Teenager builds his own fully-functioning, off-grid tiny home using mostly recycled materials
Jesse didn’t set out to build a “tiny house,” per se.
As a teen, he always wanted to be outside and loved camping in his backyard. So a few years later when he was on his own, he built himself a very small cabin in the woods of Maine. But this was before the Tiny House movement was popular.
And not only did he build his own home in his late teens, but he also did it with just a saw and an ax for the most part!
Jesse is proud of his minimalist lifestyle. And the fact that he has to walk through the forest to get to his car and go off to work means that he can largely separate the outside world from his little sanctuary in the woods.
A tour of his home first reveals a mudroom he built on to the original home in order to store his outdoor gear such as skis and boots.
And while it might not have the cozy decor of some times homes, not everyone needs the same aesthetic to be happy.
His water and lighting situations are completely off-grid.
He buys a water tank that empties into a bucket under the sink which he can empty outdoors. He uses it for drinking and washing dishes.
And we spy those wine glasses! It’s good to know that what he calls “fancy camping” can still be civilized!
Jesse’s lights are solar-powered and being able to light his home with just the help of the sun has been a hobby of his for years.
Of course, that means if the weather is gloomy then things are dark and computer time is zilch. But he gets by – he certainly doesn’t mind taking a break and lighting a candle.
His food area is well organized AND well-insulated. In fact, that insulation might be the most advanced part of the tiny house since it is rigged through his solar system and uses a car taillight to warm the cabinet and keep his food from freezing when the weather gets too cold.
Jesse is able to get work done in his tiny office that even includes a respectable library! And he has plans to add a loveseat/social area to that part of the house as well.
Frankly, it’s a pretty nice setup and a clever way to keep everything you need in one very small space.
[imgsrc caption="Screenshot via FLORB/YouTube" link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2yzondJyB8"]
Next, we head up to the loft where Jesse sleeps. It’s a great space but he admits it gets far too warm up there most of the time.
A friend of his is a carpenter who he gave carte blanche to create an interesting feature in the home – and that’s how he came to have a very narrow catwalk reaching all the way to the upper window.
We love Jesse’s philosophy (which we’ve seen in action) that no matter how much space you have you’re bound to fill it up. And while he’s certainly packed a lot of stuff into his tiny home, he doesn’t even want to imagine how much he’d accumulate if he lived in a 3000-square-foot house.
It would simply be a way of accumulating too much stuff. (Ain’t that the truth?!)
Because Jesse enjoys being outdoors so much, he’s created quite a useful yard for himself. It even has a pizza oven!
And since we know you’re wondering, there is a composting outhouse out there are well.
When it comes to yardwork, the only energy Jesse uses is his own – he scythes his grass!
We’re still not entirely sure where the showering takes place, but after seeing everything Jesse can do, we know he’s got his bases covered. He knows the house isn’t perfect but he’s committed to working on it for the foreseeable future.
And for all those thinking that his bucolic life will end as soon as he finds a partner – joke’s on you. He now lives with his wife Jayne in the same tiny cabin in the woods.
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Be sure to scroll down below for a great interview and video tour with Jesse.
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Source: FLORB via YouTube, @wild.willows.cabin via Instagram