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Humble Homes, Simple Shacks Book Giveaway


This post contains affiliate links.

In July 2011 Derek Diedricksen gave me a copy of one of his homemade books so that I can give it away to you guys.

When you’re done reading this post you’ll know exactly what to do to win this copy.

Handmade Copy of Humble Homes, Simple Shacks

Deek’s book has one of the longest titles I’ve ever seen. The full title reads: Humble Homes Simple Shacks Cozy Cottages Ramshackle Retreats Funky Forts and Whatever the Heck Else we Could Squeeze in Here!

This homemade edition of the book covers things like…

  • Basic bridge building
  • Redneck window construction
  • Rain barrels
  • Solar showersHumble Homes, Simple Shacks.. By Derek Diedricksen - Book Giveaway

And there’s so much more. All ideas and concepts are accompanied by illustrations from Deek.

How You Can Win this Signed Copy of Humble Homes

All you have to do to enter is the following. The more you do, the better your chances of winning the book.

Step 1

If you already haven’t, do the following:

Step 2

Important: Leave a comment on this post answering these three questions:

  • How did you originally find us?
  • What do you like best about Tiny House Talk?
  • What improvements do you think we should make?

Feel free to throw in whatever else comes to mind.

Video Explanation


Pre-Order Deek’s NEW Book

Humble Homes Simple Shacks by Derek DEEK Diedricksen

You can pre-order the new edition of Deek’s book on Amazon.com at a great price below.

Thank you

I appreciate your support and I feel grateful to have you as a reader. Thanks for helping me spread the message of simple living and freedom through tiny houses on this blog.

This post contains affiliate links.

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Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!
{ 57 comments… add one }
  • katt embody
    September 13, 2011, 12:13 pm

    •How did you originally find us?

    i was watching design star and had to check out the little houses .

    •What do you like best about Tiny House Talk?

    i had heard of tumbleweed but i love that you talk about others also

    •What improvements do you think we should make?

    photo of the week ?

    thanks so much katt

  • September 13, 2011, 1:11 pm

    Thannk you Katt!

  • George
    September 13, 2011, 1:57 pm

    •How did you originally find us?

    On Google while searching pages on tiny houses.

    •What do you like best about Tiny House Talk?

    The fact that it is about tiny houses and the philosophy of living on a small footprint.

    •What improvements do you think we should make?

    I think that putting up public domain plans of tiny houses would be great.

  • Lisa
    September 13, 2011, 2:13 pm

    How did you originally find us?

    I don’t even remember. I’ve subscribed to the newsletter since last December.

    What do you like best about Tiny House Talk?

    Interior photos and detailed floor plans. I’m a visual person so I need these to understand the different layouts and possibilities.

    What improvements do you think we should make?

    More interior photos and floor plans? Seriously, I think you’re doing a great job.

    BTW, in the interest of simplifying my life I have resisted Twitter. I like THT on FB and subscribe to the newsletter. Please don’t let Twitter keep me out of the drawing 🙂

  • September 13, 2011, 2:34 pm

    Thanks George. That’s a great idea, I’ll look into finding those. If you come across any please let me know! My email is tinyhousetalk at gmail dot com.

  • September 13, 2011, 2:36 pm

    Sounds fair, Lisa- no worries!

    Thanks for your feedback. I love interior photos too. They give me perspective of what it could be like living in an even smaller space. It’s fun.

  • Michal
    September 13, 2011, 3:11 pm

    Hi, I’m neither on Facebook nor on Twitter, but I still like you anyway!(; I’m subscribed to the newsletter…

    How did you originally find us?

    After watching Jay Shafer’s video on youtube I was hooked and I’ve been learning about living in a tiny house ever since, your site being the very best source of information on the internet.

    What do you like best on the tiny house talk?

    It always makes my day to see someone making a transition to living in a smaller house and cutting down on and yet still being so passionate about it. Plus original designs are always a great inspiration for me.

    What improvements do you think we should make?

    I would welcome more interior photos and interviews with people who have already been living small for some time.

  • September 13, 2011, 3:20 pm

    Thanks Michal!

  • Mark Frost
    September 13, 2011, 3:52 pm

    How did you originally find us? I was introduced to Alex Pino on a Youtube interview with Deek in Alex’s neighbourhood in Florida.

