PHOTOS: Whole Village of Tiny Houses Makes Boneyard Studios a Unique Urban Retreat

If you are one of millions of Americans who can't afford to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars on a house worth half as much, then you are going to love Boneyard Studios. After spending several months searching for an existing community of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/tiny-house/">tiny house lovers</a>, to no avail, Lee Pera decided to start her own. Almost immediately after making that decision, she serendiptidously met Brian Levy, who had very similar goals. In March, 2012, Brian purchased an overgrown alley lot in Washington D.C. that has since evolved into an inspiring village of four tiny homes on wheels with a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/start-and-organic-garden-anywhere-using-fizzy-farms-compact-hydroponic-grower/">thriving organic garden</a>, a 20 foot <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/shipping-container/">repurposed shipping container</a> shed, and a 250 gallon cistern used for irrigation. An EPA geographer, Pera and the rest of the crew have invited hundreds of Washingtonians to visit Boneyard Studios, where they can learn everything there is to know about designing, building and living in homes that are no bigger than 200 square feet. They are also working hard to convince city officials to revise outdated zoning codes so that they can actually live in their <a href="http://inhabitat.com/casa-leon-low-impact-home-mimics-the-spanish-mountains-with-a-sloping-greef-roof/">low-impact homes</a> full time.

A high vantage point from the alleyway allows us to see all four tiny homes at Boneyard Studios in Washington D.C.

Each little home has a different design, reflecting the individual personalities of their owners.

Lee Pera and the rest of the crew hold occasional open houses to allow other Washingtonians to get a sense of what it takes to design, build and live in a tiny house.

Community and sharing are important to the Boneyard Studios, where mini concert series and workshops are common.

The Matchbox House on the right was designed by Jay Austin with a lot of help from Tony Gilchriest and Matt Battin

The red and white home in the middle belongs to Elaine. She calls it Indulgent Restraint.

The award-winning Minim House is the largest in the village at 210 square feet.

Topped with a 960 watt rooftop solar array, this home boasts a suite of space and energy-saving innovations.

Minim House was recently received a 2013 Merit Award from the D.C. Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Minim House has 60 percent more windows than a standard tiny home.

The organic garden is beginning to thrive with 16 fruit trees, 10 4x8 veggie boxes, herbs and flowers.

A 250 gallon cistern on site is used to irrigate the garden.

Before Lee and Brian purchased it, this alley infill lot was overgrown with tall grass and littered with all kinds of debris.

We have edited out the address on the sign out of respect to the neighbors, but this image gives perspective of the tiny house village in relation to the rest of the neighborhood.

Close to public transportation, bike lanes and various food and retail establishments, Boneyard Studios is deliciously self-sufficient.

The back side of the homes visible from the row houses.

Albeit a bold and inspiring experiment, Boneyard Studios is also discreet and tucked away - a model for future communities.

The home owners share a 20 foot shipping container to store tools and other miscellany; Brian hopes to turn part of it into a mini workshop.

At every turn, this group aspires to educate passersby and visitors.

The village gets its name from a beautiful cemetery that it faces, behind the photographer. While this might spook some people, it is a source of great inspiration for the team who have made this little slice of urban paradise possible.