cottage industry – Natural Building Blog

Top 10 Cottage Industry Products

June 3, 2022February 25, 2015 by Owen Geiger

Harvey Lacey’s block press turns recycled plastic trash into beautiful, durable and extremely strong homes.

We covered cottage industry appropriate technology in a previous blog post. The aim here is to identify the top 10 products for ease of construction, impact on community and potential profitability. These products obviously go way beyond just creating jobs and making a buck. The products featured here will have a big impact on local communities. Some are saving thousands of lives. Water filters, for example, help prevent disease. Treadal pumps have enabled hundreds of thousands of farmers to greatly increase crop production.

Low Cost Roof Tile Manufacture (MCR)

June 3, 2022March 8, 2014 by Owen Geiger

Practical Action.org: Micro-concrete Roofing Tile Production
“Much attention has been paid to developing the small-scale production of concrete roofing tiles as an affordable alternative to both traditional roofing materials, such as thatch, and modern, mass-produced, often inappropriate, galvanized iron sheeting or asbestos cement. These tiles are relatively low in cost, durable (with a life span expected to exceed 20 years in most areas), aesthetically acceptable, able to offer adequate security and comfort, and provide protection from both the heavy rain and the hot sun.

Etsy Home Based Business Marketplace

June 3, 2022December 16, 2013 by Owen Geiger

Homemade Cherry, Almond and Cinnemon Granola from TheLittleFeetStore at Etsy.com

Many natural builders are moving to rural areas to save money and lower construction costs, but as you know, jobs there can be scarce. Consider starting a home based business and selling your unique items over the Internet through Etsy.com.

TeachDemocracy.org: Help for Starting Microbusinesses

June 3, 2022November 12, 2013 by Owen Geiger

“At www.TeachDemocracy.org on the MICRO BUSINESS tab/page you can see the 9 videos in the series “How To Start A Micro Business” along with worksheets for those starting a micro business to complete and transcriptions of the video audio so Google Translate can translate all of it into any one of their 53 languages.

Tiny Tech Plants

June 3, 2022August 23, 2013 by Owen Geiger

Tiny Tech offers a wide range of devices such as this community solar cooker.

“Tiny Tech Plants is a manufacturer of a wide range of renewable energy devices including domestic and community solar cookers.
Tiny Tech Plants: “promoting tiny enterprises in various industrial fields, through human technology for rural development, local self reliance, poverty eradication, exploitation removal, employment and income generation by breaking company centered economy & promoting family centered economy all over the world.