Our focus here is on low cost, owner-built homes. From time to time it’s interesting to explore related ideas to see what’s available or going on. As we’ve reported before, there’s a whole industry that specializes in industrial earthbag projects using geotextiles or geosynthetics. Their primary journal is called Geosynthetics Magazine.
DIY
EarthKaya Update
“EarthKaya is dedicated in providing low cost, low impact, earthbag building solutions in South Africa. Less time, less impact, less cost.
Konbit Earthbag Shelters
“Konbit Shelter is a sustainable building project with the objective of sharing knowledge and resources through the creation of homes and community spaces in post earthquake Haiti. We are a group of artists, builders, architects, and engineers, who, after the January 2010 earthquake, asked ourselves how we could use our skills and resources to directly assist another community in a time of crisis.
Patti Stouter’s Straw Wattle Dormitories
“My Haitian friends with HCDP have built 3 dorms of straw wattle on earthbag base. We sized them to fit the most beds possible, and to add 2 short tents between them so that they could accomodate the most beds possible for occasional classes. Although the reports all say that peasants are very resistant to learning improved agriculture from anyone, Haitian-born HCDP director Gueston Pacius seems to be changing that.
Living With Less: America’s Quest for Simplicity
– Step one: We spend years working to pay the mortgage, buy nicer cars, more gadgets, trendier clothes. Leaving us with piles and piles of stuff.
– Step two: Cleaning out, moving, or just tryng to free up some space. We realize not only that these previous purchases haven’t brought us meaning, but that they’ve actually distracted us from what is most meaningful.
Low cost greenhouse farming
“This video shows the construction of a low cost greenhouse and bed preperation for planting.”