Book Description
Do you want to harvest sunlight, wind or falling water to power your home? Or sell that renewable energy back to your utility company? Are you looking to build your dream eco-home? Or to convert to biodiesel and minimize your fossil fuel use?
This fully updated classic of sustainable living technology tells how and gives you access to the world's most extensive selection of hardware to make it all happen. The Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook-12th Edition is the ultimate resource on renewable energy, sustainable living, alternative construction, green building, homesteading, off-the-grid living and alternative transportation, written by experts with decades of personal experience and a passion for sharing their knowledge. In print and regularly updated since 1982, the Sourcebook has sold over 600,000 copies in 44 countries. This 12th edition includes brand-new sections on solar utility intertie, alternative sources of fuel (including biodiesel and hydrogen fuel cells) and hybrid vehicles, and completely rewritten sections on land and shelter, emergency preparedness and energy conservation, as well as in-depth sections on:
Sunshine to electricity
From panel to plug
Water systems
Water heating
Water and air purification
Composting toilets and graywater systems
Off-the-grid living and homesteading tools
Mobility
Plus over 150 pages of maps, wiring diagrams, formulae, charts, electrical code, solar sizing worksheets and much more.
Whether you're a layperson or a professional, novice or longtime aficionado, the Sourcebook puts the latest research and newest products at your fingertips-all the information you need to make sustainable living a reality.
John Schaeffer is the president and founder of Real Goods-the oldest and largest catalog company devoted to the sale and service of renewable energy products. The recipient of numerous awards, Real Goods hosts an annual SolFest at its Solar Living Center headquarters in Hopland, California.
Customer Reviews:
great.......2007-05-18
My husband who has an avid interest in sustainable energy really enjoyed this book. He liked it so much he bought one for a realator friend of ours who is also into sustainable energy.
This is an enhanced catalog.......2007-05-12
This book does have much useful information, but it still a catalog.
Best Of The Bunch.......2007-02-06
This book is the absolute best for covering renewable energy on a residential-sized scale. It covers all things solar/renewable energy: converting solar energy to electricity, wind generators, solar water heating, solar water pumping, energy conservation, off-the-electrical grid and grid intertie applications. There's an appendix with charts, maps and worksheets that help you design your own solar home and energy system. It is well written, with the information easy to follow. There is just enough theory included so you can follow the technical descriptions of the system components. It's got 564 pages and there's not much wasted space.
I have lived off-grid for six years and teach a renewable energy class at a nearby community college. I tell my students that if they are going to buy just one book on renewable energy, to buy this, the latest edition of the Solar Living Sourcebook.
Keep in mind, this is a catalog for Giam/Real Goods. Products and services are described and prices are listed. They would like you to do business with them. I have found that many of the products listed can be found cheaper elsewhere, but having the prices listed is a plus...you can put together a system and get a ball-park figure on how much the system will cost you. In my opinion, Real Goods is a reputable company, very service oriented, and very knowledgeable.
If you want more information on residential sized renewable energy systems, the magazine Home Power (www.homepower.com) is superb. They publish six issues a year, with a hands-on type format that makes you want to get out there and build something!
If you are interested in using solar energy to make electricity, but want the advantages of being tied to the grid, the book Got Sun? Go Solar by Rex Ewing and Doug Pratt is excellent. If living off-the-grid is your interest, The Renewable Energy Handbook by William Kemp is very good.
Great book.......2007-01-11
Boy, if you want to know not only the theory of alternative energy, but how to implement it in your home, this is the book. Each chapter tells you the pros and cons of each type (solar, wind, microhydroelectric, geothermal...) and then gives you real products available today to buy and install. One tip: You may be able to get the products cheaper somewhere else, though. Shop around. Well done.
Essential Information .......2007-01-06
Essential catalog of energy related items punctuated with non commercial advice and information.
Book Description
Are you ready for the Cob Cottage? This is a building method so old and so simple that it has been all but forgotten in the rush to synthetics. A cob cottage,cobb, however, might be the ultimate expression of ecological design, a structure so attuned to its surroundings that its creators refer to it as "an ecstatic house."
The authors build a house the way others create a natural garden. They use the oldest, most available materials imaginable—earth, clay, sand, straw, and water—and blend them to redefine the future (and past) of building. Cob (the word comes from an Old English root, meaning "lump") is a mixture of non-toxic, recyclable, and often free materials. Building with cob requires no forms, no cement, and no machinery of any kind. Builders actually sculpt their structures by hand.
Building with earth is nothing new to America; the oldest structures on the continent were built with adobe bricks. Adobe, however, has been geographically limited to the Southwest. The limits of cob are defined only by the builder's imagination.
Cob offers answers regarding our role in Nature, family and society, about why we feel the ways that we do, about what's missing in our lives. Cob comes as a revelation, a key to a saner world.
