We were at the Tinyliving-Festival 2019 in Wendland. The festival shows current developments and ideas for a sustainable and reduced lifestyle. Come together, exchange ideas, learn from each other and have fun. What we saw really impressed us.
A contribution by Brigitte Baudisch and Julia Niedermeier
Steady growth, value enhancement and utopian returns – all of these move our economy and our existence. In a world that is finite, we are making ever higher demands, regardless of losses. To what extent am I a part of this (un)equation and what would be a new approach to create a kind of harmony and balance? To live differently, to consume differently – to design innovatively. How does that work?
At the end of August 2019 the Tiny Living Festival tookplace for the first time, a gathering of people of all ages, with different jobs and places of origin. We took the road to the beautiful Wendland to get a pinch of independence and our expectations were more than exceeded. Barefoot and in the best weather, the weekend can begin. To report in a classic way about the contents and the course of these inspiring days in such a unique community is very reluctant for us, therefore an attempt to capture the experienced feeling in a short blog post.
In various workshops and lectures, the topic “how much does it really have to be? Products for an ecological Tinyhaus construction were presented and above all ideas and experiences were exchanged.
The central motive is community and building a future that will give us more valuable time, conserve resources, and create a sense of community paired with freedom. At this vibrational level, everyone simply comes into conversation with everyone, there are no prejudices or fears of contact. Every open ear encounters a communicative conversation partner. Far away from all sales conversations and a culture grayed out by the capitalism we meet humans, who want to bring themselves actually mutually further.
There are different motivations to be interested in the topic Tiny Living – a reduced life. Young families want individually designed and affordable living space, people close to retirement age want to simplify their everyday lives and, if necessary, let go of unnecessary ballast that has accumulated over the decades. Some people are simply looking for a safe retreat. Another important aspect for many is an independent, sustainable life. Ideally a completely self-sufficient life. For pretty much all questions and problems there is a sustainable answer. Creative and technically sophisticated solutions can maintain the comfort you are accustomed to. These different needs and starting points make the idea-finding process unique: everyone wants to design and everyone can contribute something to solving the problem from a different point of view. Independent living on a small area has another quite relevant advantage: resources are conserved. It makes a huge difference whether 20 square metres or 60 square metres are occupied and heated. This is good for your wallet, and even better for the future of future generations. “After us the Flood” should not become a bitter reality.
There are different motives for taking an interest in the subject of Tiny Living – a reduced life. Young families want individually designed and affordable living space, people close to retirement age want to simplify their everyday lives and, if necessary, let go of unnecessary ballast that has accumulated over the decades. Some people are simply looking for a safe retreat. Another important aspect for many is an independent, sustainable life. Ideally a completely self-sufficient life. For pretty much all questions and problems there is a sustainable answer. Creative and technically sophisticated solutions can maintain the comfort you are accustomed to. These different needs and starting points make the idea-finding process unique: everyone wants to design and everyone can contribute something to solving problems from a different perspective.
Independent living in a small area has another relevant advantage: it conserves resources. It makes a huge difference whether 20 square metres or 60 square metres are occupied and heated. This is good for your wallet, and even better for the future of future generations. “After us the Flood” should not become a bitter reality.
It is becoming increasingly important to stimulate thinking outside our comfort zone and everyday habits. Events like this give hope and show again: together we can do more! We remain curious, confident and look forward to a repeat of the Tiny Living Festival (possibly already in 2020?).
Notes:
For more interesting facts please visit:
https://tinylivingfestival.de/
https://www.tiny-house-wendland.de/
https://sisucontainers.de/
https://wirbauenzukunft.de/
Brigitte Baudisch is R&D manager for sustainable products at PNZ. Julia Niedermeier is product manager at PNZ as interface between application technology and R&D.