How to build a home

COURSES

Cultivate Living and Learning Centre, Temple Bar, Dublin sells books and runs courses on self-building. cultivate.ie/learning.

The Hollies Centre for Practical Sustainability, Co Cork, has cob/rammed-earth building courses. theholliesonline.com.

Steve Allin, author of Building with Hemp, is based in Kenmare, Co Kerry. hempbuilding.com.

Carraig Dúlra, Co Wicklow, runs a mortgage-free housing course by Peter Cowman. dulra.org.

More information on Peter Cowman’s EconoSpace concept, see livingarchitecturecentre.com/ talks

BOOKS

Cob Buildings: A Practical Guide by Jane Schofield and Jill Smallcombe (Black Dog Press, 2004)

Building with Straw Bales by Barbara Jones (Green Books, 2002)

Building with Hemp by Steve Allin (Seed Press, 2005)

Earthship: How to Build Your Own by Michael Reynolds (Solar Survival, 1990)

You can browse these books at the Enfo library in Dublin (enfo.ie) or order them online at walnutbooks.com.