My Ecological Homestead For Sale in Colorado

whole spreadI don’t usually use this space to promote things, but in this case I would like to put out the word that my wife and I have decided to sell our home in Crestone, Colorado that we have developed over the last five years as an ecological homestead. I have written about some of the elements of this home before in this blog, as well as in my recent book about green remodeling.

The original house was a double-wide manufactured home (27 X 40 ft., two bedroom, two bath) that was securely anchored to a permanent foundation. It came with the “Alaska Package” that is well insulated with 6″ stud walls, and this has been improved with additional radiant barrier insulation and solid wood exterior siding.

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Earthbag Building: Potential Trillion Dollar Market

Large earthbag retaining wall reinforces the embankment between river and highway
Large earthbag retaining wall reinforces the embankment between river and highway

Yesterday I wrote to the two largest industry associations that are related to earthbag building — the Geosynthetics Society and the Textile Bag and Packaging Association. The Geosynthetics Society is the professional organization that represents engineers who design large earthbag projects for highways, railroads, erosion control, mining, marine facilities and many other industrial applications. The Textile Bag and Packaging Association represents manufacturers of bags and tubes that in addition to earthbag building are used for many purposes such as grain and feed bags, cement, etc. Both of these industries are poised to capitalize on a rapidly emerging new market in earthbag building.

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Sindhupalchok’s Sorrow

It seems every building in the area was flattened except this new earthbag training center built by First Steps Himalaya.
It seems every building in the area was flattened except this new earthbag training center built by First Steps Himalaya.

“The hard-hit district is losing hope despite being so close to the capital. The Arniko Highway coils eastwards from Kathmandu towards the Chinese border at Kodari. Every settlement, every bazar, every village along the way has been flattened.

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Report from Her Farm, Nepal

How to build an earth bag house in rural Nepal at Her Farm

Posted by Scott MacLennan on Tuesday, 14 May 2013

“This is how we built an earthbag house in a village in Nepal. It’s cheap and easy to do.

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Another Earthbag Structure Survives Nepal Quake

This earthbag shelter in Badhikhel survived the recent earthquake just fine
This earthbag shelter in Badhikhel survived the recent earthquake just fine

“Hello All,

Our earthbag shelter in Badhikhel (image attached) held up beautifully during the earthquake. The government and aid agencies should consider this building technique in places where manpower / volunteers can be found.”

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Free Earthbag Training for NGOs May 23/24

Free earthbag workshop in Thailand for NGOs and building professionals who are going to help rebuild Nepal. Dates for first 2 day workshop: May 23, 24, 2015 (hurry, that’s only one week from now!) Trainer contact information: Owen Geiger at naturalhouses [AT] gmail.com *Email me for workshop details. Hotel: $12/person Meals: $1-$3 Emphasis is on … Read more