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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Best Places to Live with Minimal Building Codes: Pocahontas County, West Virginia

There are few or no codes in Pocahontas County, West Virginia
There are few or no codes in Pocahontas County, West Virginia

“Pocahontas County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 8,719. Its county seat is Marlinton. The county has a total area of 942 square miles (2,440 km2).

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Best Places to Live: Scenic Byways

Nebraska Highway 20 scenic byway
Nebraska Highway 20 scenic byway

As a young man, I traveled across Nebraska on Highway 20 that parallels the main east-west interstate across the state. It’s very beautiful country. The scenic byway was far more interesting than the interstate which I had traveled many times going back and forth to Colorado on vacation. Places like this would be a great place to homestead.

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Best Places to Live with Minimal Building Codes: Lewis County, TN

Lewis County, TN has minimal building codes
Lewis County, TN has minimal building codes

I’ve been doing a series of articles recently on the best places to live in North America that have few or no building codes. I’m asking readers to send us their recommendations. Today’s article is the fifth installment of the series. I suggest moving to an area with minimal building codes to greatly reduce the cost of construction as well as escape many of the problems in urban areas such as high taxes and crime. For more on this topic, see Counties with Few or No Building Codes

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Areas With Few or No Codes: East Tennessee

East Tennessee has no building codes
East Tennessee has no building codes

Message from a reader: “Just wanted to add my experience as an example if it helps someone (not selling anything). I bought 75 acres in Blaine, Tennessee (20 minutes east of Knoxville) back in 2014 for $146K. Rural, forest and hills, 4 seasons, but close enough to bigger cities. No building codes. TN has no state income tax. I pay around $100 a year for property tax because it is designated as “greenbelt.” The surrounding counties are the same and are very open to alternative building.

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