Author: brendakonkel

OM Build Tiny House Weekly Update:

 

A week in Door County: One of the “perks” we’re offering to donors is a stay in Door County, the week of April 5th – April 12th. The first $1500 donation wins a stay in a 3 bedroom condo, the first $1000 donation wins a week in a two-bedroom condo. Click here to donate.

 

OM Village plans:We continue to refine the plans for OM Village (below) with an anticipated move-in date of Mid-May, pending approval by the Madison Common Council. Stay tuned for updates!

 

 

This week in the shop: The axle has been installed on House 2, preparing it to move and clear a space in the parking lot for House 3 (now inside the shop.) Then we’ll begin construction of the roof for House 2. This week’s warmer weather will also give us an opportunity to clean up the “lumberyard” out back where we keep our supply of pallets for recycling into wood siding.

 

Shop hours this week:
Tuesday 3/11: 6:30-10pm Shop Manager: Robert B
Wednesday 3/12: 3pm-7pm Shop Manager: Pete C
Thursday 3/13: 3pm-7pm Shop Manager: Allen B
Friday 3/14: 4pm-6:30pm Shop Manager: Steve B
Friday 3/14: 6:30pm-10pm Shop Manager: Luca C

Shop location: 4235 Argosy Court, Suite B (Click here for map)

Sign-up procedure: We use the Volunteer Spot website, to help manage the increasing number of volunteers. Click here to sign in, choose an open shift and be at the shop ready to work at your chosen time. To maintain safety and be sure everyone has something useful to do, we’re limiting volunteers to 3 per shift. We 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.

OM Build Tiny House Weekly Update:

 

More OM Build in the news: The Associated Press picked up on the OM Build tiny house story, and that caught  the attention of media as far away as the London Daily Mail.

 

Gaining on our $50,000 goal: Since we announced our “Double your donation” matching program. nearly $5000 in donations have come in, pushing our Indiegogo crowd-sourcing campaign past the $15000 mark, towards a goal of $50,000 to fund ten tiny houses. Click here to donate.

 

Attention Techies! Want to get involved helping with the website, data management, etsy, on-line presence and other computer related work? We will be meeting on Sunday, March 9th at 4:00pm at the Social Justice Center (1202 Williamson St.) to sort out what needs to be done, see what volunteers want to do and get better coordinated and more hands working on many of the behind the scenes work to be done! New ideas and technology considerations welcome!

 

New Shop Managers joining us: Our Saturday “Becoming an OM Build Shop Manager” meeting resulted in some new shop managers joining the house-building crew. Below, we gather around the table saw to look over plans for OM Village.

 

 

This week in the shop: House 3 now has a “new” oak parquet floor (purchased at Habitat Restore) This week, we continue construction of roof trusses on House 3 and prepare it for moving outside the shop. House 2 now has windows and a door, and we begin work on an interior storage loft.

 

Shop hours this week:
Monday 3/3: 1pm-6pm Shop Manager: Keith V
Tuesday 3/4: 6:30-10pm Shop Manager: Robert B
Wednesday 3/5: 3pm-7pm Shop Manager: Pete C
Thursday 3/6: 3pm-7pm Shop Manager: Allen B
Friday 3/7: 4pm-6:30pm Shop Manager: Steve B
Friday 3/7: 6:30pm-10pm Shop Manager: Luca C
Saturday 3/8: noon-5pm Shop Manager: Brenda K

Shop location: 4235 Argosy Court, Suite B (Click here for map)

Sign-up procedure: We’re back to using the Volunteer Spot website, to help manage the increasing number of volunteers. Click here to sign in, choose an open shift and be at the shop ready to work at your chosen time. To maintain safety and be sure everyone has something useful to do, we’re limiting volunteers to 3 per shift. We 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.

OM Build Tiny House Weekly Update:

 

OM Build makes the news: Stories this week in the New York Times and Yes! Magazine gave some well-deserved attention to the growing national movement that sees tiny house communities as a creative response to homelessness. OM Build was featured, along with planned communities in Eugene Oregon and Austin Texas.

 

Shop Orientation: For people with experience building things with electric tools (DIY and professional). This is your chance to learn more about our Tiny Home factory and see if you’ve got what it takes to be an OM Build Shop Manager! We are especially eager to find people who can do Saturday and Sunday shifts. Saturday, March 1st Noon-2:00 pm at the OM Build shop, 4235 Argosy Court.

 

Grantwriting/Fundraising workshop: Help us put our new tiny house village on a sound financial footing by assisting with grant proposals. We also need help with on-line tools, editing, writing and planning events. No experience necessary! Sunday, March 2nd at 4:00pm at the Social Justice Center, 1202 Williamson

 

“Double your donation” program continues: All individual donations of $500 or less will be matched, up to a total of $10,000 until March 24th.Click here to donate.

