Hammer, hammer, saw, saw, hammer, hammer . . .
First house now OCCUPIED: OM Build was able to celebrate a very special Christmas Eve, helping long-time Occupy volunteers Chris and Betty move into our first home! WKOW-TV reported here, and the Wisconsin State Journal reported here, with details about the home’s solar-electric system.
| Please help us keep the Tiny House Project going: Click here to donate through our fiscal sponsor, Center for Community Stewardship (scroll down to find the “Occupy Madison Inc.” button on the left.) All donations are fully tax-deductible.Much-needed window warmers donated: This week’s brutally cold temperatures will be tempered a bit by custom window warmers donated and installed by Mary at Creative Energy Designs (right.) |  |
This week: Work continues on House 2, including insulation and interior paneling. We begin to collect and inventory materials for House 3. We welcome volunteers at all skill levels, training and close supervision will be provided by OM Build shop managers. Please be sure to dress warmly, some work will be outside.
Shop Hours – Week of Dec. 30th– Jan. 4th:
Monday 12/30: 6:00-10:00pm Shop Manager: Rob B
Thursday 1/2: 3:00-7:00pm Shop Manager: Keith V
Friday 1/3: 6:30 – 10pm: Shop Manager: Luca C
Saturday 1/4: noon-5pm Shop Manager: Brenda K
More volunteer opportunities! Drivers with valid drivers licenses needed to help us comply with Madison’s parking ordinances. The OM Build trailer and Tiny House 1 need to be moved every day, under alternate-side street parking regulations. Let’s share the work! Just show up at the shop at one of the above times to volunteer or for more information.
Shop location: 4235 Argosy Court, Suite B (Click here for map)
Sign-up procedure: This week, we will be continuing with an informal sign-up process. Just go to the shop at one of the above posted times, and join in!
We can work with volunteers at all skill levels, so don’t hesitate to volunteer simply because you lack construction experience. The most important qualification we look for is a willingness to learn, to take instructions from the Shop Manager and to follow all shop safety procedures.
Please come ready to work, dressed in work clothes that can get dirty or smeared with paint.
It should be possible to “industrialize” (=assembly-line manufacturing) the fabrication of these homes and reduce the cost significantly. Any efforts in this direction? Bloomberg Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and many others should be aggressively approached to fund it.
It is possible and probable in the future – part of what we are doing is building them with sweat equity from the people who are going to be living in them . . . which is to build skills, self-esteem, community. We are also using recycled up-cycled materials. Yes, they could be mass produced with a lot more money (paid staff, not volunteers) and I hope the idea catches on, but at the moment, we are moving towards more of an ecovillage that is self governed with people who are part of a community. Given what we have seen around the county we are building the community slowly and deliberately to make sure it is successful. Then we can work on bigger goals.
I would like to buy a set of plans for the 98 sq. foot tiny house on wheels. Selling the plans maybe a way to generate more money for your project.
Thanks
The first two houses we built don’t have a complete and detailed set of plans. The third house does, and we can make the plans available, but we’d like to complete it first before we disseminate the plans in case we run into issues. We are happy to share what we have, but it may not be useful.