Kenton Zerbin is no ordinary Albertan. He is a visionary.
The millennial envisions people being able to afford their own homes. He imagines people being able to grow their own food, all while living a vibrant and resilient life that treads softly on the planet.
Sounds great, but how can one person do all that?
For Kenton, it’s easy because he approaches life with the attitude that ‘problems are just opportunities in disguise.’
A Case in Point
When COVID hit, Kenton had a big problem.
The Sturgeon County man made his living by teaching courses on sustainable living.
He leads courses on edible landscaping, tiny homes, and a field of design called Permaculture.
COVID stopped all that. So, Kenton turned the problem into an opportunity.
Instead of reaching fewer people, he started a YouTube channel to reach more people.
The channel would be about how to build a tiny house for free. They would film the whole story of getting sponsors and building the house, then give away the tiny home for free!
And he not only got the tiny house built, but he also made it one of the most inspiring tiny houses ever built – the Stargazer.
To enter to win Stargazer – you only need to do two things:
It Takes Community
So, how did Kenton do all this for free?
By tapping into the permaculture principles of people care and fair share.
Kenton is so passionate about sustainable living, and his enthusiasm is so infectious that he got many other Albertans and Alberta businesses on board to build the Stargazer.
He approached the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton and offered the students a real-life learning experience in project management and film production. Win-win.
He also approached businesses in the construction industry, including suppliers and trades, to support the build with materials and labour in exchange for exposure and advertising. Again, win-win.
We’re starting to see a pattern here.
Help others and ask for help. Win-win.
The Road Twists and Turns
But, like any big visionary project, things don’t always go as planned.
For example, the shop where the tiny home was going to be built burned down before the project even got started.
And then there was the time Kenton saved the life of a co-worker.
And over the project, some sponsors went under during COVID or just never showed up to deliver what they promised.
And then the project had to pause when one student team quit.
Yikes!
Yet through it all, Kenton just dusted himself off and continued the journey, finding ways to make project and house construction continue.
The show must go on.
And now Stargazer is near completion thanks to Travelling Timbers in Slave Lake, Alberta.
Travelling Timbers will put the final touches on the epic Stargazer, rent out the tiny home for two years as a vacation rental and then, in spring 2026, Kenton will give away the Stargazer.
The whole adventure would make a great Netflix or HGTV special.
Anyone interested in entering to win Stargazer, just subscribe to Kenton’s YouTube channel.
And if you’re interested in designing and building your own Tiny home, Kenton offers highly acclaimed tiny house workshops online and in-person at his website.
Kenton reminds us that the good old “can-do” Alberta attitude can turn problems into possibilities.
Thanks, Kenton, for the reminder!