 

Formal plan submitted for E. Johnson community: Our plan for a tiny-house community at E. Johnson and 3rd took a big step forward when we filed a proposal with the city for rezoning. More community meetings will follow, with a meeting of the plan commission in April and a Common Council vote on the project on May 6. Read the Wisconsin State Journal report.

 

 

This week in the shop: We begin construction of roof trusses on House 3 and start installing interior paneling and flooring. House 2 gets a door and finish work on the paneling and interior storage loft.

 

Shop hours this week:
Monday 2/24: 1pm-6pm Shop Manager: Keith V
Tuesday 2/25: 6:30-10pm Shop Manager: Robert B
Wednesday 2/26: 1pm-6pm Shop Manager: Keith V
Thursday 2/27: 3pm-7pm Shop Manager: Allen B
Friday 2/28: 4pm-6:30pm Shop Manager: Steve B
Friday 2/28: 6:30pm-10pm Shop Manager: Luca C

Shop location: 4235 Argosy Court, Suite B (Click here for map)

Sign-up procedure: We’re back to using the Volunteer Spot website, to help manage the increasing number of volunteers. Click here to sign in, choose an open shift and be at the shop ready to work at your chosen time. To maintain safety and be sure everyone has something useful to do, we’re limiting volunteers to 3 per shift. We 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.

OM Build Tiny House Weekly Update:

Tiny Home Stimulus Package: All donations up to $10,000 until March 24th, 2014 will be matched by our special supporters. Please support our Indiegogo Crowd Funding Campaign by making a donation. All individual donations up $500 will be matched.
$5 = $10
$25 = $50
$50 = $100
$250 = $500
$500 = $1000
Click here to donate.

Houses 2 and 3 moving ahead: House 3 now has its pallet-wood siding (above), finished with a generous donation of paint from Madison Sherwin-Williams. Next, we begin work on roof trusses and interior paneling and prepare House 3 to move outside the shop. House 2 got its steel frame last week, moving it one big step closer to being road-worthy!

Shop hours this week:
Monday 2/17: 1pm-6pm Shop Manager: Keith V
Tuesday 2/18: 6:30-10pm Shop Manager: Robert B
Wednesday 2/19: 1pm-6pm Shop Manager: Keith V
Thursday 2/20: 3pm-7pm Shop Manager: Allen B
Friday 2/21: 4pm-6:30pm Shop Manager: Steve B
Friday 2/21: 6:30pm-10pm Shop Manager: Luca C

Shop location: 4235 Argosy Court, Suite B (Click here for map)

Sign-up procedure: We’re back to using the Volunteer Spot website, to help manage the increasing number of volunteers. Click here to sign in, choose an open shift and be at the shop ready to work at your chosen time. To maintain safety and be sure everyone has something useful to do, we’re limiting volunteers to 3 per shift. We 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.

OM Build TIny House Weekly Update:

 

Video introduction to OM Village: Click here to watch!

 

Want to add your voice in support of the OM Village project? email Brenda Konkel at: brendakonkel@gmail.com to be added to our Eastside Supporters email list.

 

“10 tiny homes for Wis. Homeless” raises first $5000: Our effort at “crowdsourcing” is doing well, and just passed the $5000 mark on the way towards our $50,000 goal.  Click here to learn more about the campaign.

 

OM Goods preparing for Spring:

 

This week in the shop: Walls are framed for House 3, now comes plywood sheathing, attaching walls to the floor frame, adding insulation and a vapor barrier. House 2 gets its bright red steel frame, axle and wheels.

 

Shop hours this week:
Monday 2/3: 1pm-6pm Shop Manager: Keith V
Tuesday 2/4: 6:30-10pm Shop Manager: Robert B
Wednesday 2/5: 1pm-6pm Shop Manager: Keith V
Thursday 2/6: 3pm-7pm Shop Manager: Allen B
Friday 2/7: 4pm-6:30pm Shop Manager: Steve B
Friday 2/7:  6:30pm-10pm Shop Manager: Luca C
Saturday 2/8: noon-4pm Shop Manager: Brenda K

Shop location: 4235 Argosy Court, Suite B (Click here for map)

Sign-up procedure: We’re back to using the Volunteer Spot website, to help manage the increasing number of volunteers. Click here to sign in, choose an open shift and be at the shop ready to work at your chosen time. To maintain safety and be sure everyone has something useful to do, we’re limiting volunteers to 3 per shift. We 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.

