Building a house is hard work. A decade ago my mum and I built an eco-house together. We loved it – the freedom of designing what spaces we wanted, the excitement of choosing only materials we wanted to use, and most of all the pure joy of moving in to the finished house. I have … Continue reading Building Collectively Is Greener, Easier, and Cheaper
Pun Pun, Ban Mae Jo, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Rice field onsite and adobe house Sitting high on the hill overlooking the small village of Ban Mae Jo, Pun Pun has a glorious view of the valleys and hills for miles around. Jon (pronounced 'Jo') Jandai and Peggy Reents started the project in 2003 with just 20 Rai of land which locals considered … Continue reading Pun Pun, Ban Mae Jo, Chiang Mai, Thailand
How to find … Panya Project and Pun Pun, Thailand
[Maps to be added soon] Panya Project and Pun Pun are near the village of Moo Bahn Mae Jo in Chiang Mai province about 2 hours north of Chiang Mai city. The cheapest (and most fun) way to get there is on the daily 'veggy' or market truck that leaves the city every day except … Continue reading How to find … Panya Project and Pun Pun, Thailand
Amy’s Earth House, Pai, Mae Hong Son, Thailand
West of Pai in the village of Ban Mae Khong is Amy's Earth house, the first adobe building in Pai. Built in 2004 she has since expanded to seven earth bungalows and a dorm building, and runs it as a guesthouse for the increasing numbers of tourists (mostly Thai rather than foreigner) heading north into … Continue reading Amy’s Earth House, Pai, Mae Hong Son, Thailand
Gender and ecobuilding 2: Communication not strength
As I am travelling around different eco-build sites I continue to ask about the importance of gender in eco-building.. Unfortunately, examples of women being leaders and full participants in build projects are rare - though I am aware of some great examples such as the Mud Girls in Canada and Amazonnails in Britain. In some … Continue reading Gender and ecobuilding 2: Communication not strength
ECO-HOMES + COMMUNITIES 