Agriculture Tools Every Homesteader Should Know
We’re all familiar with a rake, a wheelbarrow, a shovel (or at least I hope you are). They are some classic gardening tools. But when I say “rake,” maybe I envision a broad, plastic leaf rake and you think of a metal one. Flatheaded shovel or rounded? There are so many agriculture tools out there....
Garden Fence Ideas: Different Approaches to Barriers
Good fences don’t just make good neighbors (if you believe that, anyway). In gardening, fences can find many uses. As a barrier, sure, but also as a means to increase growing area or trellis plants. They can also effectively mark a growing boundary, clearly demarcating the area where you want rhizomal plants to remain. Fences...
How Urban Planning Can Influence Sustainable Living
I live in a historic downtown neighborhood of medium sized urban city in a very conservative state; in fact, my state’s congressional delegation has actively fought against establishing wilderness for nearly two decades. However, my city has adopted sustainable and green initiatives that have transformed the urban downtown into an oasis for those practicing green...
How to Build a Solar Oven
The solar oven is a laughably simple design that can be built in about ten minutes. Using two cardboard boxes and a plastic oven bag, you can use the energy of the sun to heat food, either as an experiment in solar technology, or because it’s a low-resource means to cook food. This design can...
How to Build a Cabin
A cabin’s a fine domicile. No fantasy of a simple backwoods existence is complete without one, billowing woodsmoke in a gently falling snow. Abraham lived in one that he built. Look how he turned out. Henry David Thoreau built one and lived the ultimate self-sufficient story for his time. If you want do it yourself,...
History of the Lawn and How to Turn It Back Into Sustainable Landscaping
The classic post World War II image of the American suburb always incorporated a very green and well-manicured front lawn that included use of industrial chemicals and, in some instances, massive amounts of water. As author Clifford E. Clark, Jr. stated in his 1989 article, Ranch-House Suburbia: Ideals and Realities, “the 1950s designs conceived...
Natural Bedding for a Healthier Sleep?
Sleeping is a critical activity that the body must participate in if it is to stay healthy. People are aware that if they get a good night’s sleep they will wake feeling refreshed and motivated for the day ahead. Consumerism has really cashed in on this concept. Businesses are offering a variety of mattress and...
Backyard Ideas for Leisure and Sustainability
Depending upon the type of landscaping and soil you have in your yard there may be a variety of different backyard ideas that can help achieve a sustainable lifestyle and reduce your carbon footprint on the planet. If it is gardening and raising livestock that interests you there are many options available to invest in....
Tree Houses: Sustainable by Necessity
Tree houses are an unusual undertaking. Generally those who embark on building a home in the trees cite the closeness to nature and the minimal impacts on the ground surface as evidence of an eco friendly and sustainable lifestyle. However, the sheer human cost of lifting all building materials up a 30 foot ladder is...
What is Keyline Design?
Keyline design is a land management technique first suggested by the Australian Percival Yeoman in the 1940s. His ideas were revolutionary at the time and can be seen as the beginning of alternative farming methods. Australia is a continent of extremes, plagued by drought, bush fires and occasional torrential floods. Yeoman, an engineer by...
Cob Ovens for Outdoor Eco Cooking
Have you ever fancied making a pizza or baking bread in your garden? A cob oven is a simple to build, highly efficient oven which you can build in your garden from material you probably already have in your yard. And it makes the best pizza and bread you’ve ever had. Cob ovens are...
English Gardens Can Get Greener with Edible Landscaping
English gardens are truly a work of art with a long history. The prize of royalty and estate holders, their manicured garden estates had styles with elaborate walls and sculptures, even mazes. Today, English gardens grow on a smaller scale as backyard gardens full of vivid flowers and lush greens. They will have flowers in...
