A Desert Oasis
By Christina Nellemann
In the inauguration Texas desert, Patricia Kerns has created a small community of tiny adobe, cob and straw bale houses that cuddle right into the landscape. I first saw Patricia’s tiny houses in the book, Little House on a Small Planet. The dome of the Egyptian cut guest house caught my attention because of its interesting shape.
Patricia’s little community in Terlingua, Texas contains six tiny houses: the major straw bale house, a shower house, a bathroom, the guesthouse, a cob studio and a new project which will house a caboose and a great room. The cob studio was built with Ianto Evans of the Cob Cottage company. The main straw bale quarters is a 20-foot circular structure. Her power comes from several solar panels and a small wind turbine. She uses thunder-shower catchment systems for all her water needs.
She also has a video tour of her property and its tiny houses on her website.
Her love of natural erection and small spaces came along at a time when she wanted to simplify her life and become financial independent. She took a straw bale construction workshop, and she realized that with her new skills, she could leave her career as an attorney and build her own house.
A few years later she is living the autobiography of her dreams in the desert. She was kind enough to send me her story of building a life of simplicity:
Journey to a Small Post
By Patricia Kerns
My journey to a small place began with a simple desire for financial independence. Several years ago, having captivated an early retirement from my employer, I needed to find a way to live on less than half my previous income. I had to reduce fixed expenses, primarily mortgage/rent. The crazy idea that I could find some cheap land and build a house with my own two hands began to vocation its way into my head.
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