Composting Toilets

Recently we took the “plunge” and overcame our fears about dubious demonstration props to attend a webinar on Sun-Mar composting toilets.  In addition to the normal product bullet points, the presenter also noted some interesting conservation advantages that make these units far superior to conventional toilets from a resource management perspective. 

You may have heard of “dual flush” toilets – the kind that allow you to select a low volume flush for liquids only (ah, let the euphemisms…

Green Building Myth #1

We are at it again, working hard to dispell the notion that green building is more costly. A blog from a similar entity asks the questions, do you buy fleece from Patagonia (the company not the country), purchase Montana Coffee Trader's over Foldger's, or Ghiradelli over Hersheys? Most of us are not foreign to tossing frugality to the curb to posses finer quality items. I encourage you to click here to read the full story about "Green Building Myth…

Upcoming Events

We are looking forward to a string of workshops and presentations in early March.

Saturday, March 3rd: American Clay Workshop

8am to Noon

This class should provide DIYers with the skills needed to embark on a plaster project in their home. The cost of the workshop is $50 and includes materials.A non-refundable deposit is required at the time of registration. 5 person minimum required for the class. For more information feel free to give…

Entry doors and screens

Refuge has acquired some rare beauties from the Yellowstone Club. They are being stored in our warehouse and waiting for a new home. Come on by and see if any of these doors might work for your next project!

Green on a Budget

It often feels as though "going green" in terms of building materials is perceived as much more expensive than conventional. We are constantly brainstorming amongst Refuge staff how to dispell that notion and increase the public's understanding that sustainable materials are not always more expensive. In fact, often times, environmentally friendly materials are less costly. When we say this, please note that we are comparing Refuge products to conventional products of equal quality.

Many consumers don't factor in…