This Man Lives In A Box And Grows His Own Toilet Paper

Have you ever thought about living in a tiny house?  Rob Greenfield is doing just that!  His tiny house is only 10 feet by 10 feet, which is about 100 square feet in total. It’s built using reclaimed materials and cost him only $1,500!

Rob is on a mission to live simply and sustainably. Let’s check out his tiny house, and the incredible systems he has in place to grow and forage 100% of his food.

Rob Greenfield in front of his tiny house

Living Simply and Sustainably is the Goal

Rob strives to live a life without bills, debt, or even a car.  This lifestyle allows him to focus on his basic needs, which include food, water, and a bit of electricity.

“I really strive to live simply,” Rob says. “This tiny house and this homestead that I’ve created allow me to live the simple life that I desire.”

Inside of Rob Greenfield's tiny house

Building the Tiny House with Minimal Impact

Building his tiny house was a significant part of Rob’s journey. He used about 99% repurposed materials, making his tiny house eco-friendly.

Rob’s goal is to show that living simply doesn’t have to be expensive. While many tiny houses cost upwards of $100,000, he demonstrates that it can be done affordably.

Rob explaining his tiny house materials

Designing for the Environment

Rob lives in Orlando, Florida, just three miles from downtown.  He designed his house to blend into the neighborhood and to withstand the heat of Florida summers.

One of the key features of his design is the open roof, which allows for a cross breeze to keep the interior cool. However, he admits that winters can be challenging without insulation or a stove.

Rob's tiny house design

A Capsule for Food

Rob’s tiny house isn’t just a living space; it’s a food capsule!  He is currently on a project to grow and forage 100% of his food for an entire year.

“What this house really is, is a capsule for my food,” he explains, showing off pumpkins, ferments, and other food supplies he has grown or foraged.

Rob showing his food storage

Living with Minimal Possessions

Rob keeps his possessions to a minimum. He has a single shelf for all his clothes and only essential hygiene items like a bamboo toothbrush.

“I live pretty simply, with pretty minimal stuff,” he says. “All of my clothes fit pretty comfortably onto 1 shelf.”

Rob's clothing shelf

Innovative Cooking and Food Storage

In his tiny house, Rob has a deep chest freezer that only costs about $3 a month to run. This allows him to store bulk amounts of food, essential for his foraging project.

Rob also uses a combination of cooking methods, including a propane stove and a bio digester that turns food waste into cooking fuel.

Rob's cooking setup

The Outdoor Kitchen Experience

Rob spends a lot of time in his outdoor kitchen, where he cooks most of his meals. He collects rainwater for drinking and has set up a gravity-fed sink.

“I drink rainwater, so I’m not connected to the grid for water,” he shares, emphasizing the importance of sustainability in his lifestyle.

Rob's outdoor kitchen

Composting and Using Nature’s Resources

Rob also has a composting toilet system, which he utilizes to turn waste into fertilizer. He uses sawdust for covering and composts it for a year before using it on plants.

He even grows his own toilet paper!  The blue spur flower is a plant he uses for this purpose, which he has not purchased for five years.

Rob's composting toilet setup

Transportation and Community Living

Rob doesn’t own a car. Instead, he uses a bicycle for transportation. He has a bike rack and a trailer to carry what he needs.

He lives in a work exchange setup, using someone else’s backyard to grow food in exchange for helping them live sustainably.

Rob on his bicycle

Rob’s Mission as an Environmental Activist

Rob is not just living simply; he is also an environmental activist. He undertakes extreme adventures to raise awareness about sustainability and social issues.

His work includes projects like “Trash Me,” where he wore all the trash he produced for a month to illustrate waste issues.

Rob during an environmental activism project

Challenges of Simple Living

Despite the fulfillment he finds in his lifestyle, Rob acknowledges the challenges. He has to constantly maintain his systems, deal with weather fluctuations, and manage a small living space.

“Living this outdoor life without air conditioning and without heat means that I am more at the whim of the weather,” he admits.

Rob discussing challenges

Conclusion and Inspiration for Others

Rob Greenfield’s journey is an inspiring example of how living minimally and sustainably can be achieved.

“The more that I’ve basically simplified my life, the less needs that I have, the more that I’m able to help meet other people’s needs,” he says.

His story encourages others to consider how they can make positive changes in their own lives, whether that’s through composting, growing food, or simply living with less.

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