A few years ago, we started a project to create a productive garden and orchard in the countryside using permaculture principles. Our goal was to have a place where we could grow more food and spend our weekends. In this blog article, we share the idea of a country garden cabin with you.
The country garden cabin inspiration
An allotment or community garden is a parcel of land made available for non-commercial gardening purposes, usually for growing food. These gardens are prevalent in many countries and are typically situated in rural areas. In the past, these plots were used as a source of food during difficult times. Additionally, they provide a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Dachas in Russia have been a great inspiration for us. These small country estates were originally given as a gift by the Tsar and have been popular among Russians ever since. Over time, most dachas have been privatized, making Russia the nation with the largest number of owners of second homes. Nowadays, many village houses are being sold to be used as allotments and many Russian villages have temporary residents known as dachniki. Some villages have been fully transformed into dacha settlements, while some older dacha settlements often look like more permanent lodgings.
Our Journey with the Country Garden Cabin
We have been using a local community garden for several years, where we are offered a plot of land to plant and harvest annually. Unfortunately, the annual plots do not allow us to grow perennials, have a cabin to relax, or even build soil. In order to be able to do all these things without having to move to an expensive acreage, we decided to purchase a bare land property in the country. We started with a basic permaculture design, focusing on planting. We constructed a fence, planted a shelterbelt, began a garden, and moved the off-grid cabin. If you’re interested, you can follow the links to read more about each step.
The Low-Key Country Garden Cabin
The rural property has a building allowance of less than 200 square feet, which does not require a permit, making it possible to have a cozy cabin or tiny house within that limit. As there are no services available on the property, the cabin is off-grid, using only solar panels for light and charging a phone. The cabin is a perfect place to spend a day in, with a simple kitchen and a wood stove. We have also built a composting outhouse and a storage garage to keep the necessary tools for gardening. There is plenty of room for more ideas, such as a sauna, outdoor bathtub, pavilion, and more, which can be built for more enjoyment.
Why a Country Garden Cabin is a Nice Idea
Not everyone can leave the city or afford country life to build a homestead. However, a country garden cabin on a piece of land that has no building restrictions can be a great idea for a family to still enjoy country life and homegrown food. Be it bare land, like ours, or a plot in a rural village like the dachas, it is a great way to reach this goal without spending a fortune or making a big move. We hope that this inspires someone else.
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I’m dying to see the inside!! It’s sad that here in a free country there are so many restrictions on the size of a home or what you can do with your own property. I’d love to have a mother in law tiny house but we’ve reached the maximum number of buildings.
Building restrictions can be tricky. Wondering if you build a tiny house on weals, that would be considered an RV would work for you.
I love this idea. It’s my dream to have a property similar to what you have 🙂
Dreams do come true sometimes, and if not there must be something better for us.
I can see a greenhouse attached to the cabin with a short enclosed breezeway!
Very nice!
Yes, a greenhouse is another great idea that can be built. Thank you for your input.