$300 Underground Greenhouse Grows Food Year Round

“From vertical farms to solar-powered “farms from a box,” we’ve seen how farming technology has grown leaps and bounds in recent years. But for those who prefer something a little more rustic, growing food from a hole in the ground is as low-tech as you can get. A walipini, meaning “place of warmth” from the … Read more

Be the Change You Want to See – What this Blog is Really About

Over the years we’ve profiled thousands of affordable and sustainable housing ideas that include affordable homes made with natural building materials, earthquake and hurricane resistant housing, renewable energy, appropriate technology, permaculture, and on and on. In fact, we’ve covered almost the whole range of homesteading and sustainable living topics in addition to our main focus on natural building. We’ve done this because all these things are so closely interconnected. How can you have a sustainable home without a sustainable toilet, a renewable energy system and home garden? How can you build a sustainable home without affordable land? Most affordable land nowadays has depleted soil, so how do you improve degraded land to support a homestead?

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Stone houses and almost no electricity


“Valle Bavona is surrounded by hydroelectric power plants, but in the 1950s its inhabitants rejected electricity. Keeping away from modernity has been a plus for the valley. Since it had no electricity, no new buildings were constructed and the valley retained much of its authenticity.”

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Sandpoint Transition Initiative

Sandpoint, Idaho is a transition town that is taking steps to improve their community.
Sandpoint, Idaho is a transition town that is taking steps to improve their community.

Most communities across the US have left things in the hands of government to resolve. After many years of failed policies, corruption and mismanagement we’re now seeing the results. It’s encouraging to see communities like Sandpoint, Idaho actively taking steps to turn their communities around.

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Q&A: Choosing Land for Off-Grid Living


When buying land, natural builders are faced with one of their biggest challenges trying to decide: what area is best?, how much to spend?, what will I need?, what about codes? It helps to hear firsthand advice from people actually living off-grid like the couple in this video.

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