CA artist-farmer builds $25K quiet home to savor simple life
Vložit
- čas přidán 8. 11. 2022
- WooNeeding a break from roommates and social work environments, L Gilbert wanted an affordable home for one in pricey California. Equally eager for construction experience, L began to build a tiny wooden home using salvaged lumber (deck, outdoor shower, furniture, doors), local cedar siding, and birch plywood interior.
After 6 months of intense work, the home was finished, costing $25,000 in materials: the savings on salvaged material were offset with splurges like a new trailer, solar panels, an efficient wood-burning stove, and a high-end compost toilet.
To find an affordable place to park the new home, L began writing to farms in Northern California asking if someone might be interested in exchanging parking on premises for rent and some farm work. After months of waiting, a Christmas tree farm that had been ravaged by a megafire responded saying they had a spot and would only charge $300 per month rent as well as some help selling trees during the holiday season.
The parking sits surrounded by 50 acres of farm (40 acres of which were burnt by the 2018 megafire) and serves as an ideal location to retreat into quiet. “I think it’s a really interesting decision to decide to live alone,” explains L. “But for me, it was a long-term desire, it’s where I thrive the most, is to live alone. I love being around people, but I think having a space that’s my own is really important. I do a lot of work in communities, and being alone is essential to recharging. I think that’s also why I want to build this space so I would have the energy to keep doing the work that I want to do with people.”
Building through the haze of at least one fire and now living on a property where 50,000 trees burnt in the 2018 fire, L is hyper aware of the increasing frequency of megafires in the state and worries about the next one.
“I’ll always live in fear here that my home will burn down. I know that if I’m going to stay I have to develop a different relationship with fire. I’ve really been looking to indigenous leaders because they know better than any of us that fire has always been a part of this land. It actually rejuvenates the soil, it gives new life to native species. The difference is we’ve mismanaged the forests for hundreds of years. What happens then are these mega-super fires, and it’s terrifying, so part of me wants to leave. I just want to take my house and leave but when I really think about where I want to be it’s here. I’m trying to figure out what that can look like in this type of climate.”
L's Instagram @_l_gilbert_
Woodworker Dav Bell @manzanitachange_
On *faircompanies: faircompanies.com/videos/ca-a... - Jak na to + styl
Thank you for giving her room to speak without constantly interrupting her. I appreciate your interview style and your listening skills! Wish other hosts would take notes!!
Brave soul: struck out on her own, building her own home, with such an independent spirit.
It's great to be off-grid.
I really like the soft maple walls.
I live just right down the road from her. I’m so glad she was able to move her home to their ranch… they are lovely people. And I agree with her - when I think about moving someplace else not so fire prone, there really isn’t any other place I’d rather be than here. Kudos to her for building her own home. It’s perfect.
You’re my inspiration - wow!! You did such a beautiful job. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and yearn for the day I’m able to move up north and get a tiny home, with a tiny garden and lots of sunshine as I have ZERO in my apartment. Anyway nice fricking work 🎉🎉🎉
I love the table and the wooden plates and the GUTS to teach yourself over and over again every morning KNOWING you are going o wake up to a new challenge and just resolving step by step to keep it moving RESPECT 🙌
I liked everything about this build, except the deadline. Yikes!!!
What a lovely soul and artistic functional space, nice! I had to smile when she said “ I like to lay in bed…and time disappears. That’s living in the moment. Kudos 😊
I absolutely love the entire concept, specially no lofts. I feel it is a lot cozier to have the bed area at the same level of everything else. This is the first video I see that doesn't have a loft and to be honest, I though it would not be possible since I never saw anyone doing it like she did. Everyone has their own points of view about how they want things in life to function and that's Ok but I always think that lofts, despite being designed to take advantage of the upper space of the entire construction, they require a lot of balance and flexibility when it come to the human body i. e. if the person living in a tiny home is suddenly sick and dizzy, has had a leg surgery or even arthritis, it will be very uncomfortable or even dangerous to climb ladders up and down in a daily basis just to get some rest on the bed. Lofts are not for everybody, but it is actually inspiring to see different possibilities of tiny homes' designing and they way they combine minimalism is even better.
