One of the hardest things about moving the tiny has been figuring out where to move it to.
As I mentioned in my original post about moving out – I have no idea what the future will look like, or how a future version of our lives might fit back into the tiny house. That brought up the question of, well – should we sell it? To be honest, it’s an option that never quite felt possible. I know it’s just a house. A means to a meaningful life – something I have been so lucky to experience. But in the same breath, how could I let go of everything the tiny house has meant, and all of the connections I now have with it? We still have far more memories to make.
Alternatively, we could keep the tiny house – but where? And what do we do with it while we get busy living in our regular size house in the ‘burbs? How do we ensure that the tiny keeps serving its purpose and doesn’t just become decrepit and neglected, wasting the resources we investing in the first place? Another equally difficult choice to puzzle out.
Most of my friends didn’t think it was that hard. Why would I sell it when I could Air BnB it? I have to admit, the magnitude of the whole thing paralysed my brain for a while. All of the choices seemed so huge, requiring lots of work and emotional energy whichever way we went. Even the idea of renting it seemed too hard. Taking the first step towards a choice was the only option, to see how things played out. Luckily, I have been surrounded by incredible supporters and received many offers to put the tiny in a backyard, in a back paddock and even in someone’s driveway! Thank you to everyone who has contacted me with such generosity. In the end, it’s a project that began a long time before I came along that has matched up so perfectly with my hopes for the tiny house, and this is the path we’re heading down.
Ravenscroft Farm
Friends of mine have a farm in Tanjil South, on the way to Walhalla, in Gippsland. It’s a family farm with a rich history and one that is now carving a path forward into a sustainable future. A long time family friend, Mick, has been working hard on the land for the past ten years (and more) to begin regenerating the 100 acres of farmland. He has visions of creating a ‘Botanic garden’ and an Indigenous food farm, in partnership with as many local groups as possible. His goal is to make the farm a triple bottom line sustainable business – one that is economically viable, environmentally positive and socially inclusive. This involves the creation of wetlands and stocking native eel species, growing Indigenous food plants and reinvigorating the notion of ‘farming’ in Victoria. It’s an inspirational project and it seems like the perfect alignment of two destinies, a homeless tiny house and a farm that is calling new people to connect to the land.
Taking the first step of visiting the farm, hearing about the project and understanding how (and if) we could actually get the tiny house to the farm made a big difference. Once I knew this was a fit for the tiny house, my brain could stop flailing desperately for a what and start focusing on the how. It’s still a very big project, but suddenly we have a destination and a path forward.
It’s go time.
It’s no coincidence that Ravenscroft Farm reminds me so much of the farm I grew up on. It’s beautiful in the way so much of Australia’s farmland is – steely, majestic and raw. It’s a new chapter for the tiny and it will be a new part of our lives, and I’m so excited to share it with you all, too. We will be making Tiny go Lightly available for rent on the farm, through Air Bnb and possibly other sites too. You will be able to experience the peace, beauty and self- sufficiency I love about the tiny house. You too, can be a part of the vision for this project and connect with a new kind of sustainability. We have a bit of work to do before the house will be available for staying in, but it feels so good to share this decision, finally.
And now, only 8 days to go until we hit the road and make it happen.