Cob has been a traditional building process for millennia in Europe, even in rainy and windy climates like the British Isles, where many cob buildings still serve as family homes after hundreds of years. The technique is newly arrived to the Americas, and, as with so many social trends, the early adopters are in the Pacific Northwest.
Cob houses (or cottages, since they are always efficiently small by American construction standards) are not only compatible with their surroundings, they ARE their surroundings, literally rising up from the earth. They are full of light, energy-efficient, and cozy, with curved walls and built-in, whimsical touches. They are delightful. They are ecstatic.
Customer Reviews:
Practical, Comforting, and Fun.......2007-01-06
This book gives basic instructions on everything you need to know about cob home construction with many illustrations and a great set of glossy color photos in the middle of the book.
This book is great to read even if you never build a cob home because of the amount of information it contains that can be of use for any kind of house.
Also, the book walks the reader through several excercises that are meant to open up one's own innate creativity.
I really enjoyed the integration of spiritual philosophy into very practical instructions, it makes for a great balance.
I felt that the book was very fun to read and put me into a lighthearted mood.
The book also contains many references to other natural/alternative building techniques that can be employed instead of or in addition to cob.
Enjoy!
great book.......2007-01-04
great work on clay building, includes everything from history to philosophy to detailed practical building guidelines.
Christo.......2006-07-09
If there is one book that you need to read than this is it. Get your feet in the mud and find out who you really are. This book changed my life. Gave me the empowerment to throw off the chains of being dependent on paying alot of money for a basic need: good housing. Now I've embarked on a path of creativity, to build a house that is healthy, and will suit all my needs. My thanks are great!
Stunning AND the Absolute Last Word in Cob Info.......2006-03-23
I spent hours and hours with this beautiful and entertaining book, and I was only barely interested in Cob! This book is absolutely terrific, it is wonderfully and beautifully illustrated, includes color photos of some great cob houses, and is absolutely THE book you need if you want to learn about cob, or build your own cob structure. It is a wonderful balance of fun, personal stories, expertise, and technical info. (And really very inclusive too!) I read both Becky's and then this book. It really made me comfortable with cobbing because it is so well done, so inclusive and informative. A testimonial: Some time after reading this book over and over, we decided that cob was not appropriate for our site, and I STILL recently picked up this book for a good read!
Simply gorgeous!.......2005-09-23
First, it's fun just to browse through the gorgeous homes and creations in this book. Second, cob is well researched and documented here, for instance, did you know there are cob homes in Devonshire England that are over 400 years old? Third, this is a remarkably practical handbook for siting, designing, and building a home from cob.
On a practical note, you might want to start with a cob oven for practice. Kiko Denzer wrote a lovely book on the subject, "Building your own wood fired oven". Cob is incredibly fun to work with, but very, very labor intensive.
I really wish I could give this book six stars, because it's truly a fabulous and peerless manual for building with cob.
Buy it, you won't regret it a bit! It's a book you'll go back to again and again, and dream with on cold winter days.
Book Description
Who wouldn't like their living space to be more organized? Tapping into the popularity of the "Good Things" column in Martha Stewart Living,
Good Things for Organizing provides practical, efficient, and pretty solutions for organizing just about everything, from spools of thread and the silverware drawer to your entire wardrobe and home office.
It is a law of nature: stuff accumulates.
Good Things for Organizing shows how to live with stuff comfortably and creatively. In chapters organized room by room,
Good Things for Organizing offers a wide range of ingenious ways to tame the clutter, from the basement to the garden shed.
With sections such as "Cleamng Up the Countertop" in the kitchen chapter, "Linen Closet 10" in the closet chapter, and "Organizing Correspondence" in the home office chapter, the editors of Martha Stewart Living have tested all of the possibilities and have created perfect solutions to the most frustrating organizing problems. Included are projects for every level of commitment, from tidying the junk drawer to building the right shelves to display a beloved collection.
Customer Reviews:
Organize This!.......2007-08-23
I like Martha Stewart alot, but everyone is not as rich as she is and everyone does not have all of the space that she has in this book to organize things. The pictures are colorful and bold, I wish she had put in more pictures with smaller rooms, also I love the way she shows you how to fold sheets and shirts,over all she show a lot of detail in how to organize things you never dream of organizing so that in itself is a good thing!
Decent book.......2007-03-09
This book is decent. I've read better Martha Stewart idea books. It's a little bit outdated (it talks about organizing video cassettes) and some of the projects require hard-to-find materials (men's suit fabric?) but there are definitely some great ideas and I don't feel like it was a waste a money. I just wish it were a little more practical.
