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Natural Building
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10 guidesCompressed Earth Blocks/Bricks (CEB) House
Compressed earth bricks are eco-friendly construction materials made by compressing a mixture of locally sourced soil, sand, and water. The soil’s natural clay content acts as a binder, allowing the bricks to be formed without the need for firing, unlike cement bricks that require energy-intensive kiln-baking. The absence of cement in compressed earth bricks reduces […]
Paint
Make your own paint Making your own paint with natural ingredients can be a fun and creative project, and it could even turn into a small business. Here’s a simple guide on how to get started: Materials You’ll Need: Steps: Remember, making paint with natural ingredients is a unique selling point, as many people appreciate […]
Roofing
This article isn’t ready. These are just notes….if you have information about how we can build our own roofs or want to help writing these articles please contact us. Options: Thatch Palm Fronds Bamboo Waste
Hemp
Benefits and Uses of Hemp: Hemp’s versatility and sustainability make it a valuable resource with a wide range of applications across various industries, promoting environmental conservation and offering economic opportunities. Benefits of Hemp Plants: Growing Hemp in Arid Countries: By following these guidelines, hemp cultivation in arid countries can be sustainable and beneficial, offering economic […]
Natural Building Methods
What is natural building? Natural building refers to construction techniques that use locally available, minimally processed, renewable, and ecologically sound materials. These methods have been used for centuries across diverse cultures and climates and are now experiencing a resurgence as sustainable, low-carbon alternatives to conventional building systems. The principle is simple: use what you have […]
Cob Building
Cob is one of the oldest and most versatile natural building techniques, consisting of a hand-sculpted mixture of subsoil (clay and sand), straw, and water. It has been used across centuries and cultures, from the British Isles to parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, offering a durable, breathable, and sustainable building method. Overview […]
Charred timber posts: local trials and the limits of a surface treatment
Charring timber is a traditional surface treatment.
Outdoor pizza and bread ovens: plan a useful shared cooking space
An outdoor oven can turn garden produce into shared meals and support a small baking activity. The useful question is not only how to build a dome, but whether the oven will be used often enough to justify its fuel, materials and space.
Hempcrete: assess the whole building system
Hempcrete combines the woody inner material of hemp stems with a binder to make a lightweight building material. It is usually part of a designed wall or insulation system. Assess the structure, moisture details, supply chain and finished cost before treating it as a replacement for conventional masonry.
Dry toilets: Otji systems, composting and safe maintenance
A dry toilet can reduce flushing-water demand, but a good system must also contain waste, serve its users and provide a safe maintenance and treatment route. The toilet, storage, emptying and final destination belong in one plan from the beginning.