There is more than one way to oppose the tide of consumerism.
The latest news from Statistics Canada is that Canadian household debt has hit a record high and is growing faster than disposable income.
On the lower continent, this is reflected in the purchase of a small and peaceful house to build a larger house, although those who can't afford those big houses drive their SUVs East, find cheaper big houses in Surrey, Langley, Maple Ridge or mission.
"Driving until they can afford something --
This is the expression we use sometimes, "said architect Michael Geller, who is also a part-time professor at the Centre for Sustainable Community Development at Simon Fraser University.
At the end of the drive, there was an urgent desire to fill those big houses with things --
As a result, the results of the national debt quarterly report from December.
However, a less-known group is resisting the trend: people who choose to live in smaller areas, have smaller living spaces, have fewer things and walk more for various reasons.
They support their families in their apartments or settle in small houses crowded in alleys.
"It's a clear population, a real population," Geller said . ".
"All you need to do is stand outside the childcare facilities in downtown Vancouver and you can see them, and I think we'll see something similar happening in bennaby and Richmond.
Geller said: "immigrants from countries where families live in apartments that are not uncommon are part of the reason.
In addition, the municipal zoning rules are also changing, allowing smaller houses to be built along a single lane
Family neighborhood.
Jack Fry, building and designing roadway houses through his company Smallworks Studios and laneway Housing Inc.
100 such houses have been built, ranging in size from 380 to 1,000 square feet.
Since Vancouver gave the green light to these houses in 2009, the city has built or approved 1,082 houses. Fry also co-Established a non
Profit Room B. C.
Provincial claims-
This kind of housing is wide.
Then it's tiny, more popular so far-
For example, the countryside around Nelson and the island of Hornby.
Less than 200 square feet of small houses, usually small enough to fit on wheels, have made some progress closer to the city, but Fry said, "It's not a very fit for yourself, nor is it any architectural solution in a city area.
"Kayla Feenstra, a small house resident at Kaytsford, did not agree, as we found out when we checked into four small families.
A 400-square-foot couple and a cat turned her phone over.
The Neanderthals used this model to warn each other of an attack on the ivory elephant.
Williams, 28, a staff member at a law firm in downtown Vancouver, said: "I bought this last summer and I may keep it for three to four years . ".
"I think smartphones are one of the worst things for the environment --
To be honest, the minerals and things they make.
"Some people may need smartphones, but 10 years ago everyone had them," Williams said . "
Her life with her
Have a boyfriend, Angel Rince, 26-year-
The old administrative assistant of a property management company is those who choose to live small.
They chose to reduce the floor space at home and canceled the need to exchange old things for new things.
For Rince and Williams, the reason is that people are worried about the consequences of excessive use.
Consumption and desire for economic freedom, including planning for early travel
Towards retirement
"Our whole goal is to spend as little money as possible, because the less you spend, the earlier you retire," Williams said . ".
"If you have enough money, you will know.
This is a combination of the environment.
Reduce consumption as a whole. We don’t drive.
If possible, we try to avoid buying plastic products or anything that will eventually be landfill.
Ince and Williams live in one 400-square-
In a shared apartment in Gastown town
Op housing project within walking distance of their two offices.
Celestian Rince and Stephanie Williams gave up on something to make it smaller: "Our couch.
We have a big sofa that takes up too much space.
We put the TV on the wall at the foot of the bed, not in front of the sofa.
"We had a bunch of clothes hanging in our closet that were rarely worn or never worn, and we donated them shortly after we moved.
"We threw away some old books and most of them turned to e-booksbooks.
As a reward, we can also put books on the shelves!
Kitchen appliances.
We threw away a bunch of things we didn't use: juicer, toaster (
We have a toaster)
Grill, make bread.
640 square feet of couples and toddlers. ft.
Across the street from dunba in Vancouver, Akua Schatz, 36, and Brendon Purdy, 37, are raising their two children --and-a-half-year-
An old son of 640square-
They basically built their own yard in Purdy's parents.
The small house was designed by a company that specializes in this kind of house.
Schatz, 36, said: "From the environmental department, my priority is to have a green home . . . . . . As natural as possible, "he worked at the Suzuki foundation for six years before serving on the Canadian Green Building Board, which is responsible for the LEED certification.
For example, they picked a countertop made of organic material.
Schatz admits that when she and her husband arrived in Vancouver from Ottawa in 2007, she and her freelance photographer also had financial reasons to become smaller.
They originally lived in the basement suite of his parents and decided four years ago to build their laneway house.
"I never planned to live with my family --
Said Schatz.
"But over time, we realized that the experience of living in a nearby family was very rich, especially since we had children.
Now that we have tested it
Driven by this idea, we live closely together, which works well, and perhaps we will seize this new opportunity to build a laneway house in the backyard.
"Akua Schatz and her family gave up four things and prepared toys for her son.
"I appreciate it," she said with a smile . ". • An oven.
"We have the Cuisinart toaster oven as the counter space is small.
Either that's it, or lost the dishwasher. ” • A dryer.
They have a high
Efficient washing machine, then hang the clothes to dry.
There is a bedside table next to the bed.
"We have more bedroom corners with a shelf on them.
Our storage is vertical.
A woman and a dog in 128 square feet. ft.
Kayla Feenstra, 128 square away-
She built and lived at abertsford's house. (
Jason Payne (PNG)
For kayla feenstra, 30year-
The old landscape designer and social entrepreneur at abertsford, when she walked into her 900-square-meter living room, her layoff moment came --square-
She realized that she did not remember when she was in that room last time.
"I realize why I have this space when I don't use it? Said Finn Stella.
"I let my roommate in because it was two-bedroom.
It feels like a waste of space to leave that room empty, (
Roommates)
It's a headache.
