Are dome homes the next big thing? Look at most any home in America and they all have at least one thing in common: Four walls. There is, however, a growing sector of housing that bucks this most basic structural element -- the dome home. The dome's shape and inherent structural integrity make it both stronger and more energy-efficient than a typical family home.
Domes can withstand powerful winds and strong earthquakes. Concrete domes have been known to survive flying debris as big as cars and direct hits from bombs. "They are practically indestructible," said Johnny Delirious, spokesman for Monolithic Dome Institute in Texas, a company that has been building the domes for nearly 50 years. Concrete monolithic domes are the safest of the dome homes. The Federal Emergency Management Agency rates them as having "near-absolute protection" from F5 tornadoes and Category 5 hurricanes. "What attracted me to the geodesic dome is that it is simply the most energy-efficient home you can build," he said. Dome Homes and Communities — Moving Beyond the Box, by Celeste Adams. The photo is from WorldFlower Garden Domes Thomas Edward Lawrence wrote, "All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day [believing] that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible.
" Buckminster Fuller was a dreamer of the day. Fuller had the dream of providing a solution to the world's housing crisis. And against all odds, he ventured forth in the late 1940s to design the geodesic dome. Since then, there have been many variations on the dome structure. Besides the geodesic dome, there are domes made of foam, monolithic domes, seadomes, and deep-ocean domes. Life in a dome When I asked several dome dwellers why they liked living in a dome structure, they explained that they felt a kind of freedom that they couldn't find in a box-shaped house. The popularity of dome structures has increased over the years. Dome shell kits Foam domes Seadomes. Mt. Mitchell Woods Proposed Community - Aidomes.com - Domes from American Ingenuity, Inc. 8 Residential Lots The proposed development where conventional houses and domes can be built is four miles west off the Blue Ridge parkway, along Highway 80 in North Carolina, just East of Mt.
Mitchell. The property is located between the small towns of Burnsville and Marion. At last, a planned community where property taxes are low and those who choose to build domes will no longer live in fear of high utility bills. Here homeowners will live in harmony with each other, the land, deer, wild turkeys, chipmunks, birds, and many other forest animals nestled in nature. The community is nestled over 100 acres of pristine, forested mountains full of oaks, hemlocks, rhododendrons, and mountain laurels with seasonal streams. Climate: From early April to mid November our climate is just about ideal. Shopping:Serious shoppers will be delighted by the wide variety of shopping opportunities within an hours drive.
The development was slow getting started. Dear Glenda, Your property is beautiful. Mr. The Garden Hamlet Rental Cabins at Highland Lake, Flat Rock, NC. Document Actions The Garden Hamlet is a charming collection of private cottage homes that encircle a working farm pasture in the heart of Highland Lake. These one-of-a-kind vacation rental homes come completely furnished for your stay. All amenities are provided including bedding, linens, towels, dishes, cookware and more. Garden Hamlet Cottages are available by the night (3 Night Minimum), Week or Month. Click on the link below for full details, descriptions, photos, rates, availability and more........ Or for Garden Hamlet Reservations and Information: Phone: 828-692-1359 Highland Lake Properties, LLCOffice HoursMonday - Saturday 11 AM to 5 PMClosed Sundays. Creating Intentional Community (Black Mountain, NC) Mountain Meadows. Retreats in Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville NC, hostels.
These beautiful mountains and rivers in Madison County lend themselves to locations for special events such as weddings–both small and large– and reunions or group retreats. And, there is a wide variety of venues for your needs. If you are looking for a retreat, some offer classes. at others, bring your own organization for workshops or retreats. If you are looking for peace and spiritual growth, the surroundings are enough but the programs offered can enhance your goals. Bend of Ivy Lodge 3719 Bend of Ivy RoadMarshall, NC 28753DirectionsWebsite(828) 645-0505 A converted 1950s tobacco barn is the centerpiece for the 63 acre property in the middle of the mountains for retreats and workshops.
Horse Sense of the Carolinas 6919 Meadows town RoadMarshall, NC 28753DirectionsWebsite(828) 683-7304 Horse Sense of the Carolinas is a beautiful 90+ acre horse farm boasting incredible year-round views and a peaceful natural environment. Iron Horse Station Laughing Heart Lodge Retreat & Hostel. Small is the next Big thing — The Cove. Like the Garden Hamlet community we recently completed next door at the Inn, the Cove will have retreat/rental cabins that can be individually owned. While the Garden Hamlet features family cottages in a farm and garden setting with resort-like amenities, the Cove cabins are designed primarily for individuals and couples looking for more of a quiet retreat and a simple back-to-nature setting. Sizes will range from 350 sq ft "tiny house" models to compact cottages up to 850 sq ft.
(Larger home sites are available adjoining the retreat area both in the Hamlet and in the South Lake neighborhood.) Lot locations range from water front to tree house to garden cluster home sites and ownership options range from lot leases for the smaller cabins to fee simple lots up to 1/2 acre. With permanent open space averaging well over 60%, lot size is less relevant in this community than traditional developments where there is no open space preserved to enjoy private moments.
Southern Dharma Retreat Center offers affordable, teacher-led, spiritual retreats in a variety of spiritual traditions in Hot Springs, NC. Home - pramainstitute.org. Blazing Trails: Solar Panels Could Replace Roads. A gene known for its anti-aging effects also benefits the brain, according to a new study published in the journal Cell Reports.
Variants of the gene could help scientists to develop treatments to improve memory and learning. Patients with a variant of the gene produce more of a hormone called klotho—named for the Fate from Greek mythology who spun the thread of life—and typically enjoy longer lives. This recent study, however, suggests that the hormone also benefits cognition, and not just among the elderly. "Based on what was known about klotho, we expected it to affect the brain by changing the aging process," said the study's director and UC-San Francisco professor Lennart Mucke. "But this is not what we found. " Mucke put their results gently—the scientists' hypothesis was totally wrong.
That's where the research got interesting: Klotho, known for its anti-aging properties, appeared to positively affect cognition throughout life. Asheville Urban Farms. RETREATS — Unity Retreats. North Carolina Ginseng & Goldenseal Co. - Eagle Feather Organic Farm. Retreats in Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville NC, hostels. Home Page — The Cove. Contact Southern Dharma Retreat Center, a non-profit educational center that offers affordable, teacher-led retreats. Home - pramainstitute.org. A Week Full of Biodynamic Events with Harald Hoven. Harald Hoven is a renowned international lecturer and founder and director of Raphael Gardens at the Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, CA. The Gardens are a teaching site and have been certified Biodynamic by Demeter since 2004.
Harald’s special interest is Agricultural Individuality…a holistic approach whereby a farmer or gardener tries to supply all their gardening and farming needs internally. Tuesday, April 15: Introduction to Biodynamic Gardening 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm at Treska’s Porch, Highland Lake Cove, 215 Rhett Drive, Flat Rock, NC. A dinner, hosted by Pat Hart and Kerry Lindsey follows at 6PM. Wednesday, April 16: One-on-one conversations or site visits 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. Wednesday, April 16: The Fundamentals of Biodynamics 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm. Friday, April 18: Biodynamic Farming Principles and Applications 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