Planet

Backyard Permaculture: A 12-Step Program
by Doug Pibel
Feb 04, 2013
Author Peter Bane grew more than 150 species on less than 2,000 square feet. Here are 12 tips to get you there.
People Used to Sleep Twice a Night, With a Break in Between: 7 Ways to Connect With Our Wild Human Roots
by Shannan Stoll, Fabien Tepper, Valerie Schloredt
Jan 17, 2013
Color like a butterfly, eat like an ancient healer, and other ways to rediscover your inner wildness.
Meet the Youngest Member of the Tiny House Movement
Jan 11, 2013
This 16-year-old is building himself a future free from mortgage payments, not to mention college accommodations that are a bit homier than your average dorm room.
A Living Sewage Treatment Plant? These People Grew One
by Claudia Rowe
Jan 03, 2013
Every flush of a standard toilet creates a several-gallon problem. Instead of wasting water, plants and animals can transform human waste into water rated pure enough to drink.
Green Light May Be Ahead for Insurance on Shared Vehicles
by Cat Johnson
Oct 08, 2012
As more and more people begin sharing and renting out their cars and homes, insurance issues have begun to emerge. Sharing communities are taking the lead in finding solutions.
Yard Work Unplugged: Scything’s Quiet Comeback
by Doug Pibel
Sep 07, 2012
Photo Essay: Cut the grass—and the noise—with this rare opportunity to see YES! staffers work up a sweat!
5 Tools (and 1 Animal) for Quieter, Healthier Yard Work
by Lauren Hardy, Samantha Herndon
Sep 05, 2012
Tending your yard doesn’t have to be noisy, irritating, or fuel-intensive. Here’s how you can unplug.
How Cities Can Get Drivers Biking
by Jay Walljasper
Jul 27, 2012
How can planners attract the 60 percent of Americans who say they would bike more if they felt more secure? The answer could be cheap and simple.
How to Save Bats in Your Own Backyard
by Heidi Bruce, Shannan Stoll
Jul 17, 2012
Bats are mammals, shy creatures of the night, and fascinating to watch. They’re also endangered by loss of habitat, disease, and pesticide poisoning. You can help by providing protection.
How to Build a Bike Train
by Maya Jacobs
Jun 21, 2012
Forty years ago, almost half of American kids biked to school. A smart idea for getting kids pedaling again.
10 Ways To Love Where You Live
by Ross Chapin
Jun 14, 2012
How to build community here and now—because neighborhoods are more than houses in proximity.
How to Build Green on a Budget
by Jennifer Atlee
May 25, 2012
The challenge: build the greenest houses on earth—and make them affordable.
Real Homes: Small, Frugal, and Green
by Doug Pibel
May 23, 2012
With 5 million houses in foreclosure, we are rediscovering that living sustainably includes living affordably.
How I Found Happiness (in 130 Square Feet)
by Ella Jenkins
May 10, 2012
Photo Essay: Don’t think you know how to build your own house? Neither did 23-year-old Ella Jenkins before she picked up the tools and started.
6 Ideas for Sensible Homes
by Heidi Bruce
May 09, 2012
Small, supportive, affordable, recycled—and you can build your own.