Couple Creates Homestead in Rural Michigan

Larissa Touloupas and her husband Ondrej Pekarovic live near Kalamazoo, Michigan where they built a straw bale house, powered by the sun. They are homesteading with fruit trees, vegetable beds, bee hives, goats, and chickens, and call the place Solfed Farms They have two kids, five and six, who they take to a babysitter’s occasionally. … Read more

A Round Club House on a Lake in Mexico

The Club House in Valle San Nicolàs in Mexico is a perfectly round building that reveals the landscape all around. It is constructed of wood and other natural materials, blending into the surrounding environment. Its circular floor plan is on an artificial lake, created for water-skiing and fed by rainwater and water flowing from the … Read more

Miguel Elliott and Living Earth Structures

Miguel Elliott, founder of Living Earth Structures in Petaluma, California constructs beautiful, durable homes using cob. “Nothing is more sustainable,” Elliott said. “If you take a structure made of earthen, sun-dried material, protect it right with good sealer and a nice roof, it can last a long time. There are cob houses in England that … Read more

Passive Solar Greenhouses Transform Pakistan

In a remote village of Pakistan Mustaqeem Khan has cultivated a success story that transcends his rugged surroundings. Using a passive solar greenhouse, he has turned the unforgiving winters into a season of plenty. “This greenhouse is more than just a structure; it’s a lifeline,” Mustaqeem says as he tends to rows of spinach, tomatoes, … Read more

A Tiny Off-Grid Silo Home

Pam and Dave bought an old disassembled grain silo and converted it into a round tiny house in Canada. They live off-grid in the home using solar power for electricity, a well for water, a composting toilet, and propane for heat and hot water.  The home has a small mud room for coats, boots, and … Read more