Lucas has been living in his off-grid Tiny House for the last four years, moving between Wisconsin and Oregon. His Tiny Wood Stove Dwarf 4kw has been keeping him warm and cozy during the long winters.
Who are you? Tell us something about your tiny living journey!
Lucas & Natalie. We're outdoor educators and guides and make every attempt to spend as much time outdoors ourselves as possible. We love human-powered travel (bike, paddling, skiing, etc.) and long distance adventures.
Where did you install your stove?
Our 24' Tiny House, built by ourselves. We spent the first 3 years in northern Wisconsin and then moved it to southern Oregon for 2 years. Now, it's back in northern Minnesota. We've seen -30 F below not including the windchill (which likely was far lower because we lived in a wind-swept field for the first few years).
How did your tiny living journey begin and what were your reasons? How long have you been living tiny?
We joke that we've been living tiny our entire relationship (10+ years). First, in a cabin in northern Minnesota along Lake Superior, then after a 3-month canoeing trip (living in a 2-person tent), in a small apartment in Missoula, MT. After that, we lived aboard a 29' sailboat during the warm seasons in northern Wisconsin for 4 years while we built our tiny house and we've been in it since then (now we also spend parts of the year in our recently built-out van).
In many ways, we were so accustomed to living in small spaces for many days/nights on wilderness trips where a lightweight tent was our home. It was not lost on us how much having a simple, efficient home allowed us to focus on our comforts and life "outside" of home. Building a tiny house on wheels was our way of bringing that life to the "front county" as well as creating a home that would always be there for us and where we didn't need to move in/move out whenever we left (read: renting someone else's place). Lastly, by investing in our own home, we were setting the intention to get out of debt and pay ourselves rather than someone else for their space.
How did you decide on a Dwarf stove?
We knew we wanted wood heat (we also have a small propane wall-mounted heater as backup for the really cold weather) and during our research, weren't happy with the output and design. We really wanted an attractive-looking stove with a glass front (for our viewing benefit). When we found Dwarf, the sizing made sense and it had the features that we liked from other models (easy air controls, burn box and wood chunk size, glass front, etc.).
How difficult was the installation process? Did you need any assistance of any kind?
I recall asking lots of questions and needing some encouragement. I'd never installed a wood stove before and was a relative novice with construction (we learned a lot building our THOW). The installation guides were great and it all pieced together so easily and straightforward, my years of LEGO experience paid off. Seriously, after drilling a hole in the wall (wall installation), it was a relaxing process.
How has your experience been using the Dwarf? Have you been enjoying having a tiny wood stove in your space?
It's by far our favorite feature of our house. We LOVE the ambiance of it (sometimes we wish we could burn it year-round) and it heats and dries us great.
Would you recommend a tiny wood stove to others?
100%. If the size makes sense for their space and they want to burn wood (there is a messier aspect given the wood scraps and occasional ash to empty), I'm a huge advocate for it. You can't beat the glass front and how well this stove performs, assuming the flue system is designed correctly. Using the Direct Air, we've been stoked with how it functions for us.
Would you like to add anything?
The heat-generated fan on top is great to move air. Also, we have a ceiling fan that we use to move that warm air down. Aside from the dry heat it produces, nothing beats the subtle smell of a wood-burning stove and the satisfaction of seeing smoke rise from the flue outside.
Interested in a small stove for your tiny space? Contact us on the form below and we can help you sort through all the details in getting the perfect stove and installation configuration for your unique space!
