Many things aligned that sent me on the path to building my own Tiny Tumbleweed house.

I've always been interested or more accurately, passionate, about living more sustainably. Constantly frustrated with the knowledge that we all could be living in ways more in tune with our world and the resources we consume. Trying to live the life my culture deems "proper" while all the while struggling with the waste and blatant over consumption all around me.

This struggle of living the American dream - 2 cars, a fancy house, shopping to make ourselves feel better and working all the time and never having enough money - came to a head when my Dad got sick. Sitting in his hospital room and being solely focused on him and my love for him put a lot of things in perspective. When he passed I was left feeling like the way I was living was a waste and that I had nothing to hold on to anymore.

Then driving home from the hospital the day after he'd passed away, NPR (National Public Radio) aired a piece about Dee Williams - a woman living just a few miles from me, who'd built her own Tumbleweed tiny house. The article struck every heart string I have, and gave me a solution to most of my struggles. I immediately searched the internet when I got home and found the Tumbleweed Tiny house website.

I have always loved making things with my hands, from creating Art Cars, to building large interactive art pieces with my friends for
Burning Man - building makes me feel good. So I knew this would be a challenge I'd enjoy.

I'm deep into the project now - and it's been frustrating at times, but I've learned more than I knew I was capable of learning. When I'm done, I'll be living in a home I built with my very own hands and I'll have an appreciation for every bit of it.

You can always see my progress on the homepage here, as I blog about this adventure.