Showcase of Natural Building at OUR Ecovillage

Freya’s House is an off-grid green building that showcases multiple natural building techniques from straw bale, cob, and rammed earth walls, to earthen floors, a green roof, and reclaimed, salvaged and locally sourced materials. It uses solar power for electricity, a legal composting toilet, and on-site greywater filtration. The house is located at O.U.R Ecovillage … Read more

The Aanandaa Natural Home in India

Manisha Lath Gupta and her family wanted to live in an environment where they grow their produce, and living with nature meant living in a home built using natural materials. Aanandaa house is built using sustainable materials like rammed earth, stone, lime, brick, and traditional roofing systems. These materials were sourced locally and they hired … Read more

Hand Crafted Roundhouse for Family of Five

This hand crafted round-house is packed full of wonderful design features. It is surrounded by abundant permaculture food forest gardens and all of this has been accomplished on just a quarter acre section. Tim and Carmen have built this round house to maximize the function of the home while minimizing its impact on the surrounding … Read more

Building a New and Natural Life in the Country

Sindhoor Pangal lost her husband about two-and-a-half years ago just before the second lockdown. “We were very close and I was completely heartbroken. He and I were college sweethearts and after his loss, I could not handle the city at all. I wanted to leave. I was looking for a place to heal.” It was … Read more

Modern Homesteading

The number of farms in the United States has been in decline for quite awhile, but some are turning to homesteading,  where property owners use home gardening, lumber production and other subsistence skills to take more control over their lives during uncertain times. The definition of a homestead varies. For the purists, it means living … Read more

An Abundant Food Forest in New Zealand

A lush edible oasis of forest garden is grown and lovingly tended by Garry and Ali Foster. Using no-dig, permaculture principles, Matahiwi Forest Garden celebrates balance, diversity and resilience. What was once a thin layer of riverbed silt is now a thriving ecosystem offering sustenance for several households. The Fosters strive to live in partnership … Read more