The Title Says It All..........2007-02-14
This book is soooo Martha. It has beautiful photographs and the projects have visually beautiful results! But, like some of the other reviewers, I have never used even one of the ideas in this book and I probably never will. I'm still scrambling to get my paperwork filed anywhere out of sight, a meal on the table on time and my laundry put away. I see the projects in this book as the icing on the cake of a very organized home inhabited by a type A personality (Martha). Many of the ideas require a lot of materials, time, money and a carpenter. What I do enjoy about the book is dreaming that someday I will be organized enough to get to the "Good Things" phase. Fantasy is fun!
Ideal organising - inspiring for the disorganised.......2007-02-05
This is a great organising reference. I was sceptical at first as I thought it may be a little dated however I was surprised - Martha provides timeless organisational ideas that inspire.
In a world where we are constantly being shown modern, minimalist homes filled with nothing it was refreshing to see homes that actually had 'stuff' - all be it well organised stuff. The section on the Baby Armoire was a little dishartening, primarily because it seems impossible to have the time to make painted bins and cotton pique bags when you have a 6month-old. However, it was lovely to look at and inspiring all the same.
If anything, this is a great book (more magazine-like in format and style) and reference and it has some nifty ideas for storage solutions and general organisation. The section on kitchens was of most use, the section on home office and photo storage perhaps the most 'dated'. It reads more like a collection of organisational solutions and styles from a Martha magazine rather than a purpose designed book.
Only fault is that it is perhaps not long enough nor in-depth enough. But in saying this it is a great gift for those needing organisational inspiration.
Oh ... how wonderful it would be to have MS come and organise my house!
Organization is Martha's Forte.......2006-11-07
Martha explains how her obsessiveness with details runs through her life. I always thought organization allowed me freedom of time for more important things in my life, but it seems Martha enjoys the process of organizing rather than anything else. Not the best book on this subject, but it contains a few nuggets.
Book Description
Looking for the quickest way to peel tomatoes? Frustrated by tumbling bed sheets in your linen closet? Not sure how to space seedlings in your garden?
Simple Home Solutions provides answers to these and other everyday problems in the kitchen, garden, and around the house. Practical, useful, and inordinately simple, the ideas in this book will help you solve household dilemmas, get and stay organized, and make the most of your time.
Customer Reviews:
Clever Ideas.......2006-04-20
This book is full of clever ideas and shortcuts. I only hope that I will remember to look them up when I can make use of one of them. As you look through it you will constantly think -- Why didn't I think of that? I never buy the magazine, so these were all new to me. Even if you have seen these tips before, it might be valuable to buy this book anyway as a convenience. You are probably more apt to use these shortcuts if they are compiled into one book rather than spread through a dozen magazines. I hope Martha comes out with more books like this one.
Lots of pictures and short tips.......2006-03-27
I read a copy fo this book from the library,but I liked it.I am a photo person ,so anything with pictures works for me.This books has lots of pretty pictures and tons of tips,mostof which are no-cost tips. I love MARTHA STEWART !!
Great, useful, and not at all cheesy. .......2004-10-02
A great book with very practical and inexpensive ideas for all kinds of homekeeping. I am not as type-A as Martha, but you've got to hand it to her - her books are useful, inspiring and usually quite practical (unless it's a craft project - I mean, PLEASE, like I am going to make my own acorn placesetting things). I only rate it 4 stars because I wish there had been more ideas in the book - her books tend to leave you wanting more ideas since what is presented is usually quite good.
One reviewer says this will be a repeat of things you've seen in the magazine. Probably good advice to avoid the book if you already get the magazine. I don't suscribe to Living, so this was actually a nice surprise. As always, smart design, nice pictures and great & very do-able ideas. I flipped through it in a bookstore and now I am getting it for a better price at Amazon.com.
Simple Home Solutions : Good Things with Martha Stewart Livi.......2004-07-27
The book delivers what its title promises to deliver: great advice for one's household, wrapped in a wonderful package - the look of the book is, as always with Martha Stewart books, exquisite and right on the money. The only question you should ask yourself before deciding to buy this book is whether you wish to pay for something that is esentially a picture-book with advice that can be found on martha stewart's web page, or that you are already aware of. For me the answer is yes - the book is inspirational for anyone with a sense of aesthetic and the desire to make their home a more beautiful place to live in. The advice is useful indeed and all in one place.
An average offering.......2004-07-19
This book will be a disappointment to subscribers of Martha Stewart Living because many of the ideas contained in the book have been previously published in the magazine. It's essentially a collection of Martha's "Good Things" for keeping things in the house organized, quick cooking tips, nifty ways of peeling vegetables, mixing drinks, making place settings, etc. While I did not really find the book that interesting, because I had seen the ideas before in her magazine, the ideas themselves are excellent, easy and have a 'why-didn't-I-think-of-that' element to them. It would make a perfect housewarming gift for a young person moving into their first apartment or home.
