April Anson is originally from Oregon, a lover of all things wild, and a student of the dialectical spaces surrounding that term. Currently, she is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, where her work Literature and the Environment and American Studies focuses on the relationship between white supremacy, climate change, and American environmental thinking.
Watch the photo gallery tour below – makes start to “finish” look breezy!
aatinyhouse 
April, I’m a UO alumn from the graduate program in Geog and a former professor of mine sent me your Reg Guard article. I’m building a tiny house on wheels in Washington DC with a few friends – you can check out our blog at boneyardstudios.com. I’m going to be back in Eugene later this month. Get in touch if you want to grab coffee or something – I’d love to chat with you about your project!
Lee,
I somehow just realized that I never responded to you. I am TERRIBLY sorry. I hope this finds you well – when next you are in eugene, coffee or something is on me. 🙂
Hi April,
I am curious if you could tell me more about your insurance experience. I contacted the folks you worked with and it’s taking quite a long time. They are reassessing classification for the structure and it’s been taking weeks. Who specifically did you work with and do you have their contact? Any help you could lend would be phenomenal. I am preparing to move in to my tiny house in a couple weeks and I would love to have all this figured out before then.
Thanks,
Jenn
P.S. You might meet my friend Mona at UofO. She’s fantastic. She is also in the literature department in a PhD program. I think her focus is Russian Lit though.
Jenn,
I am so sorry to hear you are having trouble. I can TOTALLY relate. I spent many days leading up to the move in utter panic – visions of disasters of all kinds. Darrell Grenz was very helpful for me, but it may be that now, with increased media attention, Foremost Insurance is reconsidering their classifications. I hope that is not the case though. Are you dealing with Foremost directly, or going through Darrell? His contact info is:
Darrell Grenz
5651 N Lombard St
Portland, OR 97203
Office: (503) 227-1288
Alternate: (503) 267-9342
Fax: (888) 487-4528
… though I think this may be who/what you have tried. Let me know if I can help in any way. I believe mine is classified as a manufactured home, though I can’t recall exactly and the info is at home. You can email me at aergoddess@gmail.com if you would like to communicate off this site.
Best of luck and speedy insurance to you,
April
Ps. I haven’t met Mona (yet) but will keep an eye out for her name/person 🙂
I absolutely love your tiny home. i found the Tumbleweed Co. years ago and I’ve been obsessed with building and owning a tiny home since I first saw one.
I’ve always wondered though, what it’s like to sleep in the loft. Does it feel stable and secure on its tiny wheels? They seem so light and airy, what is it like in windy weather?
Do you think you’ll end up staying in it long term or perhaps at some point move into a “big” house, either one of the larger Tumbleweed designs or some other home?
I’d love to chat with you and find out what your experiences have been with your little Tumbleweed.
It does feel stable, though I now have it jacked up off the wheels for living. The wind doesn’t seem to bother it; with the metal roof the rain can be a trip, but she is pretty sturdy :). I imagine staying in it for a good long while, but I do want children some day, so it might not be practical at that point. Feel free to email me with any questions, etc. 🙂 aergoddess@gmail.com
Hi April,
I LOVE your barn roof – I imagine it gives loads more space up in the loft. It looks like you modified a Tumbleweed Fencl – did I guess correctly? If so, did you pay someone to modify it for the barn roof? Also, do what are your thoughts on the structural aspects of the barn roof – do you think the structure would travel well with something other than the typical gabled roof? You did a lovely job!
Alexis, Thank you for your kind words, and you are exactly right. We bought the $90 Fencl plan and modified. For the roof, we built the gambrel trusses ourselves, and I would say it makes a HUGE difference. In hindsight, I’ve also thought that making the entire structure as tall as possible and having a very gentle slope (asymmetrical roof) might provide even more space. But I do like the aesthetic of the barn look, too. Overall, the roof is working out swimmingly. 🙂 Many blessings to you and yours.
Congratulations on such a lovely Tiny House ! And thank you for the documentation of your build. I recently attended a Tiny House build workshop in Portland, and am seriously thinking about starting my own build…. Would you be open to giving me a tour of your house? I’ll be in Portland from 6/26-29. thanks!
Margaret
Margaret,
Thanks so much for your kind words. I would love to give you a tour- but the tiny is parked in Eugene now, as that is where I am in school. If you find your way down south to Eugene, let me know and we will have tiny tea 🙂
April: I wonder if you would consider selling one..I think the perfection of it for my 7 year old and I is optimum…would you build and sell one that is the same? Thank you, mi
I have definitely considered it. I can put you in to contact with someone as well 🙂
~ I’d love to know who you might put someone in contact with, re: building! : ) …it’s uncanny how many of the design & al. elements you’ve included are parallel with my own ideas!
Ana, email me at aergoddess@gmail.com and we can talk!
Hey April, great stuff! Big fan of what you’re doing. I’ll be in Portland this weekend for the marathon and was hoping I could drive down and see you. I’m building my own tiny house and would love to pick your brain. Please let me know if you have any free time. Thank you!
Jason, how great! Email me at aergoddess@gmail.com and we’ll see if we will be around at the same time 🙂
Hello April;
First of all, congratulations on your Doctorate studies. My son is in the 3rd year of his doctorate for mathematics, so I know how hard you have to work.
I have just one question (at this time); What is the wood on the walls and ceiling?
Look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Loyd Myers
Thanks for the encouraging words – my doctoral studies are one of the hardest things I have ever done, decidedly. But, in the end, I feel so fortunate to be doing what I do. 🙂 The wood is called Beetle Kill Pine, found through a distributor in Portland but felled in Montana, if memory serves. Hope this holiday season finds you well.
Hi April,
It looks like we’ll both be speaking at the Tiny House Conference this April. I’d love to connect before then. If I remember correctly we chatted on the phone about two years ago. I’m a fellow tiny house dweller and blogger. Let’s catch up!
Sincerely,
Lina Menard
Lina, great to hear from you again :). I’d love to catch up before the conference!
Hi April,
I’m sure you could care less, but I was searching my brother’s name on youtube (Anson) and found you, which is so weird because his name is Anson and my name is April. hahaha
April Hohne
Ha! I love that! Nice to meet you both 🙂