CA artist-farmer builds $25K quiet home to savor simple life

WooNeeding a break from roommates and social work environments, L Gilbert wanted an affordable home for one in pricey California. Equally eager for construction experience, L began to build a tiny wooden home using salvaged lumber (deck, outdoor shower, furniture, doors), local cedar siding, and birch plywood interior.

After 6 months of intense work, the home was finished, costing $25,000 in materials: the savings on salvaged material were offset with splurges like a new trailer, solar panels, an efficient wood-burning stove, and a high-end compost toilet.

To find an affordable place to park the new home, L began writing to farms in Northern California asking if someone might be interested in exchanging parking on premises for rent and some farm work. After months of waiting, a Christmas tree farm that had been ravaged by a megafire responded saying they had a spot and would only charge $300 per month rent as well as some help selling trees during the holiday season.

The parking sits surrounded by 50 acres of farm (40 acres of which were burnt by the 2018 megafire) and serves as an ideal location to retreat into quiet. “I think it’s a really interesting decision to decide to live alone,” explains L. “But for me, it was a long-term desire, it’s where I thrive the most, is to live alone. I love being around people, but I think having a space that’s my own is really important. I do a lot of work in communities, and being alone is essential to recharging. I think that’s also why I want to build this space so I would have the energy to keep doing the work that I want to do with people.”

Building through the haze of at least one fire and now living on a property where 50,000 trees burnt in the 2018 fire, L is hyper aware of the increasing frequency of megafires in the state and worries about the next one.

“I’ll always live in fear here that my home will burn down. I know that if I’m going to stay I have to develop a different relationship with fire. I’ve really been looking to indigenous leaders because they know better than any of us that fire has always been a part of this land. It actually rejuvenates the soil, it gives new life to native species. The difference is we’ve mismanaged the forests for hundreds of years. What happens then are these mega-super fires, and it’s terrifying, so part of me wants to leave. I just want to take my house and leave but when I really think about where I want to be it’s here. I’m trying to figure out what that can look like in this type of climate.”

L's Instagram @_l_gilbert_
Woodworker Dav Bell @manzanitachange_

[iolanisjourney]

Thank you for giving her room to speak without constantly interrupting her. I appreciate your interview style and your listening skills! Wish other hosts would take notes!!

[sandrajohnson]

Brave soul: struck out on her own, building her own home, with such an independent spirit.
It's great to be off-grid.
I really like the soft maple walls.

[cathyphegley]

Soooo impressed with this lovely young woman! She’s got gumption! She’s got heart, and integrity, and an amazing spirit. Her “little” house is such a great big achievement and it’s adorable. Also it’s a triumph. God bless her! Thanks for sharing her story. Always love your videos 💕

[mindysmith]

What a lovely soul and artistic functional space, nice! I had to smile when she said “ I like to lay in bed…and time disappears. That’s living in the moment. Kudos 😊

[arlenehutchinson]

I love the table and the wooden plates and the GUTS to teach yourself over and over again every morning KNOWING you are going o wake up to a new challenge and just resolving step by step to keep it moving RESPECT 🙌

[Janore]

I absolutely love the entire concept, specially no lofts. I feel it is a lot cozier to have the bed area at the same level of everything else. This is the first video I see that doesn't have a loft and to be honest, I though it would not be possible since I never saw anyone doing it like she did. Everyone has their own points of view about how they want things in life to function and that's Ok but I always think that lofts, despite being designed to take advantage of the upper space of the entire construction, they require a lot of balance and flexibility when it come to the human body i. e. if the person living in a tiny home is suddenly sick and dizzy, has had a leg surgery or even arthritis, it will be very uncomfortable or even dangerous to climb ladders up and down in a daily basis just to get some rest on the bed. Lofts are not for everybody, but it is actually inspiring to see different possibilities of tiny homes' designing and they way they combine minimalism is even better.

[cynthiawilliams]

Inspiring how much she taught herself, but it's also a very aesthetically pleasing house. You can see her art/design skills avoiding the 'hallway effect' she mentioned, and which most tiny homes have. Really well done!

[np]

I live just right down the road from her. I’m so glad she was able to move her home to their ranch… they are lovely people. And I agree with her - when I think about moving someplace else not so fire prone, there really isn’t any other place I’d rather be than here. Kudos to her for building her own home. It’s perfect.

[_cjmaine]

As an Australian who grew up in bushland, I can relate to the consideration given to living in a bushfire prone area. Thanks for mentioning - it's an important consideration.

[anitawing]

Impressive young lady. Love the fact that the kitchen is the heart of her home❤️

[devdroid]

I like her simple, yet articulate way of communicating. She explains why things were built in a certain way. It's the antithesis of an LA luxury real estate agent who goes on and on without really knowing the house.

[Reciprocity_Soils]

Solid simple build with all that reclaimed wood along with all she has learned while building is inspiring. Way to go! Thanks for setting a good example.

[terrencemcmanus]

Kirsten and years and years on Youtube with hundreds of interests and things that I follow. Your channel is my favorite.

[gailmarlatt]

So well thought out set up. I love that you were able to rent space on a farm.

[livingitup]

What a sweet spot L. has found -- in both her DIY-built home, and in the place she landed! Good on her for all her efforts to live so consciously and carry all that learning forward into continuing to refine, revise and live as sustainably as possible. These stories are always very informative and inspiring for this channel's viewers, because they show how it can be done -- even for those with limited resources. We need to keep helping people to find ways out of the terrifyingly high costs of housing in most metro areas, and everywhere in too many states, esp. California.

[sueg]

I love her tiny home! Well done! I especially love the bed alcove and huge widows and huge kitchen.
I live in Northern California too in the Sierra Foothills. And I totally understand wanting to stay, but worried about possibility of raging fires. I hope she finds a compromise. Where she lives is so beautiful.

[lehsu]

$300/mo. is awesome. Your landlord is a blessing

[deborahdanhauer]

What a sweet little home! And a great deal on the spot to park it.🐝🤗❤️

[rebeccapettifer]

Love this young woman. What a sweet person.

[veronherrera]

this is a very clever use of space, simple, not expensive and beautiful