building

The Newest HELMster

The Newest HELMster

Today is my 42nd birthday, which means it (and me?!) are the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything! (At least according to the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.) And while I certainly don’t feel like I have all the answers, I’m so grateful that the past year brought me the lessons, people, and experiences it did. And I’m thrilled that this new year is kicking off how it is. I recently participated in My 24th Annual Pilgrimage to the Oregon Country Fair and then headed straight to the HELM Construction Solutions annual all-company retreat in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I’m thrilled to be the newest HELMster (as we affectionately call each other)!

Tiny House Certificate Story on Vermont Public Radio

Tiny House Certificate Story on Vermont Public Radio

Today I received three messages within an hour, saying “I heard you on the radio!” So I knew the story about Yestermorrow’s 2025 Tiny House Design-Build Certificate went live today. In case you didn’t happen to be listening, I’m excited to share it with you, too.

Back Gate Neighbors

Back Gate Neighbors

My fairy godfamily had been encouraging me to move to Corvallis, Oregon for years and Choosing Community (Again) was easy when the house directly behind theirs came up for rent. Since we moved in a couple months ago, it has been a quick trip around the block to visit each other, but we wanted to create a portal to make it even easier. This past weekend we dedicated to yard projects, including creating a gate in the fence so that we can go back and forth between our houses easily.

Women's+ Basic Carpentry March 2025

Women's+ Basic Carpentry March 2025

I had just gotten back from Wrapping Up Tiny House Design-Build Cert 2025 when Chrissy called to ask if I’d consider teaching Women’s+ Basic Carpentry. This was the first Yestermorrow course I ever heard of - nearly 20 years ago now! I signed up for the catalog - which was snail mailed back then - and I’d flip through it, circling all the courses I wanted to take. It was a couple of years before I finally signed up for the Sustainable Design-Build Certification and got myself to Yestermorrow. But I’ve been going there ever since! So it feels like I’ve come full circle, having the opportunity to teach the Women’s+ Basic Carpentry course.

Wrapping Up Tiny House Design Build Cert 2025

Wrapping Up Tiny House Design Build Cert 2025

This past week of the Tiny House Design-Build Certificate at Yestermorrow flew by. We got so much snow over the weekend that we made Monday a studio day and everyone worked on their own designs. I shared information about small space appliances and fixtures and we discussed small space design tricks to make a small space more functional and appealing.

Tiny House Design-Build Cert 2025 (Week 3)

Tiny House Design-Build Cert 2025 (Week 3)

What an awesome week it’s been at Yestermorrow, teaching and learning through the Tiny House Design-Build Certification! A big snow storm came through last night, so we’ve got about a foot on the ground and more still falling. This is a pretty darn cozy place to be snowed in! I’ve got some sweet rolls rising in the Yestermorrow kitchenette, so it seems like a good time to catch up on this past week.