A Changing Environment

 

 

Most of us live in an environment that is completely dependent on an external support structure to survive. The energy that we use is supplied by a utility company, the water that we drink is part of a system owned by another utility. The food that we eat is supplied by a distribution system that ends at the grocery store we buy from.

Most people have absolutely no control over the price that they pay or the production that they receive from these sources. Changing the environment that we live in can make a huge difference in an individual's personal economy. Consider the standard method that we use to provide a home. The majority of homes are purchased on a standard sized lot that consist of the home and perhaps a small surrounding area . Most of the population lives in an urban or suburban environment that allows little or no room for personal food production or livestock. The use of natural materials found on the property to construct the home is frequently banned by local building code or ordinance as is the use of a personal water source rather than the public sewer and water system.

The average homeowner actually owns nothing. They trade a long term debt for the ability to live in and maintain real estate. Less than one third of us actually own our homes because the amount of capital it takes to purchase a home is far more than most individuals are able to save. We devote from at least 25% of our after tax income to making a house payment or paying rent. A home loan is typically made for a 30 year period, sometimes as long as 40 years. Overall about 25% of our personal income during our working years is devoted to providing a personal shelter. Although this is the most common form of home ownership it is also probably one of the most economically inefficient.

An alternative worth consideration would be to purchase land in a rural area that would provide enough area for personal food production, water via a well or rain collection system, depending on your area, and using the materials available on that land to construct a home. Preferably this property would be purchased for cash or at the very least a short- loan term. Five to ten acres of arable land is probably sufficient for most of a normal sized family's needs.

A home that you can construct with the land itself would be an adobe or mud brick home. For many people this brings about the vision of living inside of a large mud ball. Nothing could be further from the truth. Using soil, particulates and other natural additives to make bricks and building a structure with those bricks is one of the oldest forms of building. If you think these structures won't last think again. Some of these structures that you may be familiar with such as ancient pyramids and the Great Wall of China have survived for thousands of years. How many wood and composite material structures in today's neighborhoods do you think will survive the next thousand years?

Straw, Wood, Or Bricks?

Perhaps the three little pigs knew something that we have forgotten. Mud brick adobe homes can be both structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing.

Mud bricks are constructed by mixing soil, sand, straw, and other particulates and pressing the mixture into forms.

     

     

The brick is then dried for a period of time and then used to construct a wall using more of the mixture for mortar.

     

A smooth surface can then be applied to the wall resulting in a sturdy. waterproof, energy efficient structure that costs only a fraction of the cost of a standard wooden home. Almost anyone could build this type of home with a little practice or training.

 

There are many places that you can learn to build adobe, rammed earth, pressed block, cob , and other methods of building sustainable shelter from the materials that exist in the earth. Listed below are a few of our favorite sites.

www.kleiwerks.org

www.adobebuilder.com

www.adobebuilding.com

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/adobe

www.greenhomebuilding.com

 

 

Final Thoughts

If you are thinking about building your own home chances are you will save a ton of money and spend a LOT less than one fourth of your income over the next thirty years paying for it. As in many choices there are two sides to this way of doing things. You will also meet hard work up close and personal. It may be harder work than most people have ever experienced.

Look at it this way, after you are done you will have a beautiful home that you actually own and be in great physical condition. Throw out your diet plan and get ready for the work out of your life!

Before you begin construction check out your local building codes. If you are trying to build in an urban or suburban area you may encounter restrictions that will not allow for this type of construction.

Best advice: Choose an area that does not restrict your ability to build your own home.

Building With Awareness - Construction Of A Hybrid Home

 Escape From Suburbia Building An Adobe Home