noelle o designs

creativity + sewing + upcycling inspiration

design, tiny

container crush

One of my goals this summer is finishing our backyard- right now it’s a dirt covered forgotten wasteland. When this dream finally comes true, I’m picturing a private oasis- (we need a fence first) green and peaceful- flowers, trees, herbs and vegetable everywhere- parties every night… or just once a week or so…

5 Comments

  1. kalamitykelli

    November 9, 2012 at 1:26 pm

    Those are lovely – and way more work than I would EVER want to do! I like the outside but I must confess, I don’t like getting dirty at all especially my hands so I won’t do any yardwork without gloves and sometimes I have to hide those gloves really well! 🙂

    1. NoelleOlpin

      November 12, 2012 at 1:07 pm

      We’ve got the space all ready to go now. We have to settle for 8′ x 25′ container, city ordinances state we can only have 200 sq. ft. of outbuilding on our 1/4 acre lot.
      So, when spring 2013 comes and the snow melts, we’ll give you a play-by-play here and see just how fancy/clever we can be. I already have peasant hands from not wearing gloves too often so I’ll be gloved up the whole time! In this case, getting dirty is going to be fun!

      1. kalamitykelli

        November 12, 2012 at 1:27 pm

        can’t wait to follow along as you remake it all!

  2. Lawson

    January 25, 2013 at 1:34 pm

    Spent 4 months getting a building permit then taken away with footing poured and container on site ($$$), because it’s illegal to mix cement by hand. Dry, warm place to sleep, save and educate yourself. In town, close to University. Single 40’HC on 50 x 100′ lot. $200 per month and land and home paid for in under 5 years (320 sq.ft.). Can’t have that. Caring leaders passed ordinance (unanimous) that no one can reside in a structure that will last 100 years, waterproof, tornadoproof and bulletproof. BTW illegal to be off grid. $4000 for the right to tap into sewer and water line (pro-rata). Like having a close friend die, just stunned. 24 neighbors signed petition that it was ok but visionless planner called it “a pig that no amount of lipstick could fix”. Not the education I was going for, not the lessons I wanted to teach my child… guess we’re off to the mall to have a beer. Major lesson: It’s not about optimism or pessimism, rather we have a lot of work to do.

    1. NoelleOlpin

      January 25, 2013 at 2:45 pm

      Very unfortunate case, where do you live? It looks like we can have a container “outbuilding” in our town as long as we stay 10′ from the property lines, stay under 200 sq. ft. and don’t make any improvements that make it inhabitable- water, electricity etc. Bummer but still do-able since we mostly need it for storage.
      It would be nice to have electricity and not extension cords run from the house.

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