Shift rescheduled due to cold: Our regular Tuesday-night shift will be rescheduled to Wednesday night due to the extreme cold (see below)

 

Crowdsourcing campaign off to a good start: OM Build’s “10 tiny homes for Wis. Homeless” is doing well on the crowdsourcing site Indiegogo, raising nearly $4000 towards our $50,000 goal in just the first few days! Click here to learn more about the campaign.

 

Eastside supporters get organized: Supporters of OM Build’s East Johnson project (below) are helping to reach out to the neighborhood and answer questions. If you’d like to be added to an email list for regular updates and ways you can help, email Brenda Konkel at: brendakonkel@gmail.com

This week: Floor frame on House 3 is done, next we move on to the walls. House 2 gets windows and a door. 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 may be outside.

Shop Hours – Week of Jan. 20th – Jan. 26th:
Wednesday 1/29  6:30-10pm Shop Manager: Robert B
Thursday 1/30  3pm-7pm Shop Manager: Allen B
Friday 1/31  4pm-6:30pm Shop Manager: Steve B
Friday 1/31  6:30pm-10pm Shop Manager: Luca C
Saturday 2/1 noon-4pm Shop Manager: Brenda K

Shop location: 4235 Argosy Court, Suite B (Click here for map)

Sign-up procedure: 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.

This Saturday, Jan. 25th, at 2pm there will be a General Membership meeting of Occupy Madison, Inc.at the Wil-mar Community Center, 953 Jenifer St.(enter via side entrance on Brearly St.). All members and the general public are welcome. We will discuss the progress we have made in developing an eco-village, building Tiny Houses and our plans for the future. Come learn what you can do to help with our project, or if you are without housing how you can obtain a Tiny House and be a part of our supportative community.

OM Build TIny House Weekly Update:

OM Village update: OM Build’s plan to purchase the Sanchez Motors property on E. Johnson sparked a lively discussion at James Reeb Unitarian Universalist Congregation. We were cheered to see support from so many in the neighborhood (and a bit shocked at the negative police response, given the constructive relationship we’ve had with the Madison police for nearly three years.) Your donation can help make OM Village happen.

Picture worth a thousand words: This “Before and After” image, put together by OM Build volunteer Bruce, tells a dramatic story of how far we’ve come since the 2013 encampment at Token Creek:

 

This week: Work beings on House 3! We will start with the floor frame. Trim, ceiling panels and windows will be installed on House 2. We also need some volunteers to do some snow-shoveling, so we can get to materials stored in back (shovels provided!) 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 may be outside.

Shop Hours – Week of Jan. 20th – Jan. 26th:
MLK Day noon-4pm Shop Manager: Steve B
Tuesday 1/21  6:30-10pm Shop Manager: Robert B
Thursday 1/23  3pm-7pm Shop Manager: Allen B
Friday 1/24  4pm-6:30pm Shop Manager: Steve B
Friday 1/24  6:30pm-10pm Shop Manager: Luca C
Sunday 1/26 noon-4pm Shop Manager: Brenda K

Shop location: 4235 Argosy Court, Suite B (Click here for map)

Sign-up procedure: 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.

OM Build TIny House Weekly Update:
Fundraiser Party a success! Thanks to the many volunteers who made it possible, OM Build raised more than $2000 at our fundraiser and silent auction last Saturday. Missed the party? You can still Donate here… 

 

Moving forward with OM Village: Our bid to purchase Sanchez Motors, 2050 E.  Johnson, has been accepted (so expect more fundraising appeals soon!) The property will be the new home of OM Build, our tiny house factory, as well as a tiny house community! If you live in the neighborhood, it’s especially important that you make your support for OM Build known to your neighbors. We’ve already been encouraged by some positive responses from people who live nearby!

Community meeting on OM Village proposal: There will be a community meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 14th at James Reeb Unitarian Universalist Congregation to to hear from the neighborhood and to discuss the OM Village proposal. The meeting starts at 6:30. People from outside the neighborhood are welcome to attend, but we ask that you keep comments brief, to give priority to neighborhood residents.

 

This week: Work will focus on preparing the shop for the start of work on House 3. Work continues on House 2 as well, finishing insulation, interior paneling, windows and the door. 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 may be outside.

Shop Hours – Week of Jan. 13th – Jan. 18th:
Tuesday 1/14  6:30-10pm Shop Manager: Robert B
Thursday 1/16  3pm-7pm Shop Manager: Allen B
Friday 1/17  4pm-6:30pm Shop Manager: Steve B
Friday 1/17  6:30pm-10pm Shop Manager: Luca C
Sunday 1/19 noon-4pm Shop Manager: Brenda K

Shop location: 4235 Argosy Court, Suite B (Click here for map)

Sign-up procedure: 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.

Hammer, hammer, saw, saw, hammer, hammer . . . Continue reading “Finish off the year with a bang!”