The Earth Garden Building Book

Earth, adobe, stone house building.

At a time when housing costs and interest rates have put the Australian dream of owning a house beyond the reach of many people, Bob Rich and Keith Smith show how even the most impractical person can learn to build their own home. The authors were not originally skilled craftsmen and they use their personal experiences, successes and failures to explain the building and design processes to beginners. Their approach is practical and analytical, but their language is straightforward and dynamic. The book covers a wide range of topics including: how to be your own architect and create energy efficient housing designs safeguarding the house from bushfires, cyclones and floods footings, floors, roofs, doors and windows mudbrick, rammed earth, stone and weatherboard walls building skills such as measuring, sawing, hammering, bricklaying and glass cutting information, advice and personal experiences from a variety of other builders

Gardens of Heaven and Earth is a lyrical study that explores the roles that gardens have played in delighting and sustaining the human condition throughout the ages. This short work investigates the various meanings gardens have had for the eighteenth-century Swedish philosopher and mystic Emanuel Swedenborg and what meanings they might hold in turn for his readers.

This useful book contains everything the backyard gardener could need to design and then build the perfect garden with the guidance of your own Garden Guru, Phil Dudman, but without the expense. Creating a dream garden might look easy on tV, but when you're standing in your own backyard it can be hard to know where to start. this garden design book takes you through the planning and design process and gives you the practical skills, knowledge and construction ability to make your ideas a reality. Experienced gardener and landscape designer Phil Dudman breaks down the design process into a series of simple steps that you can follow at your own pace, in your own time. Learn how to draft your design, develop your style and draw a master plan and planting plan. With Phil's professional design secrets and practical knowledge, you'll quickly be on your way to building retaining walls, steps and pergolas; laying pavers and pathways; and even installing drainage. And when the construction is done, he shows you how to establish a lawn, improve your soil and ensure your new garden flourishes. Fully illustrated with easy to follow step-by-step diagrams and inspirational photographs, DOWN-tO-EARtH GARDEN DESIGN is the essential guide for any backyard gardener whether they want a stunning new design or just to make some improvements without enormous expense.

The Earth-Sheltered Solar Greenhouse Book is the first to promote the benefits of both passive solar energy and earth sheltering in greenhouse design. This combination results in greenhouses which need no additional heating. The captured sun's energy and that which is stored in the earth is enough for successful year round harvest. It takes you step by step through the construction of an inexpensive greenhouse which may be built with either newly purchased or salvaged building materials for pennies on the dollar. It explains the author's unique Post/Shoring/Polyethylene construction methods and design techniques. The Earth-Sheltered Solar Greenhouse Book has 230 pages with nearly 200 illustrations, photos, diagrams, lists, charts and drawings. It contains all the information you need to free you from the pesticide, herbicide, fungicide, waxed, and E-coli laden, genetically modified and irradiated supermarket produce.

This extensively revised and expanded edition broadens the reach and depth of the permaculture approach for urban and suburban gardeners. The text's message is that working with nature, not against it, results in more beautiful, abundant, and forgiving gardens.