It makes sense that folks who kit out their vans are usually creative and adventurous types. They are all about exploring the world and making the most of the journey. This is why we wanted to quickly highlight the fine folks at Shelter Publications who are currently featuring Kirk Williams (and his customized van – Spock) on their site.
The story is as beautiful and inspirational as the above photo shows. Here’s an excerpt:
“Kirk’s concern after he broke his neck was that he could no longer explore nature and see the world, but his van has helped him travel all over the United States (including Alaska), as well as to Mexico, Argentina, and Chile. His van is customized with the right tools to help him eat, sleep, use the bathroom, and drive more independently. He calls Spock his “freedom pod.” Kirk enjoys exploring remote campsites, off the beaten path, where his van can take him. ‘My life is easy within the van; it’s once I get outside that things get complicated!’”
Click on through to read the full post.
Also, be sure to check out Rolling Homes: Shelter on Wheels by Lloyd Kahn as well and meet more folks customizing their vans and trucks for the adventures ahead.
Discover why these guidebooks have become staples that continue to thrive in their popularity with nature lovers.
Environmental Education: The History of Nature Study Guides
May Theilgaard Watts, the daughter of a landscape gardener, attended the University of Chicago for botany and ecology (graduating in 1918) and later attended the Art Institute of Chicago. May became involved with a group that worked on preserving the natural landscape in the Midwest. In the 1940s, she became a full-time naturalist at the Morton Arboretum, where she developed an education program that included classes in gardening, nature literature, art, botany, ecology, creative writing, and geology.
In this role, she created the first Nature Study Guides for her students, who were, at first, teachers. The classes were such a big success that they were requested by Girl Scout leaders, homemakers, and families. The groups continued to grow; soon, doctors, dentists, botany professors, nursery workers, farmers, nurses, principals, and Boy Scouts were in attendance.
Today, these guides also have a wide range of audiences, including professionals, academics, hobbyists, and children. The guides have remained invaluable resources for decades.
Will Barnett photo of May Watts
Staying Relevant: How These Guides Adapt to Changing Environments
Nature Study Guides have been a favorite resource for more than 60 years and continue to be revised and updated. The most recent changes include updates to the range maps. The hardiness zones have also been adjusted due to climate change, and these details offer more accuracy. The scientific names and families of particular species have also been corrected, and new ones have been added.
The most noticeable recent change is the look; however, they remain recognizable as the classic guides that people have come to trust. While the books cover different regions, they are all part of the series, most using dichotomous keys. Along with the outside look, the icons inside have been tweaked for easier recognition.
Testimonials: Lasting Stories of Connections with Nature
“This Nature Study Series is hard to beat for the person wishing to know plants and understand the differences in physical characteristics. All this comes at a very reasonable cost.”
“I like the whole series of these books. They use deduction to figure out what you’re looking at— be it flower, tree, or animal.”
“I love these mini reference books! They take up very little space on the shelf and are lightweight enough to throw in a day pack, which is much easier than trying to find data or see a screen on a smartphone while you’re out hiking or picnicking.”
Guidebook Gems: Highlighting the Most Popular Editions
Tree Finder by May Theilgaard Watts is the most popular book in the series. People pass it down from generation to generation or purchase it for their kids and grandkids. The range of users is diverse. Below are a few consumer reviews to highlight the trusted guide.
“Even the pros use this book. I’m a certified arborist with 19 years in the green industry. This was one of the books I used to lock down my tree ID skills. I have also used this book to teach future arborists, as well as Boy Scouts and Scout leaders.”
“I had one of these 50 years ago when I studied in elementary school and have always liked it. It makes identifying trees fun!”
“As a certified forester, this is exactly the book we used at West Virginia University for ‘keying’ trees. It’s a great beginner’s book for tree identification. I’d highly recommend it.”
“I first read this in high school for my leaf collection project. I have since purchased this book for my children. I want them to be able to identify trees they ask about on our hikes. It is a wonderful book for all ages.”
Additional Nature Education: New Books by Expert Authors
While the Nature Study Guide series has many classics, two new books are being added this October. Bird Nest Finder, by Dorcas Miller, helps readers identify more than 70 species of birds and their nests. Dorcas is a well-known expert and author of five other guides in the series. Similar to other books in the group, it uses a dichotomous key to help identify aboveground nests by answering questions about their type, size, material, and location.
Another new book in the series is Mushroom Finder. This guidebook provides a dichotomous key to identify fungi by answering questions about the location; appearance; or shape, such as the cap, spores, and stem. The step-by-step instructions can help readers identify more than 300 types of mushrooms that are at least 5mm tall or wide, have tangible thickness, and are fresh. The author is Jacob Kalichman, an expert in his field and a USDA plant pathologist.
Author Lloyd Kahn shared this in a blog post just a few years ago: “I’ve had such wonderful contacts with 20- to 30-year-olds recently. They want to figure out how to create at least some of their own shelter and food. They like what we were doing in the ’60s and ’70s. They’ve discovered The Whole Earth Catalog and Shelter—50 years later. I’ve been waiting for you guys! (Not to mention 3-year-old Maggie of San Francisco, whose favorite book for the last year has been one of our mini-copies of Tiny Homes. Her mom says she’s read it over and over and keeps it next to her bed.)”
This shift towards small homes reflects a desire for personal fulfillment and financial stability—and demonstrates a growing understanding of the interconnectedness between humans and the environment. As these young adults continue to shape the world, their values and choices will significantly impact our planet’s future.
In Small Homes, Lloyd has collected stories from members of the younger generations who have embraced this evolving mindset and continue to work towards a more sustainable, mindful, and fulfilling way of living. Below are a few of their stories.
Sustainability is independence.
On page 60, “French Teenager Builds Cabin in Woods”tells the story of Menthé, who started creating structures when he was 3 years old, playing in the woods. His parents had a building book that he noticed when he was growing up, and he began to construct a cabin for himself at age 17. He used natural, inexpensive materials. It took him three years to build it, and he lived in it for two. His motivation was a desire for some independence. “It was a real gift to know that I could be self-sufficient in house building,” Menthé said.
Sustainability is practical.
On page 120, readers learn about “Karl’s Round House on a Scottish Island.” Karl Harding decided to move to an island at age 27. There, he worked as a welder, gaining knowledge on how to assemble things. Karl worked on four houses before building his own, which taught him to be practical. He went with a 10-sided round house for the structural strength and the challenge of building round. Due to limited funds, Karl used recycled and refurbished materials, such as sheep’s-wool fleece for insulation and reclaimed wood from a community hall for the floor, to develop his place.
Sustainability is freedom.
On page 138, there’s the story of “The Little Red-Haired Girl in the Little Yellow House.” Jes Leneé had dreamed of building a small cottage with a garden on a plot of land. At age 24, with the help of family and friends, she did. She drew up house plans that included 16-foot cathedral ceilings and 10 windows. Her little yellow cottage was completed in just 6 months. She wanted to be debt-free as a traveling musician, but she still wanted a home base. Jes believes, “No matter how small the space is, a lot of life can blossom and bloom.”
These examples illustrate how other young adults can build or remodel a small place of their own and create a sustainable lifestyle. By choosing experiences over possessions, time over money, and nurturing their connections with nature, these inspired young people can pave the way for a brighter and more balanced future for themselves and future generations.
As crazy busy as life is with work, family responsibilities, traffic, daily news, and social media, designing a simple way of life isn’t just a lifestyle; it can be a lifeline.
“…a family camp on a remote lake in the Adirondack Mountains…” – Jim Leach page 160 of Small Homes.
Embracing a simple lifestyle involves more than changing priorities from possessions to experiences. It is a choice to be more present, fostering relationships with yourself, others, and the natural environment. People make this change to create more joy and fulfillment in their daily life, leading to more gratitude for what they already have. In the world of sustainable living, Lloyd Kahn is an expert with more than 50 years of experience promoting alternative housing, especially in tiny and small homes.
Loving the Simple Life
Jonathan Avery’s Nesthouse on page 220 of Small Homes.
Khan wrote Small Homes when the average family home size (and home price) was on the rise. Today, the number of people looking for those larger homes (and those larger mortgages) is decreasing, as the appeal for smaller homes is partly driven by challenges with expensive housing, maintenance, and interest rates. The move to a small home allows people more freedom from cost and upkeep and results in more time for enjoyable activities, creating a more sustainable life.
These facts may seem almost common sense now, but they are community trends that Lloyd Kahn picked up on decades ago.
Lloyd’s insights and advocacy emphasize the benefits of a mindful, sustainable lifestyle.
Flipping through the pages of Small Homes is inspiring, informative, and affirmative. The book features many pictures and stories to keep you engaged, as well as instructions that show you how “you can do it!” The book features different types of structures, such as cabins, treehouses, and yurts, and many materials, such as stone, timbers, tin, and much more. The variety appeals to a wide range of people; you will find something that works for you.
At the beginning of his book, Lloyd advocates for small homes, saying, “Compared to the average American home, small homes are less expensive, use less resources, are more efficient to heat and cool, and [are] cheaper to maintain and repair.”
Getting Real about Home Ownership
Many buyers cannot afford bigger homes. If they are building, the cost of materials and labor are also high, causing them to reduce the size of their floor plan—some eliminating bathtubs and living rooms, according to a Wall Street Journal post.
People are becoming creative when it comes to finding homes. They are looking for alternatives to what was once considered a starter home. Builders are pivoting their business to building smaller, more affordable homes or creating alternative options. Even Costco has started selling small structures!
The beauty of Small Homes is that it tells the stories of how individuals have been able to craft structures and find joy in building something of their own. The pride on every page is worth looking into if the current market conditions are unfavorable to you. Let it (and Lloyd) inspire you to live a simple, sustainable lifestyle.
