"Hobbit House"

Not everyone chooses voluntary simplicity, but for those who do there are great gifts to be found in an earthy "hobbit house"; a home filled with light, cozy in winter from solar gain, cooled in summer by earth-sheltering; a small space, not much to clean or collect clutter. It's owners have plenty of time to hike and play; their cheeks are rosy from carrying wood, walking a ways from where they park, and from the simple delight of living in such a beautiful hand-crafted space that compliments their natural lifestyle.

For those who invest their own labor, savings can be tremendous. With a little ingenuity materials can be found for little cost: beams from standing dead timber too small for the sawmill, rock gathered from blasting for a foundation, windows, sinks and other hardware recyled from remodeling jobs, brick seconds from the manufacturer, ceiling and cabinets skillfully made of "seconds" from the lumber yard, tile batch leftovers found free behind the tile shop.

There is an amazing abundance of materials that are thrown away, that the industrious person can utilize to construct a beautiful home for many thousands of dollars less than conventional new construction; it may be more labor intensive and take some creativity, but the end product for those who choose to do so is very worthwhile.