“David Stone is the brains behind a new patented concrete technology known as Ferrock, based on iron carbonate and incorporating largely recycled materials to produce (around 95%)! It’s showing promising signs as an alternative to concrete and a far greener building material.
General
House of Earth: A Complete Handbook for Earthen Construction
“Earth is the mother of all building materials. It’s plentiful, non-toxic, inexpensive and can create beautiful, comfortable living spaces. This webpage supports the book “House of Earth” with pictures, videos, news and articles. Get inspired, learn and get muddy.
Small Homes: The Right Size
Lloyd Kahn and Shelter Publications have assembled another gorgeous architectural book, this time focusing on Small Homes: The Right Size. After having published two other books about tiny homes, Lloyd has realized that many individuals and families are just not comfortable squeezing their lives into such small spaces. So he has scanned the world for moderately sized homes that are roughly between 400 and 1200 square feet (37 and 112 square meters), what he feels is the “sweet spot” between tiny and extravagant.
Converting my chain link fence to a stone wall
“I installed a chain-link fence in 1974, Now, with my pond, I wanted a better backdrop and more privacy than the chain-link fence provided. I also wanted a barrier to occasional water runoff from the schoolyard behind my property. A rock wall seemed to be the answer. This video shows how to use an existing fence as the base for a faux rock wall made from concrete. This is part one as the summer came to and end. Part two will be made when warmer weather returns.”
Things Are Coming to a Crossroads
We live in a crazy world, that’s for sure. Many serious problems are now simultaneously coming to a head: groundwater depletion, pollution of groundwater with fracking, mining, industrial and agro chemicals, risk of nuclear war, concerns over Fukushima radioactive fallout. Experts say the oceans are expected to be depleted of sea life in just 30 years. (Most people now live near the oceans and rely on seafood for sustenance and income.)
11 Years Living Off-Grid
“Hélène Dubé and her partner Alain Neveu from Es-Cargo http://www.es-cargo.qc.ca/ have lived off-grid in Quebec, Canada for 11 years in a self-built earthship style home made of recycled tires filled with earth and large south-facing windows.” Note: I recommend using earthbags similar to what Jake and others who are building ‘earthbag earthships’. https://naturalbuildingblog.com/jake-vs-earthship-part-8/