| Powerful Ideas, Practical Actions |
May 2012 |
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The “Homes” issue of YES! Magazine
Dear Reader,
We’ve certainly learned in the last few years how not to run a housing market. The question now is whether we simply try to return to the status quo, as economists and politicians insist we must. We could instead question the beliefs that led to the real estate bubble and bust—bigger is better, one family to a house, green is too expensive. We could look for ways to make homes that are places to dwell, not mere investments; places to settle down and build community, not temporary stopovers; places that work with nature, rather than against it.
Turns out there are plenty of people working creatively to make those changes. One of the greenest houses in North America is owner-built, and architects are competing to design affordable, earth-friendly houses in some of the world’s most inhospitable climates. People are realizing the value of living in small spaces—as tiny as 130 square feet. They are sharing space, sharing ownership, and settling down for the long haul. And the Occupy movement is lending its voice and numbers to long-time housing activists working to stop foreclosures and keep people in their homes.
These stories, along with tips for “owning” your rental, six models for sensible homes, and one person’s experience with cleaning up what’s left behind after foreclosure, are the new issue of YES! Magazine, “Making it Home: After the Crash, Ways to Rebuild.”
See what’s inside the issue, and if you’re not already a subscriber, make this issue the first in your subscription with this introductory $15 offer.
 Best,
Doug Pibel
Managing Editor, YES! Magazine
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| More from the Summer 2012 Issue of YES! |
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Real Homes: Small, Frugal, and Green
Traditionally, a home was where you lived, not a way to turn a quick buck. In 1950, the average house was a bit less than 1,000 square feet. By 2007, that was the amount of space for each person in a household. For most of history, the norm was that multiple generations shared a home. We made that the exception. Our grand experiment, rejecting everything that worked before, was a failure. It’s time now to take the best of the old ways, add the best of new thinking, and make homes for everyone—small, green, affordable ones.
READ MORE ...
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How to Build Green on a Budget
As green as it gets—and it’s affordable.
Meet the pioneers who are showing that Earth-friendly housing is no longer just for the wealthy. An owner-built cob house, an owner-modified ’70s home, newly designed housing for the Arctic, and a 160-unit apartment retrofitted over time—these projects show that it doesn’t take piles of money to have a deep-green home. Think it’s impossible to build an affordable, Living-Building certified home in the Aleutian Islands? 104 architects disagree.
READ MORE ...
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Highlights from the last newsletter:
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6 Ideas for Sensible Homes
Small, supportive, affordable, recycled—and you can build your own.
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Rising Sea Levels: The View from a Canoe
Decades ago, the legendary journey of the open-ocean canoe Hokule‘a revealed secrets of Hawai‘i’s past and sparked pride in native culture. Now, a voyage around the world offers a new generation lessons about Earth’s uncertain future.
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6 Tips for Green Pet Care
Sustainable, low-cost, and natural ways to care for your critters.
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June 6: Join us!
Alice Walker, Frances Moore Lappé, and Makana will be in Seattle for an evening of food, drink, music, and conversation to support YES!
:: BUY TICKETS TODAY!
SUBSCRIBE TO YES!
Get a year of YES! Magazine for just $15.
+ A BONUS ISSUE :: 54% OFF
NONPROFIT. INDEPENDENT. SUBSCRIBER-SUPPORTED.
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Creating Change is the People’s Job
by Deepak Bhargava
We—not just the president—have to be the agents of change in our society. How do we extend our electoral organizing beyond the elections?
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