Experience the look and feel of some unique green homes during the popular annual Ontario-wide Natural Homes self-guided Tour, Sunday September 29th, 10AM to 4PM, being organized by the Ontario Natural Building Coalition, a grassroots organization dedicated to the promotion of natural building.
In the Cobourg-Belleville area two rammed earth homes and an off grid and straw bale homes, are among those welcoming visitors, together with close to 30 others across the province. A $10 passport (available on-line at www.naturalbuildingcoalition.ca) provides admission to as many places across the province as you can visit in the day. Directions and other tour details are available at www.naturalbuildingcoalition.ca
For those without internet access, call 613-633-3557 before the day of the tour.
This self-guided tour is the perfect opportunity to step right inside some natural buildings, see what they are like, and get honest feedback from the owners about all aspects of their homes. Most structures feature other “green” technologies as well, including solar and wind electricity, composting toilets, earthen plasters, green roofs, natural finishes and more innovations.
Natural building may be the housing equivalent to the increasingly popular local food movement – living in energy efficient homes and additions that are crafted from minimally processed, renewable and local materials. People choose natural homes for reasons ranging from energy efficiency, to the healthiness of the materials, to a desire for architecturally interesting and unique homes and additions. There is an appeal for every interest and the demand continues to grow.
Captivated with the idea of strong, durable, super-insulated and beautiful homes that cost no more than conventional construction and which offer remarkable environmental benefits, more than 500 natural homes, offices, additions and even institutional buildings have been constructed in Ontario over the last several years.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