    What do you like best on the tiny house talk? I like Alex putting his videos online. It makes it easy for us to make a personal connection with the host of the website.

    What improvements should we make? I would like to see more articles on the technical side of constructing a small house. I read somewhere ( possibly the dMass newsletter) that about a hundred years ago, most people built the house they lived in. Now we have lost that skill set and people are afraid to tackle the job and we are at the mercy of the construction industry. Let’s change that.

    Cheers,

    Mark Frost.

  • heath cole
    September 13, 2011, 6:01 pm

    hi alex,
    found you while searching ‘tiny house’ vids on youtube on my iphone…so far, my fav thing is the vids, but i’m a new follower…as a new follower, i don’t have any suggestions yet on improvements (except maybe a fancy intro on your vids – ha!)…thanks for the chance to win Deek’s book!…:D

  • keith
    September 13, 2011, 6:08 pm

    •How did you originally find us?

    On Google while searching pages on log houses.

    •What do you like best about Tiny House Talk?

    The fact that it is about tiny houses and the philosophy of living on a small footprint.

    •What improvements do you think we should make?

    I think that putting up public domain plans of tiny houses would be great,also info on small homes off the grid ,ie solar power ect….

  • September 13, 2011, 6:43 pm

    Thanks, Heath. A fancy intro would be pretty awesome. I’ll look into this one! Haha.

  • September 13, 2011, 6:48 pm

    Thanks Mark. You’re right. I have to gain those skills myself, although I read about it a lot. In the future I want to be able to actually do projects like building a teardrop trailer and eventually a tiny house. That would be fun, but time consuming I’m sure. We’ll see.

  • September 13, 2011, 6:49 pm

    Awesome, Keith–thank you. Public domain plans/floor plans would be interesting. If you run into any please let me know. My email is tinyhousetalk at gmail dot com.

  • Andrew
    September 13, 2011, 6:54 pm

    How did you originally find us?
    – Through the Tiny House Newsletter

    What do you like best about Tiny House Talk?
    -All the quirky links you have

    What improvements do you think we should make?
    -More photos of tiny abodes!

  • September 13, 2011, 7:03 pm

    Thanks Andrew!

  • Marsha Cowan
    September 13, 2011, 7:42 pm

    HI,
    How did I originally find you? I grew so fed up with my life in my big house that I literally sat down at the computer one day and typed in “tiny houses” and there you were! (along with Jae Shaffer)

    What do I like best? Ideas, ideas, ideas! I love all the ideas that I glean from other people’s experiences with their tiny homes.

    What would I improve? Many more interior pictures and stories of people actually living in their tiny homes for real, especially with pictures of their surroundings (and interiors).

    Love your site!

  • September 13, 2011, 8:02 pm

    Thanks Marsha!

  • Kyle
    September 13, 2011, 8:11 pm

    How did you originally find us?
    I believe that Deek had a link to an interview that you did with him.

    What do you like best about Tiny House Talk?
    I like to find out about other Tiny House projects and your newsletters are a good way to do this. Your pictures and video of Dan Louche’s first Tiny House may have sold me on his blueprints.

    What improvements do you think we should make?
    I would like to see a page where we could suggest and pool specific resources for some of the details that make up Tiny Houses. We could keep them in one organized place. For example heated hoses so you can keep your house connected to a water source in the winter, incinerating and composting toilets, small modular kitchen units, heat sources etc. Anything that people find and think would work good in a small space.

  • Heath
    September 13, 2011, 8:57 pm

    How did you originally find us?
    I have done a vast number of google searches for anything and everything to do with tiny houses in the last few months. Its a revived passion now that i’m almost in the position to need housing.

    What do you like best about tiny house talk?
    I love being able to find relevant information to my queries at a centralized location. (your newsletter is the only one of many i have subscribed to that i am genuinely excited to read) The updates and new information are excellent.

    What improvements do you think we should make?
    It would be nice to have a tiny house resale page. eventually i want to build my own but as a first home for a college student, I’m interested in 2nd hand.

  • Kristina
    September 13, 2011, 9:14 pm

    Hi Alex, would love to win a copy of Deek’s book!

    How did you originally find us?

    I can’t rememember… maybe Kent’s site or Jay’s or google…

    •What do you like best about Tiny House Talk?

