“This video shows the construction of a low cost greenhouse and bed preperation for planting.”
self reliant
The Incredible House Truck Michael Ostaski Built
“Renaissance artist and craftsman Michael Ostaski gives a tour of the house truck he built in the 60’s. To build his Land Yacht Michael started with a stripped down truck cab with a simple bare chassis behind and built EVERYTHING you see with his own hands (by himself). This includes: welding the foundational framework to the truck, complete skeletal system, extensive woodworking details, skylights, siding, roofing, electrical, plumbing, cabinetry, stained glass windows, upholstery, tile work, airbrush, etc (not to mention the design itself).”
Couple Goes Off Grid, on to Savings
“After years of living in big cities, Sonny and Linda Jobe decided to make a change as they entered into retirement. Buying a farm in Doddridge County in West Virginia, Sonny and Linda decided to live completely off-the-grid. They’ve installed several solar panels and also make their own honey and maple syrup. They have a garden, raise chickens and are considering goats in the near future. They claim they can go for months and not have to go to town if they want to. Video by West Virginia Uncovered.”
Floating Gardens
“Bangladesh faces severe problems as a consequence of storms, cyclones and floods. The ancient practice of floating gardens – beds of straw and water hyacinths on which crops are grown – is making a comeback in the face of increased floods.”
High Tunnel Greenhouse Construction
A polytunnel (hoop) greenhouse like this would be faster and easier to build than a dome. This particular polytunnel design is low cost, strong and easy to build. A greenhouse this size would provide more than enough fruit and vegetables for one family. Instead of bending galvanized pipe for the hoop sections, consider using gray plastic pipe or electrical conduit (polybutylene). I’m not sure how durable it is, but I have seen it used on hoop houses and it would be much easier to use.
A Do-It-Yourself GeoDome Greenhouse
“You don’t have to spit far these days to hit an urban garden. The trend, says the New York Times in an article about an Urban Farm in Milwaukee, has everything to do with the recession and the growing awareness of the impact that shipping food long-distance has on our climate and our pocketbooks. Of course, not all of us will be able to feed ourselves with what we grow in our back yards during the lean, mean growing season here in Southern Colorado. But there are ways around it, and John Sondericker has built an inexpensive Geo-Dome greenhouse in hopes of growing enough vegetables to supply his family of 5 for the better part of the year, if not year-round. We visited John and his dome for a brief tutorial on how he did it and how it’s going thus far.”