And then there is this article from woodworkingtipsfrompop.com that includes some excellent photos of the build process. They even recommend visiting the same article I mentioned above.

I’ll be looking more into this to see what the cost will be and how easy it will be to do it on my own.

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Check this out - less than a year ago someone filed a complaint against some dude from the Portland area who takes part in a very peculiar practice.

Apparently he likes to be one with nature and feel the breeze on his bare skin while (and this is the hum dinger) gardening. I can think of hundreds of things to do naked that would bring about that “one with nature” feel and although gardening is very nature-like, all I can think of is dirt in places it shouldn’t be, not to mention worms, bugs, and the occasional sharp rock or prickly bush. So no thanks, I’ll pass. But if the Wild Bill Hickok wannabe wants to play in the dirt nude, that’s fine with me, just so long he has a big ass fence surrounding him…with a dome on top. Now if you’ll excuse me I need to go wash up, though the kind of dirty I’m feeling may never wipe clean.

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The folks at Heart of Oak Workshop in Irvine, California are a talented bunch. They specialize in custom doors, built-ins, cabinetry, trim, and furniture. Their trim page has plenty of great examples of their work and just might provide the much needed inspiration for that adventurous DIYer out there.

Then there is an entry from the Humphrey House blog that describes the installation of some Craftsman style trim in a 95-year-old Bungalow. This a very well-written blog, by the way, that I highly recommend.

Finally, Twentieth Century Fires, located in the UK, has some original Arts and Crafts fireplace mantels that date back to 1900. They’d only set you back anywhere between 2 and 4 thousand U.S. dollars plus shipping (if they even provide that service to U.S. residents). Not cheap, but worth taking a look.

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“Old buildings are not ours. They belong, partly to those who built them, and partly to the generations of mankind who are to follow us. The dead still have their right to them: That which they labored for… we have no right to obliterate.

What we ourselves have built, we are at liberty to throw down. But what other men gave their strength, and wealth and life to accomplish, their right over it does not pass away with their death.”

This caters to the notion of old homes having a sort of inner spirit. And I’d say that for those of us who happen to live in an older home, it becomes our duty to restore that spirit if the home has fallen into disrepair. It is only through careful restoration that a badly worn home can truly be revived.

Strangely enough, Ruskin didn’t buy into philosophy of restoring homes. In fact he was all about preservation as opposed to restoration. It was his belief that the owner should do whatever necessary to maintain the integrity of the architecture with proper maintenance and upkeep and said that restoration was the most total destruction a building could suffer. “A destruction out of which no remnants can be gathered.” He went on to say that …”it is impossible, as impossible as to raise the dead, to restore anything that has ever been great or beautiful in architecture.”

I can see where he’s coming from especially in terms of those confused souls who gut an old home and restore it without holding true to the home’s original roots, essentially disregarding its history and smothering its spirit. People who do this think they’re doing a service to the home when actually I find they’re doing quite the opposite. Time and again I’ve watched episodes of home renovation programs on HGTV where the homeowner takes a beautiful old home, transforms it into a modern day nightmare and stands smiling at what I would describe to be disfigured architecture.

That being said, I don’t entirely agree with Ruskin’s opinion on restoration of architecture. I believe at times it’s necessary to preserve our architectural history and if done correctly can be like polishing an old, tarnished brass lamp and realizing its hidden beauty.

I believe in architectural zen. A balance between holding true to the home’s original character and at the same time instilling a sense of modernity and convenience that represents modern day living.

The Seven Lamps of Architecture by John Ruskin can be downloaded for free from Google Book Search

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I love the fact that this building was created by an artist and what that says about the style of architecture that comes from Japan and that came to define the Arts and Crafts era within the United States. Unfortunately, our society has in many ways turned their back on Craftsman ideals both in our homes and our lives, whereas in Japan the type of architectural beauty found in the Poetry House is still alive and flourishing throughout the country.

Check out Bruce’s website Form and Energy to see more photos of the poetry house.

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Basically, we’re using water faster than Mother Nature can replenish it naturally. So we’re depleting our aquifers and a lesser proportion of water is being returned to them. Typically the water is discharged into rivers and streams carrying with it various levels of pollution, rather than recharging the aquifer it came from.

Anyone questioning the practice of rain harvesting first needs to have a solid understanding of the hydrologic cycle or more simply put, the water cycle. I prefer simple explanations so the Groundwater Foundation’s Groundwater and the Water Cycle article for kids works for me, but they also have a more detailed adult section as well.