Totality agree with you Janette.
THUMBS UP, Janette ! 👍
14:20 . . . SALVAGED - That infamous phrase, 'One man's trash . . . is another man's treasure' ! ,🤗
I agree with the physical issues over the long term. Also, she has a dog, and it wouldn't have been able to go up easily.
I did see another video of an older single woman, who had a loft but also had a convertible bed on the main level in case climbing the ladder became problematic. It was nice to see people planning ahead. Also agree about the dog -- that would be the deal breaker for me!
Inspiring how much she taught herself, but it's also a very aesthetically pleasing house. You can see her art/design skills avoiding the 'hallway effect' she mentioned, and which most tiny homes have. Really well done!
I've never seen a tiny house with a hallway 😄
@@tine442I think they mean that some tiny homes feel like they’re a hallway.
As an Australian who grew up in bushland, I can relate to the consideration given to living in a bushfire prone area. Thanks for mentioning - it's an important consideration.
Impressive young lady. Love the fact that the kitchen is the heart of her home❤️
I love it.
It made me discern what spaces in my home do I actually spend the most time in; KITCHEN, Bathroom, Bed. I walk outside in Nature a lot. Now, I know I can choose a simpler home in my next move.
If you pay attention she said her partner did most of the work, he is a woodworker.
I like her simple, yet articulate way of communicating. She explains why things were built in a certain way. It's the antithesis of an LA luxury real estate agent who goes on and on without really knowing the house.
She ?
@@australianwoman9696 yes, she ffs
@@blokkka9inety293 WTheck???? As if the entire video was not entirely shot sharing a woman's story! So funny.
I knew someone would challenge her pronouns ffs. Completely missing the point of the video entirely and focusing on a non issue that wasn’t even raised in the video itself or by the person in the video. So unnecessary. Fighting an imaginary war in your own bored mind
How many inches are? 8"x24"?
Soooo impressed with this lovely young woman! She’s got gumption! She’s got heart, and integrity, and an amazing spirit. Her “little” house is such a great big achievement and it’s adorable. Also it’s a triumph. God bless her! Thanks for sharing her story. Always love your videos 💕
What a hard and thoughtful worker! What a great place to call your own. Thanks for sharing L!
What a sweet spot L. has found -- in both her DIY-built home, and in the place she landed! Good on her for all her efforts to live so consciously and carry all that learning forward into continuing to refine, revise and live as sustainably as possible. These stories are always very informative and inspiring for this channel's viewers, because they show how it can be done -- even for those with limited resources. We need to keep helping people to find ways out of the terrifyingly high costs of housing in most metro areas, and everywhere in too many states, esp. California.
So well thought out set up. I love that you were able to rent space on a farm.
The fire issue is sad, but really sweet to see this young lady who built her own house. courageous and determind.
I love her tiny home! Well done! I especially love the bed alcove and huge widows and huge kitchen.
I live in Northern California too in the Sierra Foothills. And I totally understand wanting to stay, but worried about possibility of raging fires. I hope she finds a compromise. Where she lives is so beautiful.
Solid simple build with all that reclaimed wood along with all she has learned while building is inspiring. Way to go! Thanks for setting a good example.
Love this young woman. What a sweet person.
$300/mo. is awesome. Your landlord is a blessing
Kirsten and Family.....after years and years on CZcams with hundreds of interests and things that I follow. Your channel is my favorite.
this is a very clever use of space, simple, not expensive and beautiful
Wow, what a great job she has done. Having tackled some much smaller building projects that involved steep learning curves, I am very impressed. I hope she (sorry didn't catch name) is very, very proud of her great accomplishments.
“It’s very calming for me to do stuff like this. For me, if my external reality feels organized, I think it helps me feel really calm.” I'm loving this big Virgo energy! 😉And of course I adore this serene home with its simple, honest materials. L exemplifies the injunction to "know thyself" and act in accordance. What a cool home and person.
