The building industry doesn’t want people to know about this! Modern building materials are expensive, often require special tools and expertise, rot or burn after a few decades, and many times offgas toxic fumes. Fortunately, word is spreading about natural building and how almost anyone can build their own home at much lower cost. Examples of ancient natural buildings that are still standing after thousands of years can be found worldwide. This includes earthen structures in earthquake zones that have withstood centuries of earthquakes. These ancient building methods are being rediscovered and utilized to beat the high cost of home building.
low cost
How to Build with Strawbales
“Student How-To Video on how to build a strawbale building. University of Washington.”
Restoring Degraded Land With Weeds
“When we started our farm, there were so many prickly “touch me nots” (impatiens or “shy plant)) that we were obliged to wear shoes at all times. Now, with the help of nutrient cycling, our garden has been transformed into a BAREFOOT GARDEN. Here’s how…”
My Favorite Natural Home
Over the years I’ve had the great pleasure of viewing thousands of homes built with natural materials such as sustainably harvested wood poles, earth, straw, stone, and recycled materials. So which natural home is my personal favorite? I’d have to go with Simon Dales’ woodland home in Wales. Not only is it absolutely stunning from many different views, it’s also very low cost (3,000 pounds or $4,500), practical to build (4 months by 2 workers) and live in, and super energy efficient due to the thick straw bale insulation. The cost is very important. Almost anyone can afford a home like this.
Making a Farm Table with Salvaged Wood
“Build your own furniture, a dream of many but a reality for few. In this video I show you how I make farm tables. This is one made for a customer for a new house. It’s 10 feet long and made from red oak, sawn from a dead standing tree. The base is made from (reclaimed) spruce and yellow pine. It is constructed with mortise and tenon joints, using a hollow chisel mortiser and a tenon jig I made for the table saw.”
£10,000 ($15,000) Straw Bale House – Wales
“Brian Stinchcombe built his own straw bale house for only TEN THOUSAND POUNDS, as shown in this video. According to an article in the Independent, this house was due to be demolished in 1997, because the ‘planners’ (bribe takers, in other words, who work for the building industry, while pretending to work for the council) didn’t approve.