Then there is this excerpt from Sustainability of semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas (SAHRA), an NSF science and technology center that really gets at the question, “Why should we conserve water?”

Excessive use of water has the following adverse effects on our society, economy, and environment:

· More dams must be built, destroying wilderness areas and reducing streamflow.
· The water infrastructure requires increased maintenance for pipes, sewers, and treatment facilities.
· Agricultural uses can contribute to erosion, salinity and increased desertification.
· Water bodies such as rivers, wetlands, and bays are degraded from the high levels of water extracted and from the polluted runoff that feeds into them.

And here’s a video of Dr. Kent Butler from University of Texas explaining the benefits of rainwater harvesting:

Finally, a couple links (here and here) on Garden Rant (one of the best garden blogs out there by the way) that focus on the use of rain barrels and their effectiveness. The first includes a large number of first hand testimonials worth reading.

I’ll be digging even deeper into the rain collection issue and will attempt to post some research on the topic in the near future.

Oh, WAIT! Can’t forget this video that breaks down the basics of groundwater…man, this is how all education should be delivered…reminds me of Schoolhouse Rock from back when I was a kid.

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Over seven billion gallons per day. That’s how much the EPA estimates is used nationwide on landscape irrigation. Now, no matter how you spin that, it’s far too much water. And the scary thing is most people don’t even think about it. I’ve got a friend who has a large, lush green lawn and I asked him what he did to make it look so nice.

“Man, I just get home, turn the water on and let it run most of the night,” he said.

“How often do you do that?” I asked.

“Mmm…’bout every day.”

All I could think was, “Every day? C’mon, man. That’s a bit extreme, isn’t it?”

If you break that seven billion figure down into family use what you’ll find is that of the 400 gallons of water a family of four can use per day, almost a third of it is used outdoors. And of that water, over half is used to water lawns and gardens. The other half goes toward other outdoor uses such as washing cars, cleaning driveways and pool maintenance.

So what’s the big deal? Well, not only is too much water being used, but some experts say that more than half of the water that is used for residential landscape irrigation is wasted on things such as overwatering, evaporation and wind, and inefficient irrigation design. So you have far too many people out there watering their lawns too often and too long and spraying water all over pavement and other areas that waste the water supply.

It’s sad, really, but not hopeless and harvesting the natural form of the one thing we often waste can not only help preserve our water but also save us a few bucks as well. Rainwater collection can be incredibly easy (and doesn’t have to look like you live next to a toxic waste dump - see above photo) - rain falls on your roof, runs down your gutter and into your rain barrel. The barrel includes a spigot that you connect a hose to and by way of gravity you water your plants using the water you collected. It can get a bit more complicated if you implement a more advanced system that incorporates pumps, flow controls and such, but it doesn’t have to be. So here you have it - three easy steps to begin harvesting rain:

1. Buy a rain collection barrel (and a downspout attachment).

2. Place it beneath a downspout.

3. Wait for rain (or do a rain dance if it’s not filling as quick as you’d like)

4. (Optional) Buy a pump (electric or battery powered), allowing you to water your lawn from the rain barrel.

Wanna know how much you could potentially collect using a rain barrel? Rainbarrelguide does the math for us. Still wondering if you should invest in the practice of harvesting rain? Do the math yourself…it’s elementary.

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Far from traditional, this 6-sided luxury home has Craftsman style touches both inside and out. Sylvain Côté, owner of Absolute Remodeling in South Salem, New York moved into this home with his family in March 2006 and spent nearly two years on extensive renovation. One look at the photos makes it clear that the hard work payed off. Just last year it was awarded Professional Remodeler magazine Best of the Best Award in 2007.

A few of the renovation highlights include the addition of a third story along with a cupola, the stone chimney that was extended through all three floors stretching a total of 48 feet and each level of the house having a different type of re-milled wood flooring - hickory, chestnut and pine. Sylvain also pushed many “green” elements into the new home design including solar panels and a cooling system that utilizes the cupola.

Well done, Sylvain. This is nothing short of fabulous.

Oh, and the kitchen…well, just take a look. Very cool. A few too many track lights for my taste, but everything else is spot on.

