Say that you eventually want to build a green home. Say you’d like to do most of the work yourself perhaps to cut down on costs, to be more self-sufficient, or just to have fun. Sounds good right? However, getting started can seem hard – especially if your educational background is in no way related to architecture or construction.
Shown above – images from a Natural Building Workshop at White Oak Farm & Education Center
THE GOOD NEWS:
Anyone can learn to build various green structures by taking workshops. Green home building workshops are offered all over the world and while they likely won’t prepare you to jump into home building completely solo, you will learn many of the ins and outs of green building and be prepared to do a lot of the hands on work yourself.
Green home workshops are also beneficial because they allow you to experience different green structures without having to take any major risks yourself. For example, you may think a cob home is for you but a workshop may prove that you were wrong. It’s better to learn this in a workshop rather than while you’re building your own home.
Workshops will cost you money (varies widely) but you gain inexpensive experience – i.e. it’ll cost you less than a college degree for sure plus save you money because you’ll make fewer mistakes when it comes to choosing your own green home building materials. Workshops can offer offer meals, fun, a look at different cultures and a chance to meet like-minded green friends. In fact one workshop story I know of even had a super happy ending – think wedding! Wow, now that’s worth the cost right!?
WHERE TO FIND GREEN HOME BUILDING WORKSHOPS: Read the rest of this entry »
