TinyFest Northwest

Emerald Village, a tiny home community providing low-income individuals the security and benefits of a permanent home (photo from SquareOne Villages Facebook page)

TinyFest Northwest will be in Eugene on Saturday, September 29 and Sunday, September 30 at the Lane Events Center. Builders, tiny dwellers, and tiny living fans alike will be inspired and informed by educational workshops and leaders in the tiny home movement. They’ll meet and share experiences with fellow tiny living enthusiasts, peruse Marketplace offerings, and check out the DIY/Tiny Dweller Village.

Sunday’s keynote speaker will be Andrew Heben, Project Director with SquareOne Villages. SquareOne is a non-profit organization based right here in Eugene, dedicated to developing self-managed communities of cost-effective tiny houses for those in need of housing. SquareOne’s first project, Opportunity Village, opened in 2013 as a transitional micro-housing community for otherwise homeless individuals and couples. The next iteration, Emerald Village, aimed to create a permanent tiny house village affordable to people with extremely low-incomes. 

Andrew’s background is in urban planning and design. In addition to being SquareOne’s project director, he is the author of Tent City Urbanism: From Self-Organized Camps to Tiny House Villages, based on his extensive field work, personal research, and hands-on experience with SquareOne. The book is available for purchase through SquareOne’ website or at Amazon.com.  

The tiny house movement has been gaining a lot of momentum in recent years. Downsizing and simple living may appear to be fashionable trends but the environmental and social merits of tiny houses and living with less give the movement real staying power. If you’re a tiny home enthusiast, or simply are interested in learning more, don’t miss TinyFest Northwest.

What: TinyFest Northwest

When: Saturday, September 29 and Sunday, September 30; 10am – 7pm both days

Where:  Lane Events Center, 796 W. 13^th Avenue, Eugene, OR  97402

Cost:  Weekend Pass at the Gate $20, Online* $17. Single Day Ticket at the Gate $15, Online* $12. Kids 12 & Under are FREE! *Online prices are available until midnight PST on Friday, September 28. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tinyfest-northwest-volunteer-tickets-48780185849

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Eve McClure, a volunteer with SquareOne, told me about TinyFest Northwest. I met Eve and two Emerald Village residents while they were selling SquareOne-branded clear plastic tote bags and drawstring bags on the sidewalk in front of J. Michael’s Books, just down the street from my firm’s office in the Miner Building. The University of Oregon has a brand new rule that disallows bringing anything into Autzen Stadium that isn't in a clear plastic bag or container. If you’re an Oregon Duck fan and still need your own clear bag to bring to games with you, be sure to support SquareOne by purchasing one of their bags. Look for SquareOne tables in front of Autzen Stadium on game day (they’ll be on site for the next two home games: September 15 and September 22).