housing community developed on the Coast. You may know her from her People’s Choice Award from the Community Futures Sunshine Coast Local Entrepreneur Accelerator Program. She has been presenting her ideas to local governments, networking with builders and dwellers, and forever researching what others are doing across Canada and the U.S.
Tiny homes are generally under 500 square feet and as small as 96 square feet.
Close to 80 community members attended the talk on tiny homes, embracing the information and networking to find out more about the tiny home movement on the Sunshine Coast.
– Submitted by Sherryl Latimer, Adult Program & Outreach Coordinator, Sechelt Library
