These clay plaster projects ideas–from mosaics to wall sculptures and cob ovens–will get you started with earthen plaster building. People are often fascinated by the structure of my earth-bag home,…
Prepare for the legal and practical considerations of a backyard burial with these tips from a green-burial expert. As with so many elements of environmentally friendly lifestyles, green burials hark…
New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA), but quite a few other states have similar programs. (For those in New York, go to the section on “Residents and…
Inspired by La debt-free home from recycled materials, Scott Evans adapted his hand-built yurt home design for a wooden yurt on a site with 180-degree views. The following post is…
This low-cost yurt design combines basketry, wattle-and-daub, and basic lashing (similar to skin-on-frame boats). Not much more than a glorified tent, you can learn how to build a DIY yurt…
By learning how to beeswax fabric, you can ditch plastic zip bags and use your homemade beeswax wrap in a variety of sizes and designs. Reduce, reuse, recycle. I do…
In the early 1980s, an American energy crisis had passed. My wife, Jean, and I had had our first child, and we wanted to do something that would secure, rather…
Last week, our good friend William, along with his wife and nine children, invited us over for dinner at their homestead. This was an honor and turned out to be…
It’s been 21 years since my son Jordan, then nine, and I moved to my cabin in the woods to live without electricity. I’m still off-grid, but a couple of…
From DIY sidewalk chalk to brewing coffee to getting rid of slugs in the garden, discover unexpected and simple uses for eggshells. Next time you whip up a quiche or…
