It has always been a dream of ours to build a tiny, self-sufficient, off-grid cabin at the farm.
Our original inspiration for the cabin we were going to build in 2013
In fact, for those that have followed us for years, you might remember our original plan back in 2013 to do just that. (see: Cabin Project)
The thought was to build the cabin first to live in while we built the house. Of course, things change. In fact, while writing our article for today, it was neat for us to see how much has changed in just four short years.
In the long run, building the house first eventually won out. And the off-grid cabin project took a back seat. Until now, that is.
The want for simple living and self-sufficiency among our population grows every day. I think so many people are tired of not being able to enjoy life. And they realize that slowing down and living smaller and more self-sufficiently can be the answer.
So we thought why not showcase the entire self-sufficient concept in one simple building at the farm. And our Off-Grid Cabin Project was reborn!
The Weaver Barns Highland Shed – Which we will use to convert into our off-grid cabin.
Although tiny homes and small living are all the talk, they can be ridiculously expensive. In fact, prohibitively expensive. Sometimes, a tiny trailer home of 200 square feet or less can be $75,000 or more. That is a far cry from simple living – especially for 200 square feet!
So, much like the Simple House project, (see: Simple House) we want to showcase with our off-grid cabin project that you can create a comfortable livable space without breaking the bank.
Here are the initial specs and details of the cabin:
For the cabin structure, we are turning to our friends at Weaver Barns. We will use and modify one of their beautiful shed models, the Highland, to become our off-grid cabin.
The lines of the Highland match up perfectly with our existing buildings. And the craftsmanship – well, it simply can’t be beat.
The cabin will be 100% completely self-sufficient. We will install solar panels and a battery system for LED lighting and power. We will utilize a metal roof on the cabin, and install a rain collection filtering system for all water needs. In addition, the cabin will feature a small kitchen, compostable toilet, and even a small shower. For sleeping – it will have both a loft bed, and lower Murphy bed sleeping space.
And right outside of its doors, to complete the self-sufficient theme – a 10 x 10 raised row garden to supply guests with their own home-grown fresh food! We still have a lot of details to work out, and would love to hear from all of our followers as well with their own ideas for what we can include!
Hopefully, come late spring of next year, the off-grid cabin, and its little self-sufficient garden will be in place!
Here is to a little off-grid rustic living – on the cheap! Jim and Mary. To receive our 3 Home, Garden, Recipe and Simple Life articles each week, sign up for our free email list. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. This article may contain affiliate links.