Book Description
In 1994, when Chelsea Green published The Straw Bale House, the response from many people was a loud, "Huh?!" Those days are gone. With more than 100,000 copies sold, and straw bale projects underway in most regions of North America, we've entered a new era. Even building-code officials and insurance companies now look favorably upon straw bale buildings, with their extraordinary energy efficiency and wise use of agricultural waste for construction materials. Bergeron and Lacinski's new book Serious Straw Bale is the first to look carefully at the specific design considerations critical to success with a straw bale building in more extreme climates-where seasonal changes in temperature, precipitation, and humidity create special stresses that builders must understand and address. The authors draw upon years of experience with natural materials and experimental techniques, and present a compelling rationale for building with straw-one of nature's most resilient, available, and affordable byproducts. For skeptics and true believers, this book will prove to be the latest word. * Thorough explanations of how moisture and temperature affect buildings in seasonal climates, with descriptions of the unique capacities of straw and other natural materials to provide warmth, quiet, and comfort year-round. * Comprehensive comparison of the two main approaches to straw bale construction: "Nebraska-style," where bales bear the weight of the roof, and framed structures, where bales provide insulation. * Detailed advice-including many well-considered cautions-for contractors, owner-builders, and designers, following each stage of a bale-building process. This is a second-generation straw bale book, for those seeking serious information to meet serious challenges while adventuring in the most fun form of construction to come along in several centuries.
Customer Reviews:
Happy Piggy.......2007-10-01
I've been doing research for a house I'm hoping to build in 5 to 10 years, and straw bale is one of the wall systems I'm seriously considering. This book was extremely informative. I confess I often skimmed past sections dealing with cold, wet climates (I live in Arizona), but sometimes I read through them just because they were so interesting. If you're considering using this wall system for your own project, this book is a good place to start.
How to Build a Straw House.......2007-04-04
Everything you ever wanted to know about building a straw home from the ground up can be found in this manual.
Uneven but mostly good information.......2007-04-02
I recommend this book with certain caveats. There is certainly some good information in the book and led me to some ideas that never occurred to me before, but the information is uneven, more than a little poorly organized and requires the reader to make some connections to pull the whole together.
The authors give an overview of many ways to do things, but almost never come to any conclusions on how things should be done. Many systems are discussed, some in detail and some not. The interactions of these systems the readers are considering should be explored as well as certain combinations are sure to cause problems in construction or in the life of the building. Of course as the authors note many times this style of construction is experimental and that is half the fun but I am buying the book to get the benefit of others experience.
The authors' ideology is evident in many parts, as well as an assumption that their readers have similar opinions. This can get a little annoying as they wax rhapsodic about the spiritual connections to the materials and decry modern industrial techniques. In some cases they probably make good points, but for those to whom straw bales are a means to an end- comfortable, efficient and non-toxic housing- space in the book would be better reserved for technical opinions than spiritual ones. Thankfully they do everyone a great service by disabusing fellow travelers of a few romantic illusions about straw bale and other edgy building techniques.
Illustrations in the book are an annoying aspect. Some are good and clearly depict what the authors words have trouble with. Other times they will start talking about a technique without defining it, or when they did define it I found my self wishing they just gave me a good picture.In a few cases, they give a picture, they give a discription, but are missing a label or other indicator that would easily tie it together and make sense. A well detailed sketch is worth at least a page of prose.
Finally for a book that extols the beauty of bale construction, they would do well to get a better photographer to do their pictures. Most of the photos in the book are awful and if readers are not already familiar with some bale buildings they may be more scared than attracted. One might get the idea that bale buildings are dark, dingy, dreary and populated by scary strange people. They are not (usually).
Sadly, this book is more useful than most on the subject of straw bales. If you are considering working with bales, I would recommend this book before starting any project... just don't let the pictures scare you away.
This is the one........2007-01-12
Let me just say that if you are going to buy only one book on straw bale home construction, this is the one. It is very comprehensive and enlightening. I am very happy with this purchase. This book is written for us who plan to build our own homes, step by step, begining to end it is all here. Not just a collection of pretty pictures but the real deal. Also I think the price very reasonable considering the amount of information, insight, tutorials pictures, advice and encouragement given. Delivery from Amazon, as always, was fast.
serious straw bale.......2007-01-10
considered the best book on the market by professional straw bale builders
Amazon.com
Get a leg up on the first Little Pig with The Straw Bale House, your guide to inexpensive, durable, earth-friendly construction that will stand up to much more than the Big Bad Wolf. Authors Athena Swentzell Steen and Bill Steen founded the Canelo Project, which promotes innovative building; David Bainbridge is a California restoration ecologist; and David Eisenberg is an alternative-materials builder who pioneered straw bale wall testing. Between them, they have encyclopedic knowledge of their subject. The book is comprehensive, broadly covering why and how to build with straw and then focusing on the details, which are both intellectually and aesthetically delightful.
