The ancient city of Machu Picchu, perched among the peaks of southern Peru, flourished for just over a hundred years between the mid-15th and mid-16th centuries. It is famous for its intricate, masterful stone masonry. But often invisible to the untrained eye is masterful drainage infrastructure and slope stabilization. Ruth Wright, a historian, travel writer, … Read more
Food forests are gaining popularity in many urban areas, including Los Angeles. These are edible gardens made up of many different species, and grown with minimal intervention. A food forest mimics a forest edge that is planted with edible perennial plants. They include tall trees, small trees, shrubs, herbs, and ground cover. Sometimes vines grow … Read more
The River Ranch project features natural materials: rammed earth, vertical grain cedar, limestone. Rainwater catchment, and an underground cistern serve the residence. Located in the Texas Hill Country, it was designed so that the structure should be integrated into its surroundings, which is composed of beautiful oak trees, open views, and a slice of the … Read more
Fair Companies has assembled a wonderful collection of video segments that offer advice from many parts of the world. For some, preparing for the unexpected has been a way of life for years. We visit (via their cameras) permaculture farmers in Tulsa, Oklahoma growing much of their food in backyard hoop houses, a rainwater harvester … Read more
When Richard Weaver inherited 3 acres in the center of a golf-oriented community developed by his father in Bozeman, Montana, he bucked family tradition and tore out the grass to create a self-sufficient urban farm and underground greenhouse home. He turned his father’s RV garage into an off-grid home relying on photovoltaics, rainwater and composting … Read more
Sam and Alex, who live in the U.K. have just built an earthbag seating area. They say, “Your site has contributed to helping us do this. Thank you for such an informative site! We would like to share our project with you. Although small in comparison to the buildings we have seen, it is a … Read more