There should be an allowance in building code for permanent campsites where there's a shared kitchen bath area with several living pods. Of course greedy governments that depend on taxes only want structures to tax that get them the highest tax, not what the people actually need. Despicable really.
There is a tiny house village being built in California, (around LA I think) according to this concept. They are not tents, but solid structures with an AC unit, electricity and a bed.
You're not alone. The idea of a central, community kitchen with individual living pods could be a pretty fantastic way to live.
@@soundslikebroken3333 Also European style co-op communities with homes about 1000sq.ft & community kitchens/dining & gardens in Santa Cruz CA
@@devdroid9606 It's not really a village, it's tiny 1 bed locking & safe temporary shelter for chronically homeless people. A step in the right direction but not somewhere one would want to live long-term.
The government=the people and vice versa. If you are only interested in government at the moment you need it you do something wrong.
I am impressed. This young woman built herself a home and homes are among the bigger problems for people. It took courage, persistence and the know-how. And she did it with style - love the vibe. Thank you for sharing this video, it is very inspirational.
What a sweet little home! And a great deal on the spot to park it.🐝🤗❤️
I wish this girl THE very best in trying to find her spot where she can learn and teach how to survive WITH the land!! I was like her so much way back when..........
This person has very cleverly designed a life around what they need and want from life. Tweaks over time will continue to make this home a comfortable and nurturing place. Love it, thanks for showing 🙏👍😊
Interesting that her closet is open, in the bathroom. In the Middle Ages, clothes were hung in the room with the human waste chute. The room was called the garderobe, meaning "protect clothes" because the ammonia fumes from the chute were supposed to protect clothing from moths.
Wow, the things we learn in the youtube comment section! Thanks for sharing.
Do you know if it actually worked to keep moths away?
@@itzakpoelzig330 I would like to know too!
Wouldn't the clothes smell though?
@@jacquiaba9132 everyone may have smelled a bit funky at the time….
@@jacquiaba9132 they all smelled. They didn’t even bathe I believe?
What an amazing home! They created such a special sanctuary, wow!
Super impressed with her. She did an amazing job. And so charming. My favorite thing was the dining table top.
Me too!! I stopped the video for the leg maker, Tiptoe. Plan to make one like L’s. This series is the best!!
I love her home very much. It's simple, yet full, of all the parts she creatively made herself. I am so proud of what she accomplished on her own. There was so much to see if you look around. 😊
I admire this young woman so much. Well done you! ❤
The world needs more people like her.
No it doesn't. It needs people who stand up to shitty leadership and figure out how to create affordable housing. No more freebies. Lower taxes. Nobody wants to live alone in a closet except for the vegans who can't maintain a relationship or who think taking up no space saves the planet. Honestly this is insufferable.
I could not agree more. A young woman with empathy and direction.
When the time comes to move back to dry land, I would love a space like this to live in. Very well set up. Just as on a sail boat, Simple is not easy, but very satisfying :-)
I've gone from a boat to a house in Portugal.. living on a boat really gives you some amazing survival skills for life.. teaches you about consumption and saving resources ect.
This is my favorite tiny house! I adore that she did almost everything herself. She is amazing. Thank you for sharing this it makes my soul happy
Great open design, love that there is no loft .
A really simple and elegant tiny home. Well done, L!
Love this channel. Kristen and your husband do an excellent job of videoing.
Really courageous and spirited young woman. She built a warm and inviting tiny home with her bare hands - that's an achievement unto itself. May she always be protected and blessed in this great life she has built for herself.🙏
This is a wonderful tribute to self reliance. Hard work and faith in self, just need everyone to believe in their own capability. Great job.
I love this Video! This is a cool example of a way to live on the land and Mini-Homestead! Living in the quiet can ease the mind and soothe the soul.
Beautiful home! And great that you forged ahead gaining building skills. Since you built it yourself, you know your house intimately and when something needs repairing, you can do it yourself. I love the large painting on the wall.
