Have you ever considered “going back” to an unplugged lifestyle?
We’ve seen tiny homes popping up and terms like “back to the land” and “off the grid” being thrown around left and right when talking alternative lifestyles lately.
But what does it all mean? How do people achieve that kind of lifestyle and what goes into it?
Many people want it but just don’t know where to start.
These professors are remedying that.
Meet Cameron and Rachael Van Dyke.
Both are professors and have common interests in a lot of things.
They wanted to integrate what they practiced into a tiny house and teach students while living in it for a short period of time.
Houses should be considered temporary and mobile.
They’ve got three humble homes.
Currently, there are 3 tiny houses on the 6-acre lot in Boone, NC. The couple wanted to explore sustainable and affordable housing solutions.
The local compliance in the county restricts permanent houses for vacant sites, so they made sure that every detail complied with the rules.
Self-reliance is what the couple is trying to convey to their students who are living with them in the small community.
The tiny houses serve as a “living laboratory” to test out new possibilities and concepts of living.
The community provides experience for young people who don’t normally have the opportunity to live off the grid and be self-reliant.
Total independence is the goal.
The project aims to mentor students not just in class, but also on the land living with them.
It changed their perspective.
The idea of creating an off-the-grid community was after the couple had an experiment in living in a home on Turtle Island.
When they purchased a piece of land, they went ahead and built their own with the help of Appalachian students. It was a collaborative effort.
The tiny houses are ergonomically designed so every space is efficiently used and still comfortable.
The couple made sure that moving around in a tiny space is not a hindrance.
Loft Beds are spacious enough that their heads will not bump into the ceiling if they are sitting upright.
The size of the doorways and the bathroom are also considered. The kitchen sink shares a space going to their dining area in a long side table.
While working on the first house, the couple asked students to come over and help. They saw that the students were very interested in living this way.
That made them decide to create two more so students can experience living off-grid in a short time.
Now, they have their “living lab”.
The Outlook and The Chocolate House
These are the dwellings for students. The surrounding area can self-sustain the life of the community. From the trees to the water collected from rain.
The sun provides electricity through Solar power conversion.
Winter is a challenge.
The recent winter season has made a big challenge, but they made sure to adapt to the situation.
The wood stack compartment is also made in consideration of ergonomics.
Overall, the students have great experiences when living in their own tiny houses.
It provides a different perspective compared to busy city life.
It gives them the opportunity to express more of themselves while still being able to practice what they learned at school. All while living in a community that is off the grid and being self-reliant through and through.
See the impact living in an off-grid forest community can have in the video below!
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