Roan and Ivy have totally embraced the choice tiny properties life-style, pure constructing two small, reasonably priced homes on their off-grid property in New Mexico.
With a finances of lower than $15,000, they created a sustainable life-style that helps their monetary freedom and private passions.
One house is constructed with earthbags, and the opposite is in a easy shed model.
Collectively, they launched Camp Darkmoon—an academic house the place they educate pure constructing and convey collectively a group that shares their values.
One shared dream, two various tiny properties
Roan was already educating workshops on pure constructing when Ivy attended one together with her father.
That workshop sparked extra than simply curiosity in building—it began their long-distance relationship.
After a yr of touring between states, Ivy moved to New Mexico and acquired an acre of land subsequent to Roan’s.
As a substitute of sharing one house, they constructed two various tiny properties, permitting for independence and stability of their relationship.
“I really feel like having our separate dwellings was a pleasant compromise,” Ivy stated.
Roan added, “We’ve got an opportunity to have our personal house… and an opportunity to overlook one another.”
Inside Roan’s earthbag home
Roan’s 10-by-18-foot dwelling is formed like a soccer, providing 120 sq. ft of usable house.
Constructed from sandbags crammed and stacked by hand, the home took about six months to construct, with roughly 20 hours of labor per week.
He used burlap sandbags for simpler plastering and lined the outside with adobe mud, sealed with used vegetable oil.
Costing simply $2,400, the home is designed for perform and effectivity. It consists of vertical partitions for cabinets, a easy kitchen with a protracted counter, and a wood-burning range constituted of an oil drum.
As a vegan, Roan doesn’t use a fridge. “It’s all simply greens,” he stated, “and it’s very easy to inform when these go dangerous.”
Pure gentle fills the house by triangular home windows; built-in storage helps maintain it organized.
It’s a sensible and artistic instance of what’s potential with various tiny properties.
Ivy’s shed-turned-home provides consolation and magnificence
Ivy remodeled a 10-by-12-foot shed into a comfortable 120-square-foot dwelling house with assist from her dad.
She gave it a Santa Fe-inspired inside utilizing shiny textured partitions and darkish wooden accents. Her dresser doubles as a kitchen and closet, and he or she plans so as to add a propane camper range.
Her off-grid setup makes use of solar energy and refillable water jugs. The pullout sofa—discovered at an property sale—serves as a mattress and couch.
“I wished a extra sluggish life out right here. Simply be extra current, and I feel I undoubtedly have that now,” Ivy stated.
Her shed is one other inventive instance of how various tiny properties can provide consolation, magnificence, and self-sufficiency.
Camp Darkmoon: Constructing group by various tiny properties
Roan and Ivy launched Camp Darkmoon to show others about sustainable dwelling.
The venture provides free workshops centered on pure constructing and hands-on expertise.
“Camp Darkmoon’s all about simply getting individuals out right here and uncovered to the sort of life-style,” Roan stated. “You see two individuals… dwelling properly and being completely satisfied and suppose, ‘Oh, properly, that is one thing I may do.’”
The camp additionally offers a protected, welcoming house for locals to attach and share concepts.
Roan and Ivy hope to develop the choices to incorporate on a regular basis expertise like fixing tires or making artwork, serving to others acquire confidence in easy, self-reliant dwelling.
A life rooted in simplicity
Selecting various tiny properties helped Roan and Ivy escape the excessive price of metropolis dwelling.
Roan moved from California and noticed constructing as less expensive than renting.
Ivy agreed: “Quite than simply throwing my cash away at hire, I can really be extra strategic about it and simply purchase some land, purchase my little, tiny home.”
Their month-to-month bills are minimal. A composting outhouse and water assortment system maintain them unbiased.
They use photo voltaic power and spend simply $3 every week on ingesting water. Propane for cooking and heating prices round $40 a yr.
Ivy earns earnings delivering for DoorDash, whereas Roan works part-time at a espresso store. In addition they hire out a dome by Hipcamp.
“The work I do advantages me a lot extra right here than it will if I used to be dwelling within the metropolis,” Ivy stated.
Residing off-grid has taught them to be extra conscious of their sources.
“Every little thing is like very finite right here,” Ivy stated. “The water, you need to be so aware… the photo voltaic battery’s bought to cost.”
That consciousness has introduced extra intention—and peace—into their on a regular basis lives.
Take a look at Roan and Ivy’s various tiny properties at Camp Darkmoon by the video beneath:
Subscribe to Tiny Home Expedition’s YouTube channel to see extra various tiny dwelling movies like this.
It’s also possible to observe Roan and Ivy on their Instagram accounts Camp Darkmoon and Camp Cutie. It’s also possible to go to their web site for extra data.
Associated Posts:
Uncover extra from My Optimistic Outlooks
Subscribe to get the newest posts despatched to your electronic mail.
