If you have ever dreamed of designing and building your own small home, the Catskills Tiny House Workshop offers one of the most hands-on, immersive experiences available anywhere. Set in the charming hamlet of Livingston Manor in New York’s beautiful Catskill Mountains, this workshop goes far beyond a typical classroom setting. Attendees don’t just learn about tiny houses — they live in them.
The next immersive workshop takes place May 23–24, 2026, and it covers everything from designing and moving a small house to overseeing its construction. What makes this workshop unique is that you learn all of this while actually staying inside one of several tiny homes on the property.
Images courtesy of catskillstinyhouseworkshop.com
Live in a Tiny House While You Learn to Build One
What sets this workshop apart from online courses or one-day seminars is the total immersion. The workshop team has designed and built four small houses, with three currently sitting on their hillside in the Catskills. All are open for attendees to examine, study, and — most importantly — live in during the workshop weekend.
That means you can fix a meal in one of the kitchens, try out a composting toilet, start a fire in the woodstove, refill a water tank, and then get a good night’s sleep in a cozy loft. There is no better way to understand the realities of tiny living than spending a full weekend doing it.
Image courtesy of catskillstinyhouseworkshop.com
Off-Grid Living and Sustainable Skills
Because the houses in Livingston Manor are largely off-the-grid, the workshop doubles as an introduction to sustainable living. Guests learn practical, real-world skills that most tiny house courses never touch: how to tap a spring for your home’s water supply, how comfortable a composting toilet actually is in daily use, and the genuine joys of heating with wood.
These are the kinds of lessons you can only learn by doing. Reading about off-grid systems is one thing; waking up in a tiny cabin, feeding the woodstove, and drawing water from a spring is something else entirely.
Image courtesy of catskillstinyhouseworkshop.com
What You Will Learn
The curriculum is designed for people who are serious about making tiny living a reality, not just dreaming about it. Workshop classes cover the full spectrum of what it takes to go from idea to move-in day:
- Designing your small home — layout principles, space optimization, and choosing the right size for your lifestyle
- Moving a tiny house — the logistics, legalities, and practical considerations of transporting a small structure
- Overseeing the build — how to work with builders, manage a construction project, and make smart decisions along the way
- Off-grid systems — water, waste, heating, and power solutions for self-sufficient living
- Living tiny day-to-day — the real experience of cooking, sleeping, working, and relaxing in a small home
Image courtesy of catskillstinyhouseworkshop.com
A Community of Like-Minded People
One of the most rewarding parts of attending is the people you meet. Workshop attendees come from all walks of life, united by a shared curiosity about small-space living. Whether you are a young couple planning your first home, a retiree looking to downsize, or someone exploring a simpler way of life, you will find yourself surrounded by others on the same journey.
The intimate setting of a weekend in the Catskills creates natural connections that last well beyond the workshop itself. Past attendees have gone on to build their own tiny homes, and many stay in touch as a supportive community.
Image courtesy of catskillstinyhouseworkshop.com
May 2026 Workshop Details
- Dates: May 23–24, 2026 (Friday evening through Saturday)
- Location: Livingston Manor, NY (Catskill Mountains, roughly two hours from New York City)
- Arrival: Plan to arrive no later than 8 PM on Friday; the first class begins that evening. You are welcome to arrive earlier if you like.
- Departure: Attendees are welcome to stay Sunday night to enjoy and further explore the houses
- Accommodations: Included — stay in the tiny houses on the property
- Meals: Provided
- Pets: Welcome
- Transportation: If you do not have a car, let the organizers know and they will assist with travel arrangements
Image courtesy of catskillstinyhouseworkshop.com
What Is Included
The workshop fee covers everything you need for the weekend:
- Accommodations in the tiny houses
- Continental breakfast
- All meals during the workshop
- Sample blueprints and written plans
- A sample builder’s contract
- A sample land rental agreement for a tiny house
- A how-to guide to take home
That is a remarkable amount of value packed into one weekend. You leave not just with inspiration, but with actual documents and plans you can use to start your own tiny house project.
What Makes This Workshop Special
- Total immersion: You don’t just hear about tiny living — you do it for an entire weekend
- Multiple houses to explore: Three tiny homes on the property, each with different designs and features
- Off-grid education: Real hands-on experience with spring water, composting toilets, and wood heating
- Take-home resources: Blueprints, contracts, and guides give you a head start on your own project
- Beautiful setting: The Catskill Mountains provide an inspiring backdrop for rethinking how you want to live
- Pet-friendly: Bring your furry companion along for the weekend
Sign Up and Learn More
For reviews of previous workshops, photos, press coverage, sample classes, and sign-up information, visit the official website:
- Website: catskillstinyhouseworkshop.com
- Instagram: @catskillstinyhouseworkshop
Highlights
- Immersive weekend workshop in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York
- Learn to design, move, and oversee the building of a small house
- Stay in actual tiny houses on the property while you learn
- Hands-on off-grid living: spring water, composting toilets, wood heat
- Accommodations, meals, blueprints, contracts, and guides all included
- Next session: May 23–24, 2026 in Livingston Manor, NY
- Pets welcome; travel assistance available if needed
Explore More
If this workshop has you thinking about tiny living, explore more on Tiny House Talk:
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Alex
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