A MUM has revealed how she created her own tiny “village” in the middle of forest clearing.
Marie created a sustainable homestead for herself and her son to save hundreds on rent and bills.
16
16
16
16
Her homestead is made up of a fairground caravan, two partially underground cabins, and a tiny house.
The fairground caravan — her current home in South Brittany, France — cost her just around £8,300 (€10,000).
For another £2,500, she outfitted it with solar panels, bringing her total setup to just short of £11,000 – a staggering contrast to the high costs of traditional living spaces.
FROM THE GROUND UP
She bought her first house with barely any skills in construction, learning by helping friends with their renovations and watching countless videos.
Read more world news
She then renovated four homes over seven years, all while raising her young son.
Recalling the challenges she faced, Marie told YouTube channel Living Big in a Tiny House: “I began to buy a house…to renovate because I couldn’t afford a new house.
“I didn’t have any skills at the start…so I helped friends who were renovating their houses.
“And so I learned by looking at videos and by just doing things.”
16
16
16
16
Selling her renovated homes after they were completed, she used the profits to build her first house from scratch.
Yet, Marie wasn’t content to settle.
After two years, she chose to downsize from her 180-square-metre home to a modest van, embracing a nomadic life with her son.
A TINY VILLAGE
When a friend offered to sell her a 1.8-hectare plot in Brittany, Marie decided to build a village.
“We had to move a lot because, in France, it’s quite difficult to legally live in a tiny house,” Marie said about life before her homestead.
16
16
16
16
“Each time, I had to move with my horses, two dogs, a cat, and my son… it was quite an adventure each time.”
Now, with a fairground caravan, two semi-buried cabins, a shed, and even a tiny house, she’s created a sanctuary of her own.
NO BILLS
She uses solar panels, collects rainwater and has three different systems for heating, including a homemade wood boiler she fondly calls “R2D2.”
Marie shared: “I bought solar panels to have electricity… I mostly use rainwater collectors.
16
16
“If I’m cut off from water, I can be self-sufficient.”
Her wood boiler, crafted from repurposed gas bottles, is another example of Marie’s inventive spirit.
“After 15 minutes of fire, the water is hot enough, then I put it in a bucket and I go inside my bathroom to have my shower,” she explained.
During the summer, she cooks using an outdoor clay rocket stove built with local clay, minimising the need for gas.
When she does use gas, it’s in such small amounts that a single bottle can last two years — a far cry from typical households.
She uses a cooler as her fridge in the summer, while an outdoor cabinet provides cold storage during the winter months.
“For anything, I use wood. So, to cook during the summer, I built a rocket stove with the clay of my land,” Marie explains.
“I just have to put some trash wood, and it’s enough to cook my meals.”
16
16
She said: “My life motive is to tend to live in self-sufficiency in all the ways… with electricity, with water, with food, with medicine, with everything in my life.”
Marie regularly teaches others about everything from medicinal plant cultivation to geobiology, animal therapy, and even low-tech construction methods, believing strongly in the importance of passing on her skills.
“I think it’s important to share our knowledge,” she reflected.
“That’s why part of my activity is to share my knowledge about construction, geobiology, therapy, and music…I transmit, I teach it.”
READ MORE SUN STORIES
In a world increasingly defined by consumerism and technology, Marie’s tiny forest village stands as a reminder of what can be achieved through ingenuity, resilience, and a willingness to challenge the norms.
Her home may be unconventional, but it’s a dream come true—a life crafted to her values and one that proves the rewards of building a life around simplicity and sustainability.
Leave a Comment