A tiny lesson in entrepreneurship

Photo courtesy Mark Disbrow
Volunteers work on a tiny self-sustaining cabin through Justice Ministry’s entrepreneurship program. The program hopes to develop new entrepreneurs in Pagosa Springs, and encourage gainful employment and innovative ideas among program participants. The cabin is located behind Justice Ministry’s office on Lewis Street.[/caption]

By Casey Crow

Staff Writer

The up-and-coming craze for tiny homes has hit Pagosa Springs, and Justice Ministries is using the trend to empower those in need with opportunities in entrepreneurship.

Tiny houses have become so popular in recent years that they have sparked what some people call the “tiny house movement.” Tiny homes of all shapes and styles are making their way onto Pinterest boards, as well as two popular shows on HGTV.

According to Tiny Life, a website promoting the ideals behind tiny homes, the tiny house movement is a social movement where people are downsizing their living space and simplifying their lives.

The most popular reasons for joining the movement include minimizing one’s environmental impact of living, affordability and the freedom that comes with tiny living and a portable space.

Aside from these incentives, the tiny home movement advocates for self-sufficiency, where most homes can function without an RV park and run off solar power and propane.

In the U.S., a typical regular-sized house averages about 2,600 square feet, whereas a tiny home is usually between 100 and 400 square feet.

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