"Her solution is radical: build a self
There is a portable house with 128 square feet inside. (function(){pnLoadVideo(
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The little house was designed by Feenstra himself.
She used the donated materials, including the door of the barn and the remaining decorative materials, to maintain a budget of $15,000.
"I have a lot of people who help me in different places --
Friend of plumber, friend of electrician, friend of cabinet, that kind of thing.
Kayla Feenstra talks about what little life she gave up: "The frustration of renting a house.
"There is room to beg for meaning.
"I miss being a foster care provider.
So, one day I will build a cabin that will allow me to provide foster care again and finally adopt.
"243 square feet of mom, teenage daughter and two puppies. ft.
Victoria, 46year-
Elizabeth, the old mother (
Not her real name)built a243-square-
Her insole suite on the 100 flooryear-
After her marriage broke down last year, the old character's house was about to be rented out.
Elizabeth, the administrator of a software company, and her 13-year-
The old daughter who designed the space.
"At the design stage of our decision, let's turn this into what we want," Elizabeth said . ".
When the space was finished in last March, the mother and daughter were moved by the new excavation, choosing to move themselves downstairs and rent out the rest of the house.
"I can't get my daughter out of this space.
We actually built it for income, but we just invested too much.
It's so cool, we think, we should live here.
"For all of these people, living in a smaller space means losing property.
"The kitchen is like the kitchen of a ship.
This is a wall, "said Elizabeth.
"My kitchen upstairs is beautiful.
I think I will miss the kitchen.
"But this is very efficient.
Really, it simplifies your life.
Not much extra.
Exquisite bread
Maker is no longer there, for example.
"You are completely editing," Elizabeth said . ".
"I have to say that life is less stressful with less.
It completely reduces your burden.
"When they don't watch TV, the TV installed on the wall will fold up.
Elizabeth did not make a concession: she did not give up her vast collection of shoes and handbags.
It is stored in a shelf under the bed.
Elizabeth had to give up four things in order to live in her smaller space: "My beloved coffee machine (
Insufficient counter space)
But I am French now.
Easy to use with washer/dryer. (
I now share the laundry service with my rental r through my backyard. )
• Closet space.
"Some days, my sanity --
Stay at 243 square feet with a teenager and two dogs!
Kayla Feenstra in 128 square
She built and lived at abertsford's house. (
Jason Payne (PNG)
Abbotsford's sfeenstra took her small 128square-
Foot house on a non-owned rural property
The profit of working with her managed to install the kitchen and bathroom in her small space.
She also found space for the shelves.
Then it was discovered that some of the shelves were still empty after she moved in last June.
"I kept something I got from the trip," Feenstra said . ".
"I initiated a policy that if I don't use it between January and June then I don't need it.
I dropped from 30 to 10.
I threw away some kitchen appliances that I have only used once in the blue moon.
Schatz in Vancouver says there's a toddler. down harder.
"It's easier when there are only two of us," she said . ".
"We do find that we can spend more time on the experience.
It's more important than bringing things into the family.
Instead of another toy, we asked, can we sign up for gymnastics classes, art classes for our kids or go outside for farm activities?
In the town of gais, Williams and Lin find that they can put clothes in a common wardrobe.
"About a year and a half ago, we almost completely stopped buying clothes, and we didn't seem to have used up," Williams said . " They took good care of their clothes with sewing machines.
"We buy socks and underwear. ”A TV, a five-year-
Old computers and PlayStation 4 are one of the few things they enjoy. Built-
On the shelves, their walls and Murphy's beds fold up during the day.
"The bigger a place, the more encouragement you get," says Rince . ".
"If you have a small place, you will only get what you really need.
"As for daily life in a small space, Williams was able to stretch out and practice ballet in their apartment as she and Rince got rid of the couch shortly after they moved in.
"We want more rooms and less sofas," Williams said . ".
Feenstra held work
In her small house held relevant meetings with six others and gave a sleep to friends.
She also has a big dog. Elizabeth has two puppies.
Elizabeth and her daughter are currently sharing an attic bed.
"This is our safe space, a new beginning, a new life," Elizabeth said . ".
"We are very close and I don't know if this works for a lot of people, like being with your kids.
She plans to finish a 150. square-
There is a space for her daughter and friends in her backyard, with a loft bed and a sofa underneath.
Schatz takes her smallis-
For her "hippie" parents, foreign development workers traveling to and from Africa and Canada with four children, this is a better ethos.
Feenstra of abertsford, who grew up around the garden, partly explained why she didn't need much indoor space.
"I like the effect of happy outdoor space on people, especially on children," she said . ".
Feenstra installed natural game space in elementary school and helped manage more than 30 community gardens in abertsford and Fraser Valley.
She also runs a project called farm to food bank, where trucks are delivered to produce that retailers will not take away.
Her little house was built with solar panels.
Furnace and water
So she can live by the harvesting system. grid.
But, she said, "I have entered the community where I really want to be involved.
Feenstra's latest adventure began with her new home
She has just set up a small residential company in Canada to build and sell houses like her.
"I received messages and emails from all over the place," Feenstra said . ".
"They just want to work five hours a week.
They came out of the wood.
Meanwhile, Williams and Lin are looking forward to retirement, which will give him the opportunity to take advantage of his B UniversityC.
A degree in creative writing gives both of them more opportunities to travel and hobbies.
Ideology is secondary to Victoria's Elizabeth.
"A lot of times, tiny
The family is very granola. That’s not me.
"I love my shoes, my bag," she said . ".
"That's not why I did it, but I absolutely love the fact that we have a small footprint and I built it in the existing character house.
I'm not doing this to destroy the green space.
Of course, I like the side of it.
"But people look at the problem from different angles.
I never thought I would do that, but it happened.
"Gschaefer @ theprovince. comtwitter.