Now that you’ve saved tens of thousands of dollars (or more) by building your sustainable home using low cost natural and recycled materials, it’s time to furnish your home. The photos above are examples of free and low cost rustic furniture you could make with salvaged wood. Other items around the house such as trim, … Read more
You can blow through a lot of money in a hurry at building supply centers. For many, buying all new materials isn’t practical. Instead of buying new, you could help demolish a building, trade work, etc. Let’s start a list of the easiest to find recycled building materials. Suggestions are welcome. Lumber, doors, door hardware, … Read more
This is a continuation of the previous blog post on recycled wood. A reader left a comment about the door they built from pallets and so I thought a post about pallet furniture would be interesting. Many don’t realize how countless thousands of pallets are discarded every day. Some pallets are made with strong wood … Read more
Those living in extremely cold climates such as Canada and Alaska need lots of insulation so their home is warm and comfortable. We typically recommend using scoria, pumice, perlite and vermiculite, but from what we’ve been told these materials are not readily available or cost effective in the far north. Hideo, one of our readers, … Read more
I love interacting with readers through email and the Comments section. In addition to helping readers, this interaction is a regular source of new ideas and inspiration. Here’s a recent example. A reader left a comment about the high price of mesh bags they encountered. My first reaction was “well, that was just one supplier, … Read more
You can buy bags made of hemp, jute, kenaf, linen and flax for earthbag building. Most burlap bags are made with jute. They’re usually more expensive than poly or mesh bags and have been treated with unhealthy mold inhibitors to prevent rot and insect problems. I can’t say for sure, but it’s possible bags for … Read more