We could all use a peaceful escape from the bustle and stress of our daily lives, but not many of us have the luxury or time to hop on a plane and jet off to a secluded beach or private mountain cabin. But what if we told you that a similar place existed in your own backyard for a mere one-time cost of $28? Created by Aaron Westgate, this relaxing Meditation Temple is a pile of salvaged materials transformed into a beautiful retreat for quietude and contemplation.

Read more about it here

Thanks to Andy for the heads up on that twitter.

Filed under: Environment by Wilco - 32653 Comments →http://www.shedblog.co.uk/2010/01/26/recycled-meditation-temple-shed/Recycled+Meditation+Temple+shed2010-01-26+12%3A00%3A38Wilco

Shed of the year 2009 Eco shed category winner Thomo has written a book on building your own Rammed earth building.

* Footings and DPC
* Soil suitability – soil testing
* Earth blending – preparing earth mixes
* ‘Coffin’ former design – corners, curves and straights
* Tools – what to use and how to use them
* Ramming techniques
* Window and door openings – sills and lintels
* Bond Beams
* Green ‘living’ roofs

Lots of illustrations, 100’s of photos and useful tips and tricks to enable you to create a building that wont cost the earth, It’s out 1st March 2010 but you can preorder now over at his site.

Filed under: Environment by Wilco - 32521 Comment →http://www.shedblog.co.uk/2010/01/22/diy-rammed-earth-manual-get-your-pre-orders-in/DIY+Rammed+Earth+Manual+get+your+pre+orders+in2010-01-22+16%3A24%3A31Wilco

The last few years it’s all been about saving the planet but as a sheddie what can you do? here are some tips.

Try alternative materials – for example sheddie Michael Thompson has created a unique Rammed Earth Eco-Shed.

The shed is constructed out of Rammed Earth and has a Living Roof.

He also teaches people how to build Rammed earth buildings.

If you still want wood – then try sustainable timber such as Red Western Cedar, Look for a label from a reliable certification scheme like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC).

or Use reclaimed and recycled materials for shed building.

Use an eco Shed & Fence Preserver which is water based and not solvent-based such as Ronseal Eco Shed & Fence Preserver

Encourage wildlife with your shed or garage, moss and other plants to grow on the roof of your shed and it can have the following benefits, insulate the room below, saving energy on heating and cooling, provide a habitat for insects and other wildlife and also improve the appearance.

More info from Gov, BBC Green roofs

Filed under: Environment by Wilco - 3061No Comments →http://www.shedblog.co.uk/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-2010-climate-change-and-sheds/Blog+Action+Day+2010%3A+Climate+change+and+sheds2009-10-14+23%3A10%3A14Wilco

Well not Sheddie Thomo, his Eco Shed rammed earth but he is always trying out new things..

And this time is he featured as Green Roof of the month on Green Roof training (Who’d had thought such a thing existed, only on the interwebs I suppose )

Well done mate…

Remember you also can win a date, sorry course with Thomo and his excellent Rammed earth building course.

Filed under: Environment by Wilco - 30311 Comment →http://www.shedblog.co.uk/2009/09/30/sheddie-thomo-is-green-roof-of-the-month/Sheddie+Thomo+is+green+roof+of+the+month2009-09-30+13%3A24%3A06Wilco

NTNews reports

A MAN’S home might be his castle, but for George and Jacinda Brown their home is their shed.

And it’s an environmentally friendly one at that – the Brown’s Batchelor shed has just been named the Australia’s most “planet friendly” dwelling.

The shed received the accolade from the Alternative Technology Association, which has been running a Sustainable Shed competition.

The Browns have turned the Aussie tradition of shed dwelling into something more like eco-village living.

“We have a kitchen shed, a workshop, a metal shed and the chook-shed studio,” Ms Brown said.

“George built them all, starting with the kitchen shed and, except for the posts, it is made with second-hand materials.”

Ms Brown said the Chook Shed got its name because most of the materials used to build it came from an old battery chook shed that was being demolished.

The sheds are also solar powered, including their water pump, and grey-water feeds the gardens.

“George also hand-crafted all the furniture using a variety of salvaged timbers,” she said.

Of course if you have an eco-shed then please share it on readersheds.co.uk

Filed under: Environment by Wilco - 2558No Comments →http://www.shedblog.co.uk/2009/03/24/great-oz-eco-shed/Great+Oz+Eco-Shed2009-03-24+09%3A50%3A00Wilco