Etopia Green Design

Nearly 1000sqft of land on our property getting ready to become materials storage. Normally, the "just in time" model of construction applies. You do your designs, your engineering, your permits and approvals, then you get truck loads of materials brought in and you begin building. The problem there, is that in that single truckload, there is an immense amount of embodied carbon attached. The environmental cost of mining, manufacturing, transportation, and more, are unseen ...when it all magically appears on site. We're attempting something very different. We're taking our time. we're selectively logging from our own land and allowing the lumber to dry naturally. We're reclaiming broken tiles that would have gone to the landfill if we hadn't taken them for our own use. We've found use for old bricks and concrete as fill, and old canvas now too. Even the material storage building we're placing here is an industrial tent we got second hand! This is of course time consuming, and space intensive, but it will pay off. I believe this is going to be critical to the future of regenerative Architecture and conscious construction. It's upcycling on a grand scale. What do you upcycle? #upcycle #consciousconstruction #greensolutions #oldisnew #greendesignvancouverisland #regenerativearchitecture #locallysourcedmaterials #regenerativearchitects #regenerativeart #makespaceforwomen #makespace #embodiedcarbon #reclamationdesigncompany #secondhandfirst

Outdoor wooden furniture need a lot of care, especially on the west coast. The wet winters and sea air are torture to wood. The first instinct is to paint, and seal with chemicals. The problem with that is the terrible environmental impact from creation to end of life. From the industrial manufacturing of chemicals, to use and end of life; stained and painted wood mostly end up in landfills when their usefulness comes to an end. We prefer to lay wood to rest in our compost,... which is a strong measure of sustainability. Sho sugi ban and Linseed oil so far have been the best way to protect and give longevity to our outdoor wooden amenities. The idea isn't that those treatments make anything last forever, but the combination of fire and oil bring out the beauty of the wood while giving it a longer life, and ensuring these objects don't end up in the landfill when their time comes. #etopiagreendesign #avoidthelandfill #greensolutions #greendesignvancouverisland #greenliving #sustainableconstruction #sustainableliving #sustainabledesign #shousugiban #linseedoil #fire #outdoorliving #ecofriendlyliving #ecofriendlyrenovation

Around this time just 4 years ago, we were laying down cardboard on an open lawn, and about to discover the exceptionally poor soil the grass masked from view. Now, after years of hard work, putting in hundreds of hours of work and far more in dollars, we're eating our first figs grown from our garden. There are so many times when it doesn't feel worth it. When going to the grocery store is so much easier. ... But we're growing so much more than a few fruits and veggies. We're giving back to the soil, learning what nature creates, and what it takes. In a few more years, there will be a lot more figs, and even more to be proud of. #nofiltersneeded #greensolutions #greendesignvancouverisland #tendthesoil #growyourownfood #figs #etopiagreendesign

We're been on a multi faceted mission. -Reduce plastic -Reduce our ecological footprint -Increase physical activity -Reduce spending... -Reduce property maintenance -Increase fun!! That's where we get simple ideas like a tree swing. We looked into expensive and elaborate climbing structures which through manufacturing and transportation, create emissions and waste in so many ways. This is just a round cut from a previously fallen tree, burned and sealed with oil, a rope that was going un used in the shop, attached to a tree that still lives. It's been a huge mental shift to see what is there, and use minimal interventions to create a patchwork of solutions, instead of turning to shopping to solve our needs. It's better for the environment and us too! #changeyourmindset #nothingwasted #plasticfree #etopiagreendesign #ecofriendlyliving #nopaint #savetheearthsaveourselves #savemoneylivebetter #savetheplanet @ Augustine Acres

Usually when I've been quiet... It's because I've been busy. This time, it's especially true. Living on this acreage, being a mother and studying Architecture...I've become extremely aware, of the material world in which we live. It's a world full of STUFF. Especially plastic stuff. One time use plastic wrap, to polyester clothing. It fills our cupboards, closets and eventually our garbages cans. ...Continue reading