Greenhouses are very popular for extending the growing season, but heating them in cold climates is expensive. In contrast, pit greenhouses — greenhouses built into the earth — use free solar energy from the sun for heating. The temperature of the earth (usually around 55-58 degrees Fahrenheit) helps stabilize the temperature in the greenhouse. One … Read more
Add elegance to your backyard with this durable earthbag bench and stylish arbor. Using this simple method and renewable resources, you can build a beautiful bench and arbor for a cozy backyard retreat. Benches and arbors can turn an ordinary space in your yard into a striking focal point. They’re ideal for relaxing and for … Read more
Update: This living wall is thriving. I built a second design with an aluminum frame and removable potted plants and so far the plants prefer this living wall made with fishing net. This is a living wall experiment using a small prototype to test the concept. It’s easy to make and very low cost. Living … Read more
Geosynthetics Magazine is a valuable go-to source for technical earthbag articles. This is a great, free resource for serious earthbag builders, especially commercial builders. They have a new article about natural green facades on earthbag highway retaining walls. It’s surprisingly simple and effective. The retaining wall is not only strong, it also looks good because … Read more
Remember the outdoor oven that I built for Mother Earth News magazine? Well, a reader built one and just sent us the following photo and feedback. Numerous people have written me questions asking for more details (which are almost always answered in the original article, so please look closely), but no one yet has sent … Read more
It’s been somewhat of a struggle to get the living roof on our earthbag dome established. The steep sides make it quite challenging, because water runs off quickly and washes away the soil and nutrients. This causes dry areas to develop. As you can see from the early Mother Earth News photos, the grass didn’t … Read more