Co-operation and community are key to creating a thriving and healthy future for all. Starting with a single property, with an eco-home and organic, sustainable permaculture garden, a project can grow to incorporate a number of independent homes and gardens sharing resources and working together to combine modern sustainability practices and traditional village life. TheContinue reading “Case Study: Caribbean Eco Village”
Tag Archives: sustainable homes
Choosing Sustainable Flooring For Your Home
Throughout much of our barn conversion we plan to install reclaimed timber flooring. Today, I thought I would briefly write about how you might go about choosing sustainable flooring for your home. First of all, reuse is something to consider. Choosing reclaimed materials rather than buying new can often be a sustainable choice. This isContinue reading “Choosing Sustainable Flooring For Your Home”
Sustainability Means Avoiding Fads and Fleeting Fashions
I have never been someone who follows fashion all that closely. My tastes tend to run to the simple and natural. But some struggle to avoid temptations when it comes to fashion, interiors and the like. It is important to remember that being stylish and up to date does not need to mean following fadsContinue reading “Sustainability Means Avoiding Fads and Fleeting Fashions”
Sustainable Living Tips: Living Lightly on The Land
Living lightly on the land is one of my key priorities, both in my own personal situation and in my design work. Everything I do is designed to limit imposition and maximise synergy and harmony with natural systems. Living lightly on the land of course involves thinking about many different things – from where yourContinue reading “Sustainable Living Tips: Living Lightly on The Land”
Integrating Housing With Food Production
Following on from yesterday’s post, I thought that today I would briefly outline some of the ways that architects, city planners, growers and permaculture design can come together to rethink how we formulate our built environments and produce food. More joined up thinking is urgently needed – but what exactly does integrating housing with foodContinue reading “Integrating Housing With Food Production”
Energy Generation in Permaculture Plans
If you are making a plan for your garden, homestead or farm site, food production is likely to be your primary concern. But before you commit to creating your designs, it could be a good idea to think about how you might be able to integrate energy generation. In permaculture, of course, we always tryContinue reading “Energy Generation in Permaculture Plans”
Case Study: Kin Domain Community
Following on from last week’s case study, here is some more detail from my design for a series on kin domains or family homesteads in Jamaica. The goal for each individual kin domain is to provide for the basic needs of a family over the generations, while avoiding harm to the wider world. However, whileContinue reading “Case Study: Kin Domain Community”
The Benefits of Clay Plaster
In our steading/ barn conversion, we are aiming to use materials and finishes that are as eco-friendly and sustainable as possible. One step we are taking to make a healthy and sustainable build is using clay plaster. In finishing one wall prior to the arrival of our Rayburn (delivery has been delayed but it isContinue reading “The Benefits of Clay Plaster”
Managing Risk – Creating Anti-Fragile Systems
Whether we are talking about businesses, communities or individual homes – risk is a big part of life. In these difficult times, risk is ever-present. We might not all be aware of it all the time, but we are all managing risk on a daily basis. Every time we take a decision about whether weContinue reading “Managing Risk – Creating Anti-Fragile Systems”
Co-Housing – A Co-operative Idea for Sustainability
No matter what your current situation in life, it is always important to remember that we are none of us alone. Sustainability begins at home. But co-operation and collaboration are, of course, key to creating a better future. But how exactly can co-operation bring us closer to the way of life we want to liveContinue reading “Co-Housing – A Co-operative Idea for Sustainability”