The ongoing economic recession is putting lots of people in difficult situations. For some, the situation may even seem hopeless. I’m writing this to remind everyone to never give up. Who knows for sure what’s in store in the future, but the main thing is to keep your head together and just keep on going. … Read more
Rob Ormerod has posted a fun animated video that condenses six months of building an earth sheltered earthbag house into just two and a half minutes. This construction was done at the Rhiannon Community in Ecuador. The budget for this house is $400. The roof construction involves a simple wooden frame and a corrugated steel … Read more
The lightweight geopolymer earthbag method I described yesterday opens the door to building boulder houses that could last hundreds or even thousands of years. All sorts of other styles could also be built, but for some reason (maybe because rocks last almost forever) these boulder houses really capture my imagination. Worst case scenario is you … Read more
Another good roof option is a grain bin roof. Good quality grain bin roofs are typically maintenance free for decades, and a good choice for windy areas and hail zones. They are especially practical for those who live in agricultural areas and can buy the roofs separately from local grain bin suppliers. They’re also very … Read more
Sounds and Rhythms at the earthbag construction of the Green Resource Centre at Alerek in Abim district, Karamoja, Northern Uganda. This delightful musical video is the most fun I’ve had watching something on YouTube for a long time, maybe ever. It had me tapping along and wanting to get up and dance. You’ve got to … Read more
I’ll never forget the Native American museum exhibit of a pit house in Anchorage, Alaska. I couldn’t stop staring at it. Pit houses are so simple and yet so effective that people lived in structures like this for thousands of years with relatively minimal environmental harm. This building method and lifestyle really captures my imagination … Read more