Beside being cheap, clean, and lightweight, straw also provides advantages like energy efficiency and resistance to seismic stresses. For the nervous Martha Stewart types, there are scads of black-and-white and color plates of strikingly beautiful interiors and exteriors from New Mexico to southern France. Both new and experienced builders will appreciate the clear, simple instructions and diagrams, as well as practical explanations for dealing with building codes and insurers. The Straw Bale House shows us advantages so numerous and dramatic that you'll wonder why we ever moved on to sticks and bricks. --Rob Lightner
Customer Reviews:
This is a great place to start........2001-03-09
For someone who knew nothing about straw bale construction this book was not only informative, but also inspiring. The Straw Bale House contains a lot of good information about the specifics of straw bale construction. I found that because it covered information about straw bale construction from start to finish it couldn't go into as much detail about any one aspect as much as I would have liked. However, my feeling is that this book was designed to get you interested and then send you out to gather the more specific information for yourself. It has proven effective at inspiring me.
Strawbale heaven!!.......2001-02-07
This is a must have. If you are totally new (as I was) then this book will give you a good solid understanding of the pros and cons of strawbale construction. It is obvious that the authors know what they are talking about.
If you are vaguely interested in SB and haven't got this one you're really missing out.
Thanks Steen Steen and Bainbridge for this wonderful contribution.
informative for the curious, not a build it manual.......2001-02-04
The Steens have written two books on this subject, this one from 1994, is the most informative as far as actual construction information goes. I would say that if you think you might want to actually build a straw home get this book and their second book,The Beauty of Straw Bale Homes(from 2000). After reading these books you'll need more information both about straw bale work and other construction and carpentry books, Amazon has a selection of those.
An inspiring and informative book.......2000-07-09
This book would seem to be an indispensible starting point for anyone looking into the straw bale home concept. If the thought of a poorly-insulated, energy-guzzling, expensive, bland, mass-produced, contractor-built home doesn't quite appeal to you, this book is essential, for it shows that inexpensive doesn't have to mean low quality nor unattractive. In fact, bales and other "natural", low-cost building materials can yield attractively individual results in part because they are easy and fun to work with, enfranchising the future owner to be his or her own designer and builder. The inspiring photos included in the book help make the case for the aesthetic advantages. Of course, the most important function is to show how to build the straw bale home. In this respect, the book succeeds admirably, giving diagrams to illustrate the major techniques being used and showing how simple straw bale building is. Incidentally, this would make an attractive book for your coffee table even if you are just mildly interested in the subject. One warning though: even including the index and other back-of-the-book sections, there are only 297 pages, not 336!
Straw Houses that won't be blown down!.......2000-05-10
I must admit being fairly sceptical about straw bale construction until I read this book...
The style is very assessible and the content is thorough, interesting and informative. Just about every angle is covered in depth without being overly technical.
Includes useful covereage of many associated areas, such as rammed earth, adobe and passive solar issues.
An inspirational read for whether you are a dreamer or seriously intent on buiding your own house!
Amazon.com
The origins of the word "mortgage" are Old French and translate roughly to "death pledge." Rob Roy takes a radical approach here to help the reader understand how mortgages work; explains clearly how, if you have a mortgage already, you can maximize your equity sooner and save tons of money; and how, if just starting the process of acquiring a home for yourself, there are clear alternatives to a standard bank mortgage that will save you massive amounts of money, time, and financial headaches.
Roy covers the following subjects in detail: the grubstake--the essential financial asset that will stay with you for life; how to find land that you love and can afford; how to seize control of the house-building process; how to clarify and simplify your ideas of what you really need; and how to construct a low-cost home. Included in the book is Roy's own personal story of mortgage-free living, as well as those of others. His wry humor makes for an entertaining read, and his ideas, examples, and advice are clear-headed, logical, and hopeful. His financial calculations and charts are clear and imminently sensible while being real eye-openers. Your banker may not want you to read this radical book, but it amounts to a guided, rational plan for home ownership and financial liberation, and will no doubt soon be considered a classic. --Mark A. Hetts
Book Description
This is a banker's worst nightmare—a book that tells you how to live without being enslaved to financial institutions.
Chelsea Green has produced a formidable series of books on innovative shelter. But every alternative building strategy, no matter how low-cost or environmentally benign, requires a complementary financial strategy. the accepted path is to go hat-in-hand to a big financial institution, such as a bank, to borrow a lump sum that is repaid over many years. By the time the loan is repaid, the homeowner will have paid several times the original amount in interest.
