Green & Natural building

[midnight armadillo]

I thought some of y'all would be interested in some links to green and natural (i.e. using materials close to their natural state) building.

Two on cordwood masonry, common in northern climes:
www.daycreek.com
www.cordwoodmasonry.com

And an excellent general site:
www.greenhomebuilding.com
which covers cordwood masonry, strawbales, earthbags, and more.

And, of course, the ultimate in energy efficiency and self-sufficiency:
www.earthship.org

An earthship. Doesn't look like much, but they're built of recycled materials and trash like old tires:
http://earthship.com/gallery/view_photo.php?full=1&set_albumName=packaged_ss&id=opta_oview_proroof_big

[Gato Moteado]

1. great links

thanks. i've been looking at several of these methods of construction for a while now.

[Babette]

2. I have all three earthship books...

I've thought they would make great homes! Who needs a huge energy-wasting house when they can have something as cool and unique as an earthship! I love the flowing forms of the walls in the bathrooms (the can walls). It's been a dream of mine to have one, but will probably never happen. Don't think I'm strong enough to pound all those tires.

[Massacure]

3. If you want a normal house that isn't completely dug into the Earth

You can also just finish of your basement. It is amazing how many people have so much open space in their basement.