Landscaping / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

...landscaping in the Ecohome Building Guide and in these pages :  How to make a swimming pool more energy-efficient How to build a natural swimming pond/chlorine free natural pool - free DIY guide  DIY guide to build an outdoor solar shower The definitive guide on how to build an outdoor kitchen   Sign up and l...

...landscaping DIY guide to build your own natural backyard swimming pond or pool Deck building guide - pressure treated wood, composite decking or cedar wood, which is best? Sign up now and reap the benefits of a free Ecohome Network Membership!

How to save money on heating a pool Swimming in a warm pool is a wonderful feeling, and while we hear from many pool owners in the cooler states & provinces that they really enjoy the experience of a warm swim from late spring or early summer through to autumn, the cost of heating their pool can be a major downer. ...

...landscaping that reduces the need for supplemental water from irrigation. This often involves native plants which are hardy to the area, or drought-resistant flora from regions of low precipitation. Native perennial beds can replace a lawn providing local insect habitat & saving water Sustainable landscaping &...

...landscaping. Water is a quickly dwindling resource and Canadians and Americans are the highest per capita consumers of water in the world. So anything we can do to reduce water use for decorative purposes has to be a good thing. Rainwater recovery: For home durability, it's important that we properly manage the water c...

...landscaping a garden in cold climate zones and your home has a basement, is how to prevent spring thaw basement flooding, so be sure to carefully grade surfaces under decks and the deck itself away from your property to direct snow melt away from the home and basement.  The best choices for building deck surfaces - woo...

Can a greenhouse produce food all year in cold climates? Growing fruits and vegetables all year round in Canada or the colder parts of North America would be wonderful but, sadly, our climate limits us to a few growing months in the summer. And even that would be in the balmier areas of our country; at high altitudes a...

A new cement block manufacturing process developed by an American company named Solidia Technologies® produces 40% fewer emissions during manufacturing than conventional concrete, resulting in a dramatically lower environmental footprint. Solidia’s concrete is formulated with less lime and is cured at lower temperature...

...landscaping with native species: Having adapted to their environment (soil, climate, etc.), they do not require irrigation, chemical fertilizers or pesticides and grow easily in poor soil. They are also more resistant to diseases and pest attacks; Naturally pair with native wildlife (they provide shelter and cover for...

How does diet affect climate change? Dwindling water is the next big global resource crisis looming over us, and soil depletion isn't far behind. Living in a green home doesn't instantly equate to a low-impact lifestyle, if for example you have a long gas-powered daily commute and you eat a 12 ounce steak every night. ...

...landscaping rock, bricks or any combination thereof. We have a page dedicated to keyhole gardens for more details.  For Seeds, Plants, Tools & Gardening products Online with delivery to the door, try here. 5.) The edible landscape, forest gardens and permascaping The art of edible permascaping involves p...