Join Us At One Of Our Tiny House Workshops In 2016!!

We are thrilled, delighted, even ecstatic to announce that we are offering a line up of tiny house build workshops starting in February, 2016! Enough people have been asking and for long enough that we finally decided to make it happen. As you may or may not know, Andrew has been teaching construction workshops since 2007 (www.StrawBale.com) and in that time he has personally taught over 2,000 people! Suffice it to say, when it comes to workshops, there are very few people that have as much experience as he does.

In this article I had the fun task of interviewing my own husband (Andrew and I are married in case that point was missed!). We have worked together since 2004 and during that time I have interviewed many dozens of people but this was the first time I’ve interviewed him!

Why offer tiny house workshops?

I love teaching and inspiring people to reach the greatest goals they are capable of. I’ve been teaching workshops in the field of straw bale construction since 2007 and I’ve worked with over 2,000 participants in that time. I knew I wanted to teach in the field of tiny houses so when I presented my idea for this workshop to Gabriella, she and I both got really excited about what it can bring to the tiny house community. We are even more excited about sharing the overall workshop experience with you.

As I’ve said in regards to our straw bale construction workshops for years: “It’s so much more than a workshop.” After all, when a bunch of people with like minds and hearts get together to achieve a common goal, great things happen. I have seen this time and again over the years and I look forward to sharing that experience with all of you.

What do you bring to the table?

In terms of construction, I’ve been a professional builder for 20 years and in that time have worked as a general contractor, land developer, custom home builder, property manager/landlord, teacher, and consultant. I’ve built custom straw bale homes, conventional homes, and tiny houses and I have worked in both new construction and remodeling. At 42 years old, I have spent nearly half of my life in the field of construction, and I have a passion for sharing what I have learned with others.

In terms of leading workshops, I have nearly 9 years of experience teaching large groups of people and I know what it takes to build a solid group dynamic and convey potentially confusing information about construction techniques in a simple to understand manner. My biggest passion in life is inspiring others, and that’s always the goal of every workshop I teach.

What can people expect to learn at one of your tiny house workshops?

We will break down the construction process of a tiny house including discussions on everything from trailers and design elements to framing techniques and finish work. We’ll talk about what tools to use and what materials to consider; and we’ll learn techniques to build things safely and to high standards. We will discuss issues related to codes, zoning, where to park a tiny house, and legalization strategies.

We will also step outside of the “normal” construction discussions and talk about some of the deeper issues that come up during a build. For example: how to manage your time effectively; how to work with subcontractors, banks, building and zoning departments; and how to manage stress and frustration. Yes, stress and frustration are an inevitable part of building and they can be the ruin of any project if you don’t have ways to manage them. Most workshops don’t broach these topics but we will be stepping right into them because they are vital.

What is your favorite workshop moment?

That’s a hard question to answer. I know it sounds corny, but there have been a lot of special moments. I think my favorite experience in teaching is seeing people get inspired and educated. When people leave saying they are excited to build their place with confidence…and then they do!…that’s a great feeling.

Do you believe that anyone can build their own tiny house?

Absolutely. What’s more important is that I believe anyone can build their own tiny house well and love the entire experience from trailer to doorknobs. This workshop is about more than just learning to build, it’s about learning to understand the entire journey and the potential challenges that come with it. There are good days and bad days on a tiny house build, or ANY build for that matter.

Knowing how to handle the ups and downs and how to create tools to manage your time and your stress levels is something that every builder needs. I’ve already mentioned this, but I think it is worth saying again. When people dive into a build, there is often a level of fear and stress that surround the project. After all, many people who “take the leap” have never built anything before and the idea of suddenly starting with a house can be daunting. That fear and stress, if not addressed, will cause all kinds of problems along the way. It will lead to self-doubt, poor decision making, a feeling of “giving up, and can ultimately lead to a failed project or worse, a failed relationship.

I want to speak more to the topic of the impacts on relationships that building can have. In my 20 years in the industry I have seen people and relationships fall apart in the construction process.  For example, I have seen married couples get divorced because they could not decide on what color drapes to get in the living room, or what tile to use in the shower. It sounds crazy, but it shows you how much stress, frustration and resentment can build up during a build if those things are not addressed right away.

I have seen people sitting on the stoop of their unfinished house in tears because they didn’t plan properly and had run out of money to finish their home. There is no reason that these stories should reflect your experience. There are ways to manage all of this and, I believe, learning those skills is even more important than learning how to properly layout a gable roof or how to hang cabinets. These lessons, like I mentioned above, are LIFE lessons that can and will have a lasting, positive impact on all aspects of your life, long after the build is done.

Why should people go to one of your workshops?

Learning time-tested and approved construction techniques, code requirements, and “best practices” will give you the confidence you need to build your home. Make no mistake about it, there is a “right” way to build and choosing that path is the best approach for a successful project. Knowing what passes code, how to build (from a technical standpoint), how to properly manage your project, and how to enjoy yourself along the way will help you create a better built, safer, and more inspiring tiny house.

Since 2007 I have been teaching people not only how to build houses but also how to improve their lives. I want to share these same concepts with you and inspire you to build the best tiny house you can while creating the best life for yourself along the way.

Where do I find out more information about your workshops?

We are working on the tiny house build workshop page right now and will be releasing the locations for the early part of 2016 schedule on November 27 at 9am Pacific Time. Stay tuned for more information about that date and also for “The Biggest Tiny Sale” we will be running from November 27-December 4. You will have an opportunity to sign up for our workshops at a sale price during that time.

What will the workshops cost and what does my tuition cover?

We will reveal the price, locations, and dates on November 27. What I can say though is that we are throwing in a crazy amount of free bonuses to each workshop registration! In total the bonuses are worth over $300 and include The How To Guide To Building A Tiny House (Instant Download), How To Be Your Own Contractor Video Series (Instant Download) AND our hOMe Digital Plans Package. All of those items are available as instant downloads as soon as you sign up for a location.