We’ve featured plenty of tiny homes over the years that use tons of recycled and reclaimed materials. But what if someone built a tiny house entirely out of reused, repurposed, and dumpster-dived items? Well, that’s what certified “reuser” Alex Eaves and tiny house builder and personality Derek “Deek” Diedricksen have done with the REUSE! Box Truck.
The best part? They teamed up with videographer Jason Kimball and made a documentary following the entire process from conception to the three years Eaves lived and traveled the country in the box truck. The film isn’t just about tiny houses, it’s about living with what you already have. And it’s showing across the Northeast down to New York over the next couple of months (or you can watch it at home). You’ll want to check out the schedule here.
This isn’t the first documentary on Tiny Houses, but it’s definitely unique. Here’s what Jeremy Beasley, the director, has to say:
“I wasn’t aiming to glorify tiny house living. I explored what it is really like to build and live in a tiny house, sharing the subjects struggle and triumphs – and their real life journey through it. I wanted the film to go deeper than trends or aesthetic. I wanted it to be courageous and vulnerable. To explore the real human aspect living tiny.”
What inspired you to make the movie?
“The idea of having a 30 year mortgage is not something I’m comfortable with, so I started researching alternative ways to live. How could I live with less material possessions, in a smaller space and I thought what better way to learn about it than to interview the people in the process or already doing it. I started making a few short films of people living in shipping container houses and on boat houses and eventually ended up in Portland, Oregon where the Tiny House community is incredibly strong and offered a really deep, beautiful and inspiring look into tiny houses.”
Have you heard about the Small is Beautiful Tiny House Documentary that’s coming out soon? It’s a new movie that shares stories of people who are taking their freedom back by going tiny.
The documentary is coming out April 30, 2015 and I don’t know about you but I’m excited to watch this one because there’s a lot I haven’t seen inside. Better yet, you’re getting a sneak peek at the film right here right now (below).
This film showcases a collection of stories of people who are chasing their own personal freedoms by designing, building, and moving into their own tiny house. Stories and people that you probably haven’t heard of yet.
I encourage you to enjoy this preview of the Small is Beautiful tiny house documentary below and that it inspires you now and reminds you to watch the rest of the film when it’s released on April 30th. I can’t wait! Thanks!
You might already have even seen the movie at a local screening or film festival. But I’m here to announce that the film is now officially available. More on how and where you can watch it below.
It’s a documentary with a different style than we’re used to in the tiny house world in my opinion but it focuses on the fact that most of us live in homes that are too big.
In return this often creates financial problems as well as potential environmental and waste issues. So the documentary gives us inspiring stories and micro homes that might be part of the solution.
I encourage you to watch and enjoy the full 48 minute documentary for FREE on how this tiny house was designed and built (plus get a complete tour of the finished product) below:
Derek has built several micro houses in his backyard out of reclaimed materials. In this video interview, Merete Mueller and Christopher Smith give you a glimpse into Deek’s world.
Micro Houses & Backyard Forts
What I like the most about small structures is all of the different ways that people can benefit from them. Many of the micro homes that Deek creates cost less than $200 to build.
If you’re willing to look around with an open mind, you can find lots of your materials for free as long as you have the time and willingness to look around and talk to people.
9 Ways To Use a $200 Micro Shelter
Backyard office
Children’s playhouse
Micro storage unit
Chicken coop
Micro Cabin
$100 Homeless Hut
Occupy Wall Street Shelter
Tree house
Micro camper
What are some other cool ways that people can use these micro houses? Share your ideas in the comments after you watch the video.