I love the kitchen tap.....ingenous
I love the process of this young woman maturing with her tiny house, deciding she does need some separation in the space and does, in fact, need a refrigerator. Also impressed with giving up the shower for closet space. Our ancestors lived millennia without showers and tubs and just washed out of a sink. Here in the dry West, we can hygenically do that all the time.😊
Amazing home built!🎉
We truly need so few items but take all luxuries for granted!
Beautiful tables and all reclaimed woods!
Imagine How much materials we treat as ‘waste’ everyday!😵💫
Thats a nice way to do things. She gets her own house and the elders have the reassurance of her being nearby. Its a great arrangement for everyone. And creates more community.
I am so inspired by your videos. Thank you
Bryce Langston would say: this is georgeous
WOW ! I am SO IMPRESSED ! ! !
ALMOST gives me hope that it is something I could actually do my own self.
SUPER GREAT JOB, AND SUCH A SWEET SPACE !!! CONGRATULATIONS !!!
THANK YOU TOO AS ALWAYS KIRSTEN ET AL FOR YOUR BRINGING THIS TO US !!!
what a nice space, it looks amazing! it's purposeful and calming. :) i can't wait to have a space like that to play around with!
Very intetesting: that she's thinking about her life in the context of climate change. Her house is likely to be a good, if not the best solution to the situation regarding fire risks.
She's an inspiration, a role model even.
👏💪👸
This is awesome. She could build a second one for extra space if needed.
Lovely! (Only 1 thing to do different... the step supports need to be placed horizontally rather than vertical to the damp ground (which will wick moisture into the straw-like ends of the wood causing the wood to rot). Blessings!
Thanks Kirsten for making these videos on the different kinds of ways others live much simpler lives, this content makes me really think. 🙏❤️
Lovely simple little home. Would love that.
This is a great build and story! She is definitely someone who can take on big challenges and succeed. The natural gas stove conversion seems a bit steep for the price. My uncle gave me an old NG furnace for heating my cabin, then took me down to the local Farmers Union to buy a $3 part to change the feed for the combustion thingy. The hole was slightly different for propane, so nothing sophisticated. Good job for her doing it all!!
Kirsten, I always LOVE your videos. It's nice seeing people's choices in life. Thanks for showing this cool woman, living a GREAT life on her terms.
Just you doing what you are doing by yourself is amazing. I don’t know you, but I’m proud of you. God bless and stay safe.🙏🌹
Most beautiful and functional tiny I have seen. I don't want a shower inside and so your outside shower is a perfect solution for me.
stunningly beautiful. Her art background definately comes into play.
What a beautiful home!
This is the best example so far I have seen on CZcams concerning using recycled materials for her goals. I wished she had discussed her total costs. She has done herself a real service for what she accomplished. Thank you for sharing this video.
Great video! Loved her personality and efforts, in addition to the mismatched socks. So cute.
Well done simplicity and functionality. You have to love there's no TV.
Looks great! It's an amazing quiet space for recharging the soul. The secret is out on how much wood is available without having to chop trees down. I love the art!
I agree. I have a lot of scrap wood . Having said that wood is a green source for construction and energy/heating. If our forests were better managed and thined and we had some controlled burns it would decrease forest fires and decrease the price of lumber.
Amazing and talented young woman. Love her creativity. Congratulations. All will be well. You have found peace and tranquillity. Try not to allow fear to take over.
Everywhere you go... there you are.
There's a strength, to being alone (singular). 🤗 🌲 🏠
Blessings in your new home ♡
They have beautiful taste! So impressed they were able to get so much done working mostly alone. Great video!
They?
@@kattihatt if you don't know how a person identifys, it's appropriate to use "they/them" pronouns.
@@kriskabin no. They is plural.
@@kattihatt Language evolves & changes over the course of time. Now, hopefully you're just a little ignorant & behind the times & NOT a H8ful bigot. Yes, "They/Them" is plural, but these words now correctly identify a group of people who are not binary gendered.
