There has been a surge in interest in local food, grown using regenerative methods, resulting in more nutrient-dense tasty food that improves the environment in the long-term and this has been a positive outcome of the pandemic. Kate Egan and her partner Tom Carlin farm a total of 9ac in Westmeath, Ireland. “3ac are in … Read more
When Cyclone Amphan tore through Bengal, India, Linus Kendall and Rupsa Nath’s house, built with mud, thatch and bamboo sustained minimal damage. Other houses in the vicinity suffered broken window panes or missing tin sheds, but their unique home stood tall. Fondly christened ‘Kancha-Paka’ (Raw and Ripe), the Swedish-Bengali couple’s home has some conventional elements, … Read more
Judy Quick has lived in a custom-built, subterranean home in Western Pennsylvania since 2003.“I mow my roof,” Quick said while giving a tour of her unorthodox three-bedroom, two-bathroom home that’s on more than 11 acres. She said advantages of underground living include quiet conditions, added protection from severe weather and a nearly constant indoor temperature. … Read more
Warka Water, the non-profit organization led by Italian architect Arturo Vittori, is building an integrated village in Cameroon. They already have around 30 people, including both workers and pygmy peoples — hunter-gatherers of the tropical rain forest — living on site. This ‘Warka Village’ is being constructed with local and natural materials and ancient local … Read more
Marlena and Eugene built their homestead in Blanco, Texas using salvaged windows, doors, wood flooring, tile, a bathtub, a lot of plywood, and some lumber. After over a decade of building, they now have a completely off-grid home, workshop, garden, and rental cabin. They bought all six of their 500- to 700-gallon rainwater barrels for … Read more
With walls made from old tires packed with earth, as well as upcycled glass bottles and cans, Earthships have always been built with mainly found materials. The home provides its own energy (with photovoltaics, passive solar and geothermal tubes), water (rainwater and even dew-water capture) and grows food in the greenhouse (necessary for temperature regulation … Read more