The literal meaning of "mortgage" is "death pledge." Author Rob Roy is offering an escape route from a lifetime of indentured servitude. Mortgage-Free! Radical Strategies for Home Ownership is a complete guide to strategies that allow you to own your land and home, free and clear, without the bank. Included is detailed advice about:
Clarifying and simplifying your notions of what's necessary
Finding land that you love and can afford
Taking control of the house-building process, for the sake of sanity and pleasure
Learning to take a long-term perspective on your family's crucial economic decisions, avoiding debt and modern-day serfdom.
Customer Reviews:
READ ME! Home ownership and mortgage freedom is the American dream.......2006-11-15
Let's face it. It is the American dream -- having no mortgage and owning the property that you have. The book describes how to live within your means and being happy. Other urban places that people pay millions of dollars for a condo might find their busy lives as something to live for, but an equal amount of unhappy people in urban places are committing suicide because they don't know how to get out of the hole. Buying land cheap, building a cabin, and living in it is the best way to go, especially with cheap wireless Internet these days.
Other recommended titles that helped me purchase land cheaply:
Investing Without Losing (ISBN: 0978834607 NOT on amazn, on other stores)
Excellent resource for those who want to live debt free!.......2006-10-11
Very encouraging to know that it can be done. Rob gives a lot of useful info on how live mortgage free. My husband and I are going to do it!
I'm halfway through - and already I can tell this book's a keeper!.......2006-09-20
So I was reading today our of "Mortgage-free, radical strategies for home ownership." I like the book, the author gives a pretty round view on ways you can get away with doing exactly what the title tells you. Almost all of his ideas start out with you gathering up a grubstake and buying a piece of land - which is okay, but I can't even afford the land I want, so that's a bit of a problem for me. Perhaps I should think more modularly and buy a small piece and acquire more adjacent to it when I have more cash.
Anyhow, today he discussed underground homes. That was an interesting subject - basically this is just taking house berming to the maximum and setting your house down so far that once you backfill around the home, the roof is still enough below the original grade that you can plant a living roof - or just cover the damn thing with dirt and let biology ensue, with native plants reclaiming the disturbed environment. Very low environmental footprint - great way to hide from spyplanes and helicopters, but does require some industrial strength digging to get down to to where you need to be, and we've already noted that digging like taht costs money and what's more its not a remote-friendly technology. But, if you had an underground home with a masonry stove you'd be pretty set for whatever the weather could throw at you and I would expect the dwelling to last quite a long time indeed.
He also stressed the importance of being fluid, or rather the foolishness of planning what type of home you want before you've acquired your homesite. So much of what type of home, building technique, power source and siting is dependent upon your homesite and its ammenities, topography, harvestable and recyclable resources that really doing any kind of planning before you're onsite is likely to be more of a hindrance then a help when it comes to getting the best house for your situation. This was something I was already thinking (it is how I've been trained to look at gardening and orcharding: live with the land for a year before planting to find where the plants should go) but it was nice to see it written out elegantly by the author.
I still think I'm leaning towards a strawbale or cordwood dwelling. Cordwood could actually be reasonably remote-friendly and is easier than building a log cabin by a long site. Really you're just going to have to get your cement in - you can handsaw the cordwood rounds for the walls and move them about easily enough. I think I should start small, and get a small piece of land and build a little living shed on it and see what I can do. Like the book says - its better to use the same technique and screw up on a small dwelling at a cost of $500, than on the main house at a cost of $5000.
I'm learning a lot - and I feel the book was definitely worth the purchase price already.
Dominic Ebacher
ebacherdom.blogspot.com
Good General Overview limited in detail.......2005-08-01
Mr. Roy's book is a great primer on thinking about different strategies for owning a home that don't involve the normal process. The book is primarily based on the idea that if one can or wants to live a life outside of the consumerist norm then it is possible to own a home. Primarily, he advocates that the person who wants to own a home and not spend the next thirty years of their lives as an indentured servent to the bank that they should do as much work as they can themselves. Anyone who is interested or willing to do the work in building or renovating a home, has a low income, wants to maintain a simple life but doesn't know where to start will find this book has useful ideas to get you started. Those who desire to live in the best neighborhoods, are uninterested or unwilling to do the work on their own home, or not likely to accept a simple lifestyle will likely scoff at the notions this book presents.
The main thrust of this book advocates that people choose not to participate in the suburban "keeping up with the Jones's" lifestyle. For some this may be a revolutionary idea. This, of course, is not a new idea but is not one that is commonly embraced by Western civilization. For those that are already outside of the consumerist mainstream this book will probably not cover any new ground. He does provide a sensible arguement against the "death-pledge" (the Old French etymology for "mortgage"). There are a great many people that believe that the only way they can ever own a house is through the 30 year loan route. Mr. Roy makes a case that if one has the desire, discipline and patience that they can own a home without going to the bank to get a loan.
