Housing Empowerment
Humans have been successfully housing themselves in dwellings made with their own hands since time immemorial. Local Livelihoods sees the current housing crisis as a product of the marriage between our post-industrial late capitalism and the current regulatory framework which makes it very difficult for many people to affordably access good quality shelter. Using locally milled posts and beams from local sustainably logged trees, our housing initiative offers hands-on skill-building in timber frame construction to provide beautiful structures at below market prices. The cost of a structure can be further reduced by taking advantage of the new CRD and BC grants for rental units.
Solutions
Introducing the Maker Place, a space for artists and artisans - BYOD (bring your own dwelling) low-impact affordable accommodation sites available. Weekly and monthly stays.
A Woodland Maker's Retreat
Affordable accommodation and maker space on Salt Spring Island for artists, artisans, makers, and builders. Partial work trade arrangements possible. For more information email: wintershavensaltspring@gmail.com
Watch this space for more information as it is added!
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Including:
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project proposal: student-built ADU "garden houses" for affordable housing.
Skill Building
At Local Livelihoods we believe in hands-on learning-through-doing. In today’s world, sustainable skills are slipping away from us. Local Livelihoods empowers people to take traditional skills back into their hands. Learning together in a supportive environment, honouring our bodies, and the natural materials we work with. Sharing skills, and helping each other.
Hide Tanning Circle
Information about Instructor and Invitation to join coming soon!
TAKING AFFORDABLE HOUSING INTO OUR OWN HANDS
Building a 8 x 12 Timber Frame
Learn to build traditional post-and-beam structures.
Build your own timber frame structure in a supportive environment, or develop the skills by working on a group project.
Building a THOW: Tiny House On Wheels
Gain experience working on a tiny house project which meets CSA standards, or work on your own tiny house project within a supportive environment
Housing Advocacy
Don’t criminalize, legalize!
Over the years industry lobbies have merged with increasingly stringent environmental regulations and local zoning and permit processes to create a situation in which affording or building one's own dwelling has become out of reach for 'regular ' rural people. Only a generation ago it was commonplace for people to, upon purchasing rural property, spend a couple of winters in a yurt or temporary cabin (which often later became the chickenhouse!) while building their home. Today, even handcrafted doors and windows are against regulation because they don't meet the industry-backed environmental standards. By offering training in ...