    I like receiving the newsletter. You’ve always got lots of interesting info to show & tell.

    •What improvements do you think we should make?

    I’d love to see some tiny house product reviews… products people find especially good/ easy to install/ cost-effective, etc. Also a “best practices/ lesson learned” archive on some of the key questions folks have when building – stuff you would do differently or stuff that worked well.

    Cheers Alex! Thanks.

  • Michelle Thiel
    September 13, 2011, 9:20 pm

    How did you originally find us?
    I don’t remember, but probably a Google search. Or maybe on FaceBook when I added Tumbleweed….

    What do you like best about Tiny House Talk?
    That you include yurts and off-grid living.

    What improvements do you think we should make?
    Just keep up the good work. And maybe move those text-based ads out of the first paragraph of the articles.

  • September 13, 2011, 10:44 pm

    Found you Googling tiny houses; love photos of interiors & floor plans; just keep on keeping on.

  • Scott
    September 14, 2011, 12:21 am

    How did you originally find us?
    Tumbleweed House website

    What do you like best about Tiny House Talk?

    Perspective of builders and insights on construction

    What improvements do you think we should make?
    Add a video library of Video How To Tutorials

  • Margaret
    September 14, 2011, 2:37 am

    I found you through a google for “Tiny Homes” and immediately loved the various information from where to get plans, how to furnish, and ways to power a tiny home. I actually find my own suggestion kind of rude. LOL. I would like to see more floor plans and pictures of the insides of places going hand in hand with outside shots. Pictures and floor plans tell you so much about the space, how well utilized it is, and they give you foundations of knowledge to take on to your own plans and ideas. I know it is not easy to go and get these things but I can hope. Hehe

  • Christopher Broadbent
    September 14, 2011, 2:59 am

    I found you on google and the information on your website was great. It gave me so many Ideas a possablitys that are out there as fas as living to what you need and not want you dont need to survive. It is amazing how a lot of the tiny houses utilize the space that they have your web site has inspired me to build my own tiny house i am saving money right now and soon my foot print should be small economical and alow me to travle cross country making trinkets and selling them at swap meets and such. Also your web site was not to user friendly when i first joined but i love that neww tool bar that you put at the top of the page it helps alot when you break everything down into catagorise and it keeps peoples attention longer and peaks their intrest of what you are trying to put out there. you have done an alwsome job. Thanks for all that you do.

  • Jill Heller
    September 14, 2011, 10:28 am

    Hi Alex,
    I found you after stumbling across one of Jays interviews on TV. I did internet search of everything tiny house and found your THT and signed up and have been hooked ever since. Seriously Alex, I’m always anxious for the next issue from you. I’m so ready to live the small lifestyle but my partner is not yet convinced 🙁 I hope to get her to change her views by showing her more of your awesome interviews with others who have made the transition and love it!
    I love all the photos of the homes you show.
    I’d like to see more of the small life communities and know where they are located in the states. Where people are congregating together to create and share off the land together. I remember hearing something about a community in VA? Would love to know more.
    Thanks much for your newsletter Alex.
    You help bring confidence to others who otherwise feel inadequate to start venturing in the Tiny House living!

  • Jennifer
    September 14, 2011, 10:44 am

    I found your site while looking at alternative house plans building materials and environmentally friendly alternative for my future home and one that my extended family is planning.
    I never tire of getting a peek inside the creative home photos you include and the interesting stories that go along with the homes.
    So as if you need any improvement….maybe more pictures.
    Love your site keep going!
    Love books too.
    Thank you

  • September 14, 2011, 12:33 pm

    •How did you originally find us?
    Thru Tiny Yellow House
    & Deke
    •What do you like best about Tiny House Talk?
    the great variety of structures you’ve featured – always something interesting here!
    •What improvements do you think we should make?
    would like to see more on the technological end, like small wind/solar or composting/blackwater solutions.

  • lori
    September 14, 2011, 3:57 pm

    How did you originally find us?
    I found you surfing the web for small houses.

    What do you like best about Tiny House Talk?
    I like all of the different ideas and the links to other sites.

    What improvements do you think we should make?
    I can’t suggest any improvements, but maybe an article about people living in vintage trailers like Spartans. I love them, so cool.

  • Nelene
    September 14, 2011, 9:48 pm

    1. Did a google search for small homes
    2. I love all the different ways to live small, interior ideas.
    3. Can’t think of anything to add or change, I get inspired every time I watch.

