Creating Sustainable Sanctuaries of Clay, Straw, and Timber
Author: Paula Baker-Laporte and Robert Laporte Foreword by Robyn Lawrence
Publisher: Gibbs Smith Press, 2005
Soft Cover, 9.5"x9.5", 136 pages

A bird builds its nest using the materials at hand to create its perfect shelter. It doesn't fly to the next state for twigs or build a bigger home than it needs. Instinctively it creates an environment that is nurturing and nontoxic. Like the bird, humand desire shelter that is cozy and nurturing, that satisfies the soul, mind and body. This is what you find when you step into and econest.

Beginning with a timber frame structure and walls created with a mix of clay and straw, EcoNest: Creating Sustainable Sanctuaries of Clay, Straw, and Timber describes a unique method of green building that avoids the typical problems involved with conventional building, such as industrial waste, excecssive chemical usage, and inefficient sythetic insulation. Design details such as which direction a home is oriented, what kind of lighting illuminates each room, and whether or not there is a step-down entryway are a vital part of creating each econest.

Meet the homeowners of ten different econests around the country in regions as diverse as Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico, and California who chose to build in appreciation of the harmony and beauty of nature, using nature's resources so as to consume less energy, create less waste, nurture their health, and enrich their senses.