Sustainable Living

From his unique vantage point as editor in chief of Make magazine, the hub of the newly invigorated do-it-yourself (DIY) movement, Mark Frauenfelder takes listeners on an inspiring and surprising tour of the vibrant world of DIY. The Internet has brought together large communities of people who share ideas, tips, and blueprints for making everything from unmanned aerial vehicles to pedal-powered iPhone chargers to an automatic cat feeder jury-rigged from a VCR.

Since founding Fixup, a pop-up repair shop, Sandra Goldmark has become a leader in the movement to demand better "stuff". She doesn't just want to help us clear clutter - she aims to move us away from throwaway culture, to teach us to reuse and repurpose more thoughtfully, and to urge companies to produce better stuff. Although her goal is ambitious, the solution to getting there is surprisingly simple and involves all of us: have good stuff, not too much, mostly reclaimed, care for it, and pass it on.

Are you tired of paying utility bills? Are you looking for a simpler lifestyle? Is someone stalking you and making your life miserable? If so, then this book is for you! Maybe you’re ready to disappear from society and start over! That’s why I’m writing this book. To help those who want to learn how to prepare and make the switch to off-grid living. Once you get a taste of that life, the thought of fading into the background of nature might present itself.

The fundamentals of permaculture are simple: care for people and the Earth, and share what you have. With these in mind, practitioners promote a system with a sense of respect for all life on the planet. You may, however, be anxious about not knowing what to do. After all, not everybody knows about permaculture. But don’t worry–you don’t need to be an expert to start your own permaculture garden.

Become a farmer without leaving your backyard! Have you ever dreamed of growing your own food? Between the fresh air, the exercise, and the savings on rising grocery prices, there are so many great reasons to garden. But you can go one big step further when you start your own mini-farm. With backyard farming, you use the land you already have to grow your own fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. Some people even raise livestock at home! A mini-farm is easy to start and doesn’t have to be expensive. You’ll eat healthier, help the environment, and relieve stress.

When he first envisioned becoming a farmer, author Emmet Van Driesche never imagined his main crop would be Christmas trees, nor that such a tree farm could be more of a managed forest than the conventional grid of perfectly sheared trees. Carving Out a Living on the Land tells the story of how Van Driesche navigated changing life circumstances, took advantage of unexpected opportunities, and leveraged new and old skills to piece together an economically viable living, while at the same time respecting the land’s complex ecological relationships.

A revolutionary guide to the art of mindful buying that will teach you how to resist cheaply made goods and make smart, fulfilling purchases that last a lifetime. With the whole world trying to convince us to spend our way to happiness, we've been left cluttered, stressed, and unfulfilled. Tara Button, founder of BuyMeOnce, is at the forefront of the global movement to change the way we shop and live forever. Tara advocates a life of mindful buying that celebrates what lasts, giving you exercises that help you curb impulses, ignore trends, and discover your true style.

In my book Off Grid RV Living: How to Live off the Grid Full Time on Your Own Terms, I will teach you everything I know about how to go completely off-grid and be in control of your own destiny. I will teach you about solar power, gardening, farming, setting up land for homesteading, and how to boondock in an RV in a city or in the wild.

Discover how your dream of affordable, stylish, open-concept, sustainable living can become a reality, no matter your budget! The dream of creating a personalized space often feels out of reach for many, with traditional home-building routes presenting a maze of expensive choices, overwhelming legal requirements, and endless design decisions. Did you know? An estimated 1,000 new barndos are built every year in North America. See how many people are jumping into this movement?

The Power of Dreams tells the story of a couple, already in their 40s, who uprooted themselves from urban life to follow their dream of living in the wilderness. They settled in a remote mountain valley called Precipice Valley, part of the ancient trade route linking B.C.’s Chilcotin plateau to the Pacific Coast. These are the stories of how the two of them designed and hand-built a solar-powered, two-story post-and-beam house while learning to live off-grid and in harmony with nature.

Growing up in an ex-mining town in Nottinghamshire, Arthur Parkinson never wanted a dog, or a cat, or a pony - just hens. As a kid, he was known as 'chicken boy', a taunt Arthur now proudly reclaims with his crested coterie that includes countless hens, from Sheila the white Silkie to Clarissa the champagne-coloured Buff Cochin. A personal and humorous memoir of Arthur's life amongst his hens, this is an invitation to discover the joy that is only possible in the company of these intriguing creatures.

Using the latest evidence and research in wellbeing and Biophilic Design, learn how to transform every space in your home to create a restorative and nurturing environment. Discover the many benefits of connecting to nature, maximising natural light, improving air quality, and the right way to add colour, texture, and pattern to create spaces that improve relaxation, recuperation, social connections, and sleep.

Ducks are a great source of meat and eggs. You'll find that ducks are easier to take care of than chickens, and they're perfect for backyard homesteading. Duck eggs are even considered to be better than chicken eggs due to their size and nutritional value. Ducks are also less aggressive and noisy than chickens, making them perfect for your backyard.

Transform your living spaces into eco-friendly havens with Eco-Friendly DIY: Creative Projects for a Greener Home. This guide is your companion on a journey of creativity and sustainability. Dive into a collection of hands-on projects that reimagine everyday items, turning them into environmentally conscious treasures. From upcycled decor to energy-efficient solutions, discover how your crafting can contribute to a greener planet

Since The Chicken Whisperer’s Guide to Keeping Chickens was first published in 2011, tens of thousands of people have discovered the joys and benefits of a backyard flock. Now Andy Schneider is back with The Chicken Whisperer’s Guide to Keeping Chickens, Expanded & Revised. Keeping backyard chickens is a fun, simple way to to reconnect with the earth, the community, and your food sources—and you can do it, even with limited space in your backyard. Let the Chicken Whisperer teach you everything he knows and everything you need to know about raising a backyard flock!

Everything you've been told about being green is wrong. The quest for a breakthrough battery or a 100-mpg car is a dangerous fantasy. We are consumers, and we like to consume greenly and efficiently. But David Owen argues that our best intentions are still at cross-purposes to our true goal: living sustainably while caring for our environment and the future of the planet. Efficiency, once considered the holy grail of our environmental problems, turns out to be part of the problem - we have little trouble turning increases in efficiency into increases in consumption.

For nearly two decades, Lana Stenner and her family have been living their version of the simple life on their small Midwest farmstead—following God, chasing goats, and tending gardens. Join Lana as she shares heartwarming stories, hearty recipes, and some of the valuable lessons she’s learned in her homesteading journey. Though you may not be ready to pack up and move into a 120-year-old farmhouse like Lana, you can experience more grace and authenticity right where you are when you learn to seek beauty in your surroundings and work hand in hand with God.

This book is written for those contemplating getting a solar panel system if they don't know enough about it yet. A good, basic understanding of what you need to know "before" diving into it is what you will learn in order to make an informed decision; especially if you are in the United States (or Canada).

Homesteading is having a new surge in popularity as people look for more ways to become self-sustaining. You can learn all the basics to start a backyard homestead. That means you need not go buy a plot of land; instead, you can homestead with the very foundation of it in mind, use what you have on hand, and cultivate for the future.

If 20 percent of the population implemented half the solutions in this book, it would solve the biggest global problems. All without writing to politicians, joining protests, signing petitions, or being angry at the people that are causing the problems. Good solutions are often different from conventional environmental wisdom. The average American adult has a carbon footprint of 30 tons per year. Replacing a petroleum car with an electric car will cut 2 tons. But if you live in a cold climate and you switch from electric heat to a rocket mass heater, you will cut 27 tons!