Last Residents Hold On in Tunisian Underground Houses

Tunisian Underground Houses
Tunisian Underground Houses

In the arid valleys of southern Tunisia’s Djebel Dahar region, people have lived for centuries in underground houses whose earthen casing provides protection against searing summer heat and winter winds. But in recent decades, rural depopulation has meant fewer people live in the homes.

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DIY Low Cost Insulated Earthbag Scoria Blocks

Large, homemade, insulating blocks can be aligned with a simple rotating arm.
Large, homemade, insulating blocks can be aligned with a simple rotating arm.

I realized it would be easy to make giant earthbag scoria blocks with raschel mesh bags, scoria (lightweight lava rock) and quick setting cement mortar or glue. The basic block making process involves forming the scoria blocks in simple wooden forms and then curing in the shade. The dome is built using standard brick dome building methods that brick masons already know or knowledge can be readily found on the Internet and in books.

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Near Zero Cost Off-Grid Cabin Upgrades: Gas Refrigerator and Gravity Feed Water


Most people go out and buy everything new. The Boss of the Swamp (popular YouTube channel) shows how he fixed up a gas refrigerator and water tank that he salvaged from an old Shasta camper.

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Earthbag/Scoria Bag Building Online Workshop

I woke up the other day with a new idea for online training to help people build their own small sustainable homes. If five or more couples/households sign up for this training program then I could guide them through the building process for a reasonable fee over the Internet using email and Skype.

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