Lefty11 McCoy

I agree velacrations the only limitations are money and imagination and of course bureaucracy in some
cases.

Great job on both. I have been lurking and your finishing skills are outstanding Larry.
What a great place and I'm sure Jeanna's will be great also when its done.
Thanks for posting everything.

One of the things I see is the energy impact to make concrete as Industry scrambles to find a 'greener' concrete

It takes a lot of energy to make it, and the world is using billions of tons of it. Makers are finding better ways to do it.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Tech/2008/0312/p14s01-stgn.html

If impact on the environment in total is a concern then earth bag would win hands down.
Saying that even using Concrete if used long enough compared to say wood the total environmental impact
goes down over time.
It probably just comes down to personal choice and funds available as I would be happy to use either system.


We drive our cars on it, we build skyscrapers with it.


But concrete, one of the most common building materials in the world, has an ugly secret: It's a major source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which contribute to global warming.

Roughly 5 to 10 percent of global CO2 emissions are related to the manufacture and transportation of cement, a major ingredient of concrete.

Ahh, My mistake Brice---You're right what I was really referring to was building codes and the ability too
build what you want without Government interference.
Now I suppose that would open up a whole can of worms but you could make them say not applicable
in the country--be far enough away from neighbours that fire hazard wouldn't be a problem.
It could be done and I think the alternative housing and creativity new use of materials would get a big
boost.
When sold it would have to be stated not built to code and the market would determine the worth
of your efforts.
But you're right its not about Zoning its about Building Codes so my mistake at the start of this
thread.
thanks for setting it straight

I agree Marissa where is the logic in the problem you presented them with I suppose you could also
get a miniature elephant.
What I really think I'm trying to say is should Governments be allowed to legislate brains.

If you build out of spec I agree it would have to be stated and the market would decide the worth
of your efforts--and it would be their responsibility to do the due diligence to make sure the effort
was worthy of buying and moving into.
That makes sense to me--and I'm sure would create a renaissance of creativity some good and some
bad but thats okay in itself.

Great job what an inspiration!!!
I'm can't wait for the Odyssey to continue.

Just a thought on Zoning Laws
In BC we have ALR (Agriculture Land Reserve) restricts building and is supposed to keep farmland--farmland.
Of course Large developers seem to find a way around this and get land rezoned.
Next problem is looking for small plot of Land for Permaculture. Have to be careful of the restrictions on the land unless you
really go off grid.
Then say you get raw land---should the government be allowed to legislate brains?
Why shouldn't u be able to put the structure you want on it----example underground house--cob house.
In some places to put these it seems would almost take an act of God.

So the basic question is should the government be allowed to legislate brains----for our own safety or
would the natural selection work better.
i.e. if I build something and it fell on me---my fault--natural selection

I'm from BC so will speak to the Crown land issue in BC Canada. Up until the 70s there was a homestead
act in BC and you could stake and improve property and eventually get deed.
This was revoked in the 70s and its almost impossible for a private citizen Canadian or otherwise to
acquire Crown land in the province of B.C.
95 percent of the province is Crown land by the way but the Government issues Timber/mining licenses to
corporations but has not to my recent knowledge sold any to private citizens.
Saying that with 4 million population and a land mass larger than Washington,Oregon and California put
together this seems ridiculous.
What it means is as are population grows the available land for private ownership shrinks hence the
terribly high prices.
I can't speak for the rest of the provinces in Canada but here in BC the peoples land (Crown) tends to put
us in a serfdom position.
There was a time you could lease recreational property and then buy it but I believe they plugged that loophole too except if you buy a grandfathered in lease that has that clause.
Saying that if you find that you have to pay fair market value and values are very high in BC.
This in my opinion is an unfortunate situation.

I just read this whole thread and everyone seems to have good Point. The problem I see is the human
diversity that Kathleen talks about.
Hence probably a mix of systems diverse to the individual seems like the most tenable solution.
Myself was once told I'm socially detached and although that seemed aggravating at the time after
considering it for awhile I know it to be true.
I can remain very happy doing stuff alone if thats whats going on. Other people I know on the other hand
need people to get things done.
There's no right or wrong to it just the personalities. Saying all this I believe all are useful and a diverse
system would work the best.
Living in B.C. with a larger land mass then Oregon,Washington and California put together and 95 percent
of it being deemed crown land (government owned) and they don't sell to private citizens our population
is going up and are available People livable land mass is going done hence the ridiculous prices here.
It seems with our population at around 4 million homesteading should be allowed saying that if you
institue it how to you keep the greedy people from abusing such a system?
If that could be worked out I believe rather than live in serfdom it would be in the Governments and the
peoples best interest to allow some form of homesteading in B.C.
Or if this economy collapses the more home grown food available the better it will be for everyone.