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DIY posts

Upcycling an old frame into a chalk board

Learn how to upcycle an old and broken mirror or picture frame into an interesting chalk board. Read more

How to make a chicken coop from a repurposed plastic barrel

Lesley Anderson of | 22-Apr-2018 | 13

Wooden chicken houses can be a nightmare, especially when they are infested with red mite: hiding in every crack and crevice and tormenting your hens. Those recycled plastic chicken houses can be expensive though and even they have some design flaws! Read more

Reduce, reuse… repair? The repair renaissance building skills and communities

With UK media decrying a recent YouGov survey revealing a whopping 69% of 18-24 year olds in the UK don’t know how to bleed a radiator and 54% would be flummoxed replacing a fuse, what hope is there for a repair renaissance amidst the current tide of throwaway consumerism? Read more

Can you help Barbara Jones and Straw Works set up a National Skills Centre?

Barbara Jones of Straw Works | 24-Feb-2017 | 7

Barbara Jones of Straw Works / School of Natural Building is the country’s top straw-bale builder. She is the author of Building with Straw Bales, and is the star of our straw-bale building online course. Read more

The power of doing things ourselves using recycled materials: the Permaculture Book of DIY

Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 06-Oct-2016 | 1

This is a radical new book – not because the ideas within it are going to change the world, but because it contains funky little DIY projects that could make a lot of people think ‘hey, I’ve always wanted one of those, but was put off by the cost – but actually, I could do… Continue reading The power of doing things ourselves using recycled materials: the Permaculture Book of DIY Read more

Why cement should never be used with natural buildings

Barbara Jones of Straw Works | 10-Feb-2016 | 19

I am often asked to help with other people’s designs, but one of my principles is never to design with cement. Not everyone knows this about me, and I was recently asked what my general experience was with stem walls made of concrete Read more

There’s a crash coming – a slap from Mother Nature. This isn’t pessimistic; it’s realistic.

The human impact on nature and on each other is accelerating and needs systemic change to reverse.

We’re not advocating poverty, or a hair-shirt existence. We advocate changes that will mean better lives for almost everyone.

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