The first step to cutting construction costs is “affordability by design,” which means ensuring the basic blueprint of a building is optimized to minimize costs from the outset. Biologist Carl Bergmann noticed that larger animals tended to live in colder climates, where their size helps them retain heat more efficiently. This observation suggests that larger … Read more
From the earliest times the only way for humans to build shelter was to use locally available raw materials. Rammed earth is estimated to have been used since around 5,000 B.C., often enclosing a wooden framework with a mixture of raw earth combined with plant fiber. Thin wooden sticks can be driven into the ground … Read more
I just finished reading Building an Earthbag Round House by Morgan Caraway of the Sustainable Life School. This PDF ebook describes Morgan’s experience of building his first attempt at earthbag construction some 15 years ago. As he says, there are many ways he would do things differently these days, but he basically got most of … Read more
Verena Maeder is an earth building artisan with 32 years experience constructing earth buildings. She first fell in love with natural building as a teenager, but because of the lack of formal training opportunities in this field she decided to pursue an education in architecture as well as building biology and ecology. In 2002 she … Read more
When considering where to put your tiny house, buying land tailored to your needs is one option. Take time to research the zoning and building regulations in the area you’re interested in, as they can impact your ability to construct or place your tiny home on the property. With the popularity of tiny homes, several … Read more
The city of Jaisalmer is in the desert of Rajasthan, India, near the Pakistan border. Jaisalmer Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where thousands of people live and hundreds of thousands of tourists visit each year. King Rawal Jaisal built the fabled fort in 1156. With exterior walls that span some 1,500 feet, the … Read more