Author Tobias Roberts

Tobias Roberts is a writer and permaculture farmer based in the mountains of El Salvador. He runs a natural building cooperative in the Central American region as well as a diversified permaculture orchard.

Green Living image of igloo for alternative ways to air condition home
Earth Tubes: A Natural Way To Air Condition Your Home

There is nothing nicer than coming inside on a hot, muggy summer day to feel the freshness of an air-conditioned home. Traditional air conditioners, however, are one of the most energy intensive appliances in our homes. Only a couple feet underneath where you are standing, however, the air is always a comfortable 55 degrees Fahrenheit. […]

Read More
Green Living cross section of fresh water
Compost Water Heater: Hot Water Without Electricity

Everyone loves hot water in the home, but the ecological cost of long, hot showers powered by fossil fueled water heaters add some guilt to those long hours in the bathroom. What if you could have a huge supply of hot water heated by the compost pile in your garden? Instead of greenhouses gasses, the […]

Read More
Food & Nutrition fresh vegetables from local garden
The Local Food Movement As A Catalyst For Community

In the last couple of decades, the local food movement has gone from a fringe movement to a major player in the national food industry. Almost every major urban center around the country has several farmers markets, community supported agricultural programs and other innovative ways to bring farmers and consumers closer together. The local food […]

Read More
Food & Nutrition sliced turmeric root and powdered turmeric on a wooden spoon
The Health Benefits Of Growing And Eating Turmeric

Turmeric is a root that grows well in tropical climates and is the main ingredient in the Indian spice curry. What few people know is that turmeric is also one of the best all-around natural medicines that can be found. Turmeric can be used topically for skin related health issues or ingested for a wide […]

Read More
Green Living close up of straw with straw bale in the background
Straw Bale Homes And Passive Solar Design

Is it possible to stay warm during winter without a fossil fuel powered central heating system? Straw bales are one of the most common left over products from farms in the United States. In many places, excess straw bales are burned leading to huge amounts of contamination. Straw bales, however, are some of the most […]

Read More
Gardening & Farming small pond storing water on a property in the fall
Storing Water In Landscapes: A Swales And Ponds Primer

Rain is often seen to be one of the leading causes of soil erosion. The problem isn’t with rain itself, but rather with bad land management practices and farming practices that aren’t designed to take advantage of the rain. The best place to store water is in the landscape itself, and through the process of […]

Read More
Green Living aerial view of urban streets in Las Vegas
Nurturing Relationship to Place: Our Most Urgent Task

We live in a world completely divorced from place. Our industrialized and consumer driven lives have effectively separated producers from consumers and consumers from the waste of their consumption. Most of us simply have no idea how natural processes actually work or how very real ecological limits interact with our livelihoods. We are encouraged to […]

Read More
Gardening & Farming woman planting plants using mulch for no-till agriculture
No-till Farming for Healthier Soil and Lifestyles

Masanobu Fukuoka, the late Japanese farmer, developed a unique farming system he called “Natural Farming”. Trying to replicate what he saw in Nature, Fukuoka’s no till system allowed the soil to continually grow in fertility. Through the use of mulch and cover crops, this system effectively allows for continuous harvests of crop rotations, eliminates weeds […]

Read More
Green Living creating greywater by washing hands with soap
Turn Your Sink and Shower Water Into an Abundant Oasis

Chances are that you have probably heard of the importance of conserving water. Dozens of governmental and non-governmental organizations have orchestrated campaigns trying to convince the average person to reduce the amount of water that they use. From high efficiency laundry machines to shower heads that are in line with the current national energy policy […]

Read More
1 … 3 4 5 6