It’s not super common for people to build their own houses without hiring a general contractor. It’s even less common for people to build with an alternative method the way we did. So naturally, we get a LOT of the same kinds of questions about our house.
10 Surprising Lessons We’ve Learned About Living Off The Grid
Living off the grid seems like THE DREAM for so many people. The idea of not relying on power and water companies and not paying their high bills is certainly appealing. There’s something romantic about the notion of living in a home that allows the freedom of self-sufficiency. But is it really everything you THINK it…
Is Rainwater Harvesting ILLEGAL?
Every now and again I notice in the various Facebook groups I frequent for homesteaders and off-gridders, people ask this question: “IS IT ILLEGAL TO HARVEST RAINWATER?”
13 Easy and Totally Normal Items That Reduce Plastic Waste (besides straws)
There’s a lot of fuss about single-use plastic straws right now. “They’re decimating ocean life!” “They’re ruining the environment!” “Why are we focusing on straws when there are other worse pollutants?” “But wait! Some people with disabilities need them!” I’m with ya. But no matter what side of the argument you come down on, one…
9 Questions Skeptics Ask About Cordwood Home Performance
This post is a continuation of some of our biggest cordwood FAQs. The first section was about some of the basics of cordwood and how it is constructed. This section is entirely about how well cordwood walls perform in different situations. How does cordwood handle the cold? The heat? Pests? Rot? FIRE???? We’ll explore those…
10 FAQ’s About Cordwood For Absolute Beginners
It is quite common for us to get questions about just what cordwood masonry is. While it is a centuries-old building method, it is not widely known compared to standard construction techniques. Many people wonder just what it is, how you actually construct it, and whether it’s just going to rot or not. That’s fair!
How To Safely Build a House With Your Kids
Building a house with your own hands is a remarkable feat in and of itself, but to build a house with kids is a different ballgame. We’ll show you how we managed to build our home safely while taking care of our young son.
How to Build Cheap Open Kitchen Shelves
Creating a beautiful kitchen from scratch doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. We’ll show you how we built a functional, versatile, and beautiful kitchen on the cheap with open shelving.
Off The Grid Water: The Basics of Rainwater Harvesting
One of the most important things you need to determine when you want to buy a rural or off grid property is how you will get your water. Learn the basics of how we use our home’s roof for rainwater harvesting, as well as what is involved to use that water in the house.
Foundations for Cordwood Building: How We Built Ours (and what to consider for yours)
There are many types of foundations you can use with cordwood walls, but you must take great care to choose the right one for you. Learn what you need to consider before you build the foundation for your cordwood walls, and discover how we built ours.