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2. ThinkGlass - When it comes to an artistic vibe, the glass countertop really shines…literally AND metaphorically. Some say that solid glass countertops are nearly equivalent to traditional stone surfaces in terms of work surface durability, but it is susceptible to scratches and unlike other solid surface counters, you can’t just buff the scratches out. So make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into and for God’s sake use a cutting board, will ya?

Oh, and if you buy from the right people, this stuff is extremely “green,” if you know what I mean. Jump over to the ThinkGlass website to read more.

3. Richlite - There’s nothing fancy about the way this counter looks. What makes this one unique is that it’s “made primarily of paper purchased from managed forests throughout North America. The paper is treated with resin then pressed and baked to create solid sheets.” Paper countertops…now you’re talkin’. Sounds pretty tree huggerish to me. It’s downfall for me is it’s not too flashy, but for some that may be just the ticket. So go do something right in your life for once and get yourself some paper counters…seriously. It’s the right thing to do.

4. Kirei - Meaning “beautiful” in Japanese, Kirei is the manufacturer of a unique surface material made from Sorghum plants. After the plants have been harvested, the leftover stalks are heat pressed with a non-toxic adhesive and made into a strong and lightweight board. Though not typically used for heavy work surface countertops like what you might find in the kitchen, you can see in the example to the left (taken from Project7ten) that a less rowdy surface like a bar top is far more suitable. This stuff is definitely cool and environmentally sound.

5. Amber Onyx - Mined in the Uintah mountains of Utah, this Onyx can easily replace other more traditional stone surfaces like granite or marble. I personally think this stuff looks far better in darker lighting and lit from beneath to give off a soothing glow. In full daylight this material is just too much for me - looks like a giant slab of lacquered peanut brittle. And keep in mind that unless you’re buying from a local vendor, this material is far from eco-friendly. So don’t buy it, just look at the pretty pictures.

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Let’s take your kitchen for example - one of the areas that could benefit most by going green. There’s so much going on in that part of the house in terms of materials, chemicals and more energy being used than a family of hamsters on crack, but so much can be done to transform an environmentally unfriendly kitchen into a sort of tree hugger utopian chuck wagon. Of course, there’s a price to all of this happy earth kind of living. I mean, it’s not called “green” for nothing. Depending on how far you’re willing to go, you may need to expend a wad of green to get the green kitchen you’re longing for - though don’t take my word for it, just check out Gwendolyn Bounds from the Wall Street Journal.

Her Eco-kitchen challenge shows how far people can go with green design - $83,000 and 484 days after the water line of her refrigerator sprung a leak causing major damage, she had a new environmentally friendly kitchen. Now I don’t have a problem with people who spend lavishly on home renovations especially when they have that sort of expendable income (I should note that a portion of the cost was covered by her insurance) and she did have a pretty large kitchen to contend with, but I believe you can be equally as green and just as stylish for a lower cost. It would be great to see a breakdown of that $83,000 to see where that money was spent. Having to replace windows, drywall and such could add up quick so an itemized list would help clear up what I consider to be a fairly expensive renovation.

I loved the part of the article that basically said $83,000 was a good price in comparison to the average cost of other kitchens of the same quality, which happen to be about 20% more than what she paid for hers. After spending 83 grand I know that would make me feel better. I also loved her “didn’t break the bank” comment in the video. Clearly, Wall Street Journal readers are a more affluent crowd than the folks I hang with. But that’s okay. I have a great appreciation for what she did and the statement she made in creating her green kitchen.

And for some general background on eco-friendly kitchens I found Kirsten Ritchie, Director of sustainable design at Gensler, who did an interview with GreenHomeGuide back in 2005 where she spoke of making a greener kitchen. I found her list of environmental problems associated with conventional kitchens thought provoking and her answer to the last question about her favorite innovations or design ideas for a green kitchen gave me some practical ideas on what to include in a green kitchen design. Her mention of a “cold box” sent me searching on the web for someone who makes or sells this product but I can’t find anything on the topic. I’m assuming it’s something similar to a cooler you’d take on a camping trip or an ice box from the old days, though not quite as cold. But I’ve got nothing to go on so if anyone has a clue, please fill me in.

And finally, there is Michele Foley from CHOW who put together a comprehensive guide to building the ultimate green kitchen. It breaks down the many green options for floors, cabinets, countertops, appliances and other miscellaneous kitchen items and provides links for more information on each of the examples. I especially liked seeing all the options available for countertops. I had never even heard of some of those materials, which just goes to show that a little research can go a long way to turning the thought of going green into reality.

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