Introduction : America's approach to building ; Sources of materials ; Local materials and renewable energy -- Challenging basic assumptions : Life without oil ; Environmental and human health ; Diverse and stable economies ; Benefits of building your own home ; Beautiful, natural, hand-built homes -- Evaluating the problem of conventional building : Toxic interior environments ; Impact of conventional building ; Owner involvement in a building project ; Differences between conventional and naturally built houses -- Making the case for natural timber frames : Protection of our place ; Preservation of personal health ; Economic interactions ; Construction of your own home ; Size of your natural timber frame ; Hand tools vs. power tools : Price of tools ; Beauty of natural structures -- Getting to know your place : The bioregion ; Indigenous materials : Wood; Clay; Stone; Straw; Sun -- Putting it all together : A plan ; Purpose of foundations : Conventional foundations; Dry-stacked stone foundation system ; Timber frame plus natural walls : Strawbale; Clay/straw; Plaster ; Roofs : Wood Shake; Thatch; Clay/tile; Stone ; Floor plans.
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