The book provides a general set of strategies that are primarily useful in rural area. The author recommends that one lives a simple lifestyle, builds on land that would not be considered particularly valuable by others, the home is built by the owner using as many salvaged (inexpensive but high quality) materials as possible, and that the builder reduces as many living cost as possible. One example of cost reduction is the use of some sort of temporary structure on the property while the home is being built in order to reduce or eliminate the cost of renting or paying on a mortgage in another home.
The book provides a good overview of methods that have been used to achieve home ownership in rural areas. It does address the idea of the same sort of idea in urban areas by saying that it's not bloody likely. This reviewer tends to agree with that but others may have differing opinions.
Enpowering Book!.......2005-07-01
As a novice to the idea of mortgage-free home ownership, I found this book very inspiring and enpowering. As one of the other reviewers stated, this is not a book for your typical American consumer. But, if you're ready to step out of that lifestyle towards financial freedom, read this book. It is practical and easy/fun to read. I liked the personal testimonies and the different resources Rob Roy suggests throughout.
For other inspiring ideas, stories, and photos check out "Homework-Handbuilt Shelter" by Lloyd Kahn.
Amazon.com
The beauty and grace of rammed earth construction is described in fascinating detail by David Easton. The photographs of different structures, both modern and ancient, by Cynthia Wright, create a breathtaking glimpse into a building technique that is as old as human history, but exactly suitable for today's resource-conscious and environmentally friendly building needs. Trees may be getting a bit scarce these days, but there's no current shortage of dirt, the main component of rammed earth homes. From such a prosaic material, gold has been spun in these timeless, graceful, and nearly indestructible homes and buildings.
Customer Reviews:
This One's A Keeper.......2007-10-01
I bought this book because I'm researching wall systems, hoping to build a place of my own some day. After lots of study, I probably won't use the rammed earth system, but I think it's fascinating, and I will probably use this book for reference in the future. If you're interested in earth walls, this one is a must-have for your library.
the most comprehensive rammed earth guide on the market.......2007-06-20
this is the guide to rammed earth. David Easton's enthusiasm and expertise provide for the most informative and readable book on rammed earth on the market.
"East Coaster" Looking to use Rammed Earth.......2000-04-06
I purchased this book in order to find an optimistic source on the subject of rammed earth. David Easton does have a positive attitude about the subject. I enjoyed his enthusiasm. I enjoyed the 10 or so pages of color pictures and the many black and white pictures through the book. Like another reviewer, I felt the book lacked some good engineering sketches and some good pictoral illustrations of the forming systems. I was encouraged enough by his book to want to build a rammed earth house somewhere in the coming years. johnkurtz@comcast.net.
Excellent resource!.......1999-01-22
I found this book, as other books by Real Goods, to be very informative and easy for the layperson to comprehend. David presents the information in a reader friendly style, and the photos greatly enhance the script.
Excellent, lacks some detail on construction.......1997-02-24
In Venezuela, South America, there is some interest in reviving an old method of cobnstruction, called "tapial" in spanish (rammed earth).
Many old building remain in South America from the time of the spaniards. The book illustrates how a modern enginee, David Easton, in California, has taken over the problem of building with rammed earth in country where there is very little "tradition", hence know how, on building with rammed earth.
The book lacks detail on the rammed earth system employed by the authors. More drawings and pictures would be very useful to translate modern technology to underdevelopped countries.
Best regards,
Miguel A. Megias, Professor of Engineering
Universidad de Carabobo
Valencia, Venezuela
e-mail mmegias@telcel.net.v
Amazon.com
Subtitled "Designing and Building a House Your Own Way," this is the book for anyone thinking about building their own home. It is comprehensive, detailed and covers subjects I have never before seen covered in home building books, like how to make a small house seem bigger, incorporating ergonomics and accessibility, doing your own drawings and scale models, making contracts that work, and working effectively with professional designers and builders. With detailed diagrams and photographs, this is the most thorough overall guide to building your own home I have ever seen (and I've seen a lot!).
Book Description
This is a comprehensive manual of design and building methods for owner-builders as well as professional builders and their clients. In addition to presenting specific building techniques, the book explains the design principles and planning processes that underlie all good building, so that readers can develop their own exceptional designs, independently.
The Real Goods Independent Builder develops subjects not covered thoroughly in other books, but critical to success:
Designing small houses that seem big
Understanding innovation
Estimating and controlling costs
Incorporating ergonomics and accessibility
Doing drawings and scale models
Making contracts that work
Customer Reviews:
The best guide to homebuilding on the market. It Rocks!.......2007-03-31
This is the first book I've found that actually addresses living patterns in home design. The book describes the fact that people can be uncomfortable sitting in a huge living space and actually crave the need for smaller spaces like alcoves. Social behaviours and traffic patterns while entertaining are studied and factually explains what makes a room feel comfortable or homey. With traffic patterns and accessibility as the basis for the design half of the book, Clark provides a solid foundation for design fundementals and the why behind it.
