Artist Ezio Cusi’s house is a work of art —and also built smart. The cob house with timber-framed upper stories is made with mostly local natural materials. For the cold winters, it has an annualized geo-solar system (AGS) which in summer transfers hot water from solar … [Read more...]
EagleYew House — Efficient Technology With an Artist’s Aesthetic (317)
October 28, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Bringing the Wealth Home – intelligent Design at InishOge Farm (301)
January 29, 2016 By Leave a Comment
"We had a different notion of real wealth…we converted [our paper money] wealth into this land and home," says Steve Unger. Mary Coll adds that they're storing wealth in their knowledge, and by building a low-tech handmade house with no need for outside "experts" for … [Read more...]
What Goes Around Comes Around at the Bicycle ReCyclery (295)
September 2, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Behind us, people of all ages are fixing and assembling bikes. It's shop day at the Jefferson County (Washington) ReCyclery. Founder Chauncey Tudhope-Locklear and Board President Kees Kolff explain how opportunities exploded when the Recylery became a non-profit … [Read more...]
Living Tiny, Finding Community (256)
January 24, 2014 By 1 Comment
When we met Logan Smith and Tammy Strobel in A Young Couple Find Freedom in Simple Living, they'd already gotten out of debt and simplified their lives. (Tammy's book You Can Buy Happiness (and It's Cheap) recounts how they did it.) Fulfilling a long-held dream, they're now … [Read more...]
Natural Buildings for Urban Living – The Tour, part 2 (247)
October 27, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The Craftsman-style bungalow looks normal on the outside, but the surprise is on the inside: straw bales inside the framing provide super insulation. Natural builder Lydia Doleman designed this 800-square-foot small-footprint house to last centuries, with its metal roof and … [Read more...]
Natural Buildings for Urban Living, part 1 (246)
October 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Wanting to demonstrate that "cities can be less impactful on the planet," natural builder Lydia Doleman bought and remodeled a Portland house to demonstrate her values. Composting toilets reduce water usage while feeding the soil. Growing food shortens dependencies. Building … [Read more...]
Earth, Wood and Sun – Natural Building, Local Style (239)
July 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
"When we're able to successfully work with local ecologies to meet our needs, we do the Earth a better service. And we are becoming empowered in our own lives." Natural builder Chris Foraker gives a tour of work-in-progress at Aprovecho Center, Oregon. The structure's clay, … [Read more...]
Splendid Bicycles for Cargo and Kids (238)
July 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Picture a sofa perched on a bicycle for its move across town! That's how Portlanders Joel and Barb Grover transport items too big or awkward for a car. More and more folks in bicycle-friendly terrain are using cargo bikes for their in-town transportation needs — carrying … [Read more...]
Columbia Ecovillage, part 2 — Shaping a Life Together (232)
April 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment
What's it like, living in an urban ecovillage? Barbara Ford finds that this size community enables people to contribute while doing what they love. Dennis Karas and his wife had to adjust to noise levels with more children around, but enjoy having many friends with shared … [Read more...]
Columbia Ecovillage, part 1 – From Apartments to Community (231)
April 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment
What if you could turn an apartment complex into a houseful of friends? Joe and Pam Leitch did. They purchased the apartments adjoining their farmhouse in metropolitan Portland, with the vision of creating an intentional community. While retrofitting the apartments to … [Read more...]
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