A Tiny House Community With Permaculture
Introducing: "Big Calm" - A Community Where You’re Allowed a Tiny House
One of the most common questions I get as a tiny home teacher is:
“Where am I allowed to put a tiny house?”
It’s a loaded question.
The answer involves explaining a maze of building codes & zoning bylaws.
… unless you live somewhere where there’s no zoning.
That’s right. No zoning.
And that’s exactly what makes Big Calm such a rare gem.
Big Calm: Our Experience Visiting a Hidden Community in the Kootenays
When Steve and Abby, the owners of Big Calm, first reached out, I was intrigued.
But I don’t recommend communities lightly.
I need to visit it, walk the land, meet the people, and get the real story.
So Destiny and I packed up and drove to Big Calm.
And let me tell you, the name fits.
Tucked away on a private mountain plateau, this community is a short distance away from a small & colourful small town, provincial parks, and crystal clear lakes.
You’re only 10 minutes from the town of Slocan, but it feels like a whole other world.
Peaceful. Quiet. Alive.
Steve and Abby gave us a full tour of the land. It used to be a draft-dodging homestead, and you can feel that legacy in the heritage log home. Lovingly hand-built and still standing.
There’s a trail network, a year-round spring, and a even a hand-built log sauna tucked in the woods ready for someone to fix up and use again.
They’ve just installed a brand-new, state-of-the-art septic system and serviced a small number of lots with power and water, setting the stage for a thriving intentional community. With 4 current spots and 9 more being developed, they have taken care to balance community and privacy.
There’s also a gorgeous garden, shared community spaces, and a killer view.
And it wasn’t just the land that won us over… the people already there are great.
We spent the evening with Steve, Abby, and a few neighbours playing board games, laughing, and sharing stories. These are good humans. The kind of people you want to build a community with.
The next day, Destiny and I grabbed coffee at a fun hippie café in Slocan, then headed to the town beach where we paddleboarded on a crystal-clear lake, soaked up the sun, and hiked a trail that wraps around the shoreline. Serene!
That trail around the shore is a historic rail trail complete with bouldering and belaying. It’s also part of a massive biking route. So lots to do for those who want to be active in nature.
We stayed in their Air BnB tiny house called the Pocket Getaway.
I could describe it to you… just check out this gallery instead:
How You Can Experience Big Calm
If this community lights something up in you – good news.
There are three ways you can experience Big Calm.
P.s. And they said that for options #2 and #3, they will give you a discount if you mention my name – “Kenton Zerbin”.
1. Stay in the Tiny House
Curious but not ready to commit? Book a stay in the Pocket Getaway, the off-grid tiny house we stayed in. It’s cozy, stunning, and set up for year-round living.
Perfect for a weekend escape or to test the lifestyle.
[Check out or book the Pocket Getaway]
2. Rent a Lot
Yes, you can legally live in your tiny home here.
Big Calm offers serviced rental lots where you can park and live full-time with no zoning restrictions. Join an intentional, permaculture-minded community and design your life your way.
[You have to fill out this questionnaire to apply]
3. Buy Into the Community
For those looking to root more deeply, there are a few serviced lots available under a 99 year lease, with option to join in co-ownership once the community has come together.
If you’ve been dreaming of living close to nature with like-minded people and actually being allowed to live tiny this is your golden ticket.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just a cool place – it’s an opportunity.
To live simply. To live in alignment.
To find your people and your plot.
We’re grateful to have visited, and I’m excited to be able to share it with you.
Let me know what you think, or better yet, go stay there and see for yourself.
Warmly,
Kenton “Connecting-Community” Zerbin