The second half of the book covers home building. A s a complete novice in this area, I can't vouch for the accuracy of the information, but it does seem quite comprehensive in its description, demystifying the building process, and empowering owners to monitor their contractors with an informed eye, while giving insight to the bigger picture and mindset of contractors. I think this understanding will help communication between owners and contractors and make homebuilding a smoother process. Of particular interest, I found the load calculations for foundations fascinating as it wasn't something I had ever considered in home building as it is something the architecht waves his magic pencil to produce.
The book is written in a familiar tone the layperson will relate and understand, and while it doesn't shirk the industry jargon, explainations are forthcoming, making it easy to understand and simple to follow.
I've read quite a few books on home building and have done extensive research on the internet. This book covers design priciples and the why not found elsewhere. I highly recommend this book as the foundation to anyone planning and building their own home.
Really good book.......2006-03-28
I have been researching owner building for almost a year now and this is the first and only book I've found that both had all the information I needed, and presented it in a way that a layman could understand. Five thumbs up.
good reading for the owner-builder.......2005-05-05
For the owner-builder looking to educate her/himself, sifting thru the oceans of books to read is tough. This one is definitely worth the time. Clark takes a no-nonsense, unpretentious approach. The text is easy to read and in plain language that lay people can understand. Focuses mostly on conventional stick-building, but there are lots of great ideas (in the "doing it yourself on a budget" theme) that apply to any building style.
An ACCURATE subtitle: as much about design as about building.......2003-03-22
Sam Clark uses up half the book before he gets into the nitty-gritty of construction methods. This really IS a book about house DESIGN as well as construction. As such, it's an EXCELLENT book for someone who's starting from scratch to create their own house. The approach is extremely methodical, treating mindsets and goals as elements of the design process equal in importance to elevation drawings.
The illustrations bear particular attention. The (black and white) photographs are well composed, and have high contrast to clearly delineate the features that are supposed to be of interest. The line drawings are rather funky looking (in part because Clark appears not to own a ruler), but nevertheless do a very good job of illustrating what the text is talking about. This is the case for three reasons: (1) they were created by the author, who knew EXACTLY what part of the text needed visual aids; (2) their rulerless nature means that Clark can emphasize particular features rather than focus on strict scale drawings; and (3) each one is sized independently to take up as much space as is required to depict the subject matter, without worrying about "wasting" some page area. The end result is that the text and illustrations fit together well to make a unified whole.
For more detail on the Building part of creating a house, I'd recommend "Do-It-Yourself HOUSEBUILDING" by George Nash. But because Nash's book doesn't come close to Clark's for clarity, I'd first read Clark's book cover-to-cover. Then I'd keep Sam Clark's book open to the same subject area so that you can step back and get a clear overview as you get confused in the details of the Nash book.
Your own way indeed!.......2001-11-30
This tells you how to design a house for you. Not just a house out of a book, but one that takes your living patterns into account. Don't want a formal living room? Don't put one in! Also reminds you if you want to live in the house a long time, to make room for handicapped access that may be needed later. Design your kitchen and baths the way you live! Have fun! ;-)
Average customer rating:
- more than satisfied
- Fantastic Resource
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Jerry Baker's Supermarket Super Products!: 2,568 Super Solutions, Terrific Tips & Remarkable Recipes for Great Health, a Happy Home, and a Beautiful Garden (Jerry Baker's Good Home series)
Jerry Baker
Manufacturer: American Master Products, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Jerry Baker
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ASIN: 092243350X |
Product Description
2568 Super solutions, terrific tips & remarkable recipes for great health, a happy home, and a beautiful garden.
Customer Reviews:
more than satisfied.......2007-05-08
I purchased this item for my daughter.She first used it at the half-way house where she is a care-taker for three young men. She wanted a copy of the book for herself so she could try out different recipes at home. She uses it a lot.
Fantastic Resource.......2005-05-27
I have thoroughly enjoyed going through this book. I have not been able to try everything, but what I have tried works. The book is written so that it is easy to follow. There are hundreds and hundreds of "recipes" and tips which can be used to remedy any number of situations around the house/yard/garden. The best thing is that most of the ingredients were already in my kitchen cabinet - at least for the things that I've wanted to try so far. I also appreciate that this book provides alternative methods to the use of hazardous chemicals/pesticides. Additionally, this book provides a wonderful offering of recipes for self-care (pampering) such as lotions and tonics, and hair and skin care. Even if you've never even THOUGHT about making your own "stuff," this book will introduce you to any number of concoctions that you can have fun experimenting with. I highly recommend this book... have fun seeing what works for you!
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