  • September 15, 2011, 8:44 am

    Thanks Kyle! Hope you liked Dan’s plans. Please keep me updated on your progress! tinyhousetalk_at_gmail dot com

  • September 15, 2011, 8:45 am

    Thanks Heath! I’m honored that you’re a loyal reader. Great idea on the resale page too.

  • September 15, 2011, 8:46 am

    Wonderful ideas Kristina. That would be extremely helpful. I think I’ll be busy for the rest of the year, haha. 🙂

  • September 15, 2011, 8:47 am

    Thanks Michelle, Virginia and Scott! I like your idea on the how to videos Scott. I do want to make something like that more accessible. We’ll see!

  • September 15, 2011, 8:48 am

    Hey Margaret, thank you for the suggestions. I like floor plans along with inside/outside pictures too. Gives you lots of perspective. Well, have a great day!

  • September 15, 2011, 8:50 am

    Thanks Christopher. I’m glad you like the new navigation. I thought it made it much better too. And I agree, navigation before was pretty horrible. It’s getting better and better now though. See ya later!

  • September 15, 2011, 8:52 am

    Jill, I’m honored, thanks! I’m lucky to have readers like you. I like your suggestions, too. It’s great when we can see more and more real life examples of people living this lifestyle. Especially in a community setting and I know we’ll see more of that in the future.

  • September 15, 2011, 8:55 am

    Thanks Jennifer, Jenn, Lori and Nelene. Those Spartan trailers are cool! I also like the idea of more technological posts. Including solar/wind and other tech stuff too.

    Thank you guys so much!!

  • Erica Romeo
    September 16, 2011, 11:29 am

    I originally did a tiny house search on Facebook. I love Tumbleweed homes, but I know that they are not the only ones talking about tiny living and I wanted to follow more.

    The best posts come with clever photos. I like to think that when I can finally afford to build a home, it will be after years of research to find EXACTLY what I want.

    And though I love the photos the best, i am always disheartened when there is not a floor plan. I see an awesome igloo, or a floating house, and I want to know–do they get to have a bathroom in there? What about kitchen space? Are you allowed to drive that thing on the highway? The miracle is in the details.

  • September 16, 2011, 11:49 am

    I just found you guys off the tinyhousebot’s tweet. Never thought a bot would be useful on Twitter. 🙂

    I haven’t been here long enough to make an intelligent comment on your site. I’m just excited to get new ideas for our cottage at the lake (which will most likely be our home when the hubs retires in a couple years).

  • Rebecca
    September 16, 2011, 11:54 am

    How did you originally find us?
    I found you on facebook
    What do you like best about Tiny House Talk?
    The inspiration and ideas you post on your site.
    What improvements do you think we should make?
    I think your site is wonderful but would like to see more information on green living in small spaces, ideas on how to garden while living in a tiny house.

  • Steven dedloff
    September 16, 2011, 12:50 pm

    1.Found out about your site from MAKE mag and relaxshacks or maybe I found relaxshacks from this site?

    2.I like that it inspires people to build totally radical projects to chill in and have a good time. Also Live off the grid and sticking it to the MAN.
    Most of all sticking it to the man in these troubled times. Cause some times the man needs poked.

    3. I think your website is straight foward and easy on the eyes. I guess you could put up a link for best known practices or tips and trick. For carpentry inept people like myself. Other than that I like what yous guys are doing keep up the good work!

  • September 16, 2011, 2:25 pm

    Thanks Erica–I love your suggestion because it’s true–it’s nice to know those details. I’ll work harder to get them more often from now on because they’re important.

  • September 16, 2011, 2:26 pm

    Thanks and welcome Sandbar17. I’m glad a robot helped you get here, haha. And thank you to whoever is behind the tiny house bot 🙂

  • September 16, 2011, 2:27 pm

    Thank you Rebecca! I’ll keep that in mind.

  • Tiffani
    September 16, 2011, 8:02 pm

    Hi! I found the site on a web search for tiny houses, google or yahoo awhile ago. I signed up for the newsletter and Liked on FB, but I don’t Tweet.