The outside wall covering should overlap the boards (like weatherboard) below it so water doesn't get into the gap. You have it in tongue and groove and water will get into that groove and rot the timber, and damage the interior wall.
It's so dry in her part of the state, it probably will never actually become an issue.
Connected with this TH on many levels! That bed nook looks SO cozy! Love your channel!
In my country they have a saying" Better off alone than in bad company"
Besides, it's complete freedom not having someone constantly yapping at you or complaining.
I cherish my loner lifestyle. It's drama free
Pretty much every girl I have met will just yap and yap and yap.. never listen or converse just endless talking.. totally agree being along.. I just would like a dog
I love that saying, I've said similar many times to people who NEED company, even if that company isn't happy/ healthy. Alone doesn't have to mean lonely, I greatly enjoyed living alone with my dog.
@@tonyhussey3610 If it's EVERY girl, it's more likely that they're not talking too much, but that you just aren't interested in what they're talking about. 😉
@@Kelly_Ben I am never lonely. Have too many hobbies and things I do in the mountains. Especially in the fall .
@@Kelly_Ben I got 6 dogs and 17 cats and a black bunny I call blacky poo
Good for her. She is young and that’s a wonderful thing!
I like the gentle way the kitchen cupboards close.
An incredibly inspiring young person. ❤
You can wrap your house in a special foil to protect it from fire. They did that for very old cabins and it worked! I saw a video on it. But you must evacuate.
She should have her own CZcams channel. Really interesting person and amazing girl power to create this. Inspiration for others
The tiny home looks so cosy and she has everything she needs and also I really admire people who have never done something before but will give it a go. She's done a great job the home looks lovely.
this was so inspiring and empowering - just what I hoped to find to watch today! such a wonderful home. thank you for showing us around!
Incredible beautiful aesthetic. Love it!
Wow, awesome edit. What a lovely human. God bless.
Superwoman! great build..thank you for your uploads Kirsten.
Once again, great video. It’s so nice that she followed her heart and made her tiny dream home a reality. Thanks Kirsten, keep them coming!🤩
amazing build and way of living without a roommate and I love how you found land to rent.
People who opt to live in tiny houses seem to be much wiser than the average person.
Amazing space! I really like thats is only one level. No lofts..
It all felt very intentional, almost soothing. Great colors and impressive play with natural light. Vermeer painting vibes.
@@nicolasboullosa Vermeer paintings. Yes! Exactly. Soft light and privacy.
Girl, what you do with your housing and how you live are amazing!!!
So inspiring!
Love this layout...my future TH has almost the same layout. Awesome TH - GOOD WORK!!
Thank you for presenting her and allowing her to talk. She is an inspiring young person. I'm so glad that I watched this video in its entirety.
Your tiny house is amazing and very thought out. Love how you've thought out every inch of your house. Thank you for sharing.
It's a beautiful feeling to personalize your living environment. Thanks for sharing your home !
Love simplicity of the space. and the Front doors. And if you are an artist you can always build another simple structure next to your current space (just don't want you to lose the creativeness)...Great space though...OH! And only focusing on the open area and sleeping area (I am paraphrasing) WONDERFUL...
What a wonderful tiny home. Love all the personal touches, well the whole place is a personal touch I guess. Cool little home. I can concur with the thought of needing own space to be able to recharge and continue to give to others. Very nice peaceful place/space. Try not to draw on the fear of a fire but rather that you are safe where you are. Blessings be upon you🌞
I totally understand what she is saying. I loved my years in NoCal but the fires are terrifying. She is wonderful and I too appreciate your letting her speak freely. Very cool house. Brava
Lovely home and human.
I absolutely Love her home. The open shelving and wide kitchen just makes it. So many things I like about it. TY for sharing ❣️
You are an inspiration...I love your home sweet home!
i am just amazed by her as she said she didn't know how to do any of this, but her house is just perfect. i love it.
Inspired by this lady's grit and determination, and that she had the courage to follow her own unique vision for a home and bring it to life mostly by herself. She articulates her journey in a calm and endearing way too - great story!