Theres a grassroots movement in tiny homes these days. The real estate collapse the economic downturn burning out on 12hour workdays many people are rethinking their ideas about shelter amp8211 seeking an alternative to high rents or a lifelong mortgage debt to a bank on an overpriced home. Homes on land homes on wheels homes on the road homes on water even homes in the trees. There are also studios saunas garden sheds and greenhouses.There are 1300 photos showing a rich variety of small homemade shelters and there are stories and thoughts and inspirations of the ownerbuilders who are on the forefront of this new trend in downsizing and selfsufficiency. You can buy a readymade tiny home build your own get a kit or prefab or live in a bus houseboat or other movable shelter. Some cities have special ordinances for building amp34inlawamp34 or amp34granny flatsamp34 in the back yard. There are innovative solutions in cities such as the amp34capsulesamp34 in Tokyo.If youre thinking of scaling back youll find plenty of inspiration shown by builders designers architects dreamers artists road gypsies and water dwellers whove achieved a measure of freedom and independence by taking shelter into their own hands.