    Tiny House Likes: The variety of designs, styles, sizes and materials. I like reading/seeing a “build story” by average folks, their innovation or troubleshooting along the way. It’s nicely balanced, pro builder tips and project builder. Thank you for the navigation Tool Bar. Love the tagline, small spaces; more freedom

    Wishlist: Please rethink the cartoon houses and text header for something that reflects the fabulous houses or simplicity you feature. The home page is like a front door, it greets your visitors. 🙂
    I know the ads probably help on the cost of running the site but is it possible to have them all in the sidebar so it is easier to read the articles?
    Info on site selection, zoning, permitting, parking issues for wheeled houses, etc. would be interesting.
    Thanks! Keep up the good work!

  • September 17, 2011, 12:45 am

    Thanks Tiffani! Great ideas!

  • Jill Heller
    September 18, 2011, 1:12 am

    Alex,
    Alex,
    KEEP the cartoon houses on your banner at the top!! They are perfect! They convey a message small and modest living! They are adorable and I don’t feel they take away from what you are making your site into. I feel they enhance it more.
    (I also do website design) Trust me, not everything out there needs to be elegant or sleek lines blah, blah, blah.
    It looks great the way you made it here!
    IMHO
    😉

  • September 18, 2011, 10:29 am

    Thanks, Jill! I really like it too, and thought it fit in pretty well, but I’m glad that you told me because I sorta needed it lol.

  • Marylou Zackar
    September 19, 2011, 11:13 am

    found you through FB, been following for awhile; I live “tiny”, very interested in what others are doing; just keep on keeping on, more, more, more!

  • Deb Bassett
    September 19, 2011, 6:44 pm

    Hi- found you through links from googling tiny house movement. Started looking around about a month ago. Very interesting! I’m looking for ways to simplify, be more green, while saving some of the money that I’ve been spending on mortgages and maintenance.
    Keep finding all the great stuff that you’ve been posting, I’m fascinated!
    Thanks so much!

  • September 21, 2011, 6:51 pm

    Thanks Marylou and Deb!

  • RW
    September 12, 2012, 5:01 pm

    i first saw you in a newspaper article or the internet. i like tiny house talk because it is real
    vernacular building design. i would suggest adding even more practical tips. i would say keep expanding you horizons in the tiny dwelling movement.
    please let me know how to get a complementary copy.
    thanks

  • Robin
    October 25, 2012, 6:41 am

    I was watching some videos in youtube about container homes then i kept browsing and found your videos. I was interested to the container homes but when i watched your videos, they are more interesting.

    I like the stories behind, the pictures which can give me ideas how to organize stuff. Now i want to make my own tiny house. It was actually my first time to see one because I’m fron Asia.

    For improvements, not much. Maybe if it is possible to have 2 sleeping lofts and a small bedroom. 🙂

  • Brian J. Weimer
    July 26, 2013, 4:03 am

    How did you originally find us? I think it was a google search?
    What do you like best about Tiny House Talk? So much info!
    What improvements do you think we should make? Code info if it is possible to go anywhere in particular and say type in a zip code to get My city info.
    Is it feasible to have a roof that can lift up on a Trailer Mounted Tiny House?
    You could drop it down when towing, and have sides that are hinged to lift up from inside a loft, or drop from the ceiling once You raise it up. Then it would be lower profile, aerodynamic when towing. Still having headroom for a stand-up sleeping loft or on a one story design with pop-up camper type features to convert from traveling mode, to parked mode.
    I’m a retired veteran divorced, and looking for options to be a home owner again with a Tiny Home. I have an apartment in Fargo, North Dakota, but I’m originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. So I wanna leave here, and go back down south. I took a construction course in metal framing, and was wondering is that an alternative for a lighter home I could tow up to 3,500 # with My 2004 Chrysler Pacifica? I know it is used it commercial buildings, but what about a Towable Home, I don’t know if that would hold up? I have seen one place use it for a structure that was moved, and they glued the metal studs to the walls to make it sturdier for the move. But that was only for one move from the construction site to it’s final location. I know they use this same basic style, but with walls glued to wood studs for modular homes to be moved only once also. Does anybody have any experience with the Metal Studs for a Towable Home if this glued, and screwed together style is used to make it light enough to tow with a 6 cylinder SUV? Thank You for any advice in advance!

    Hang Tough Tiny House Talk,
    Brian J. Weimer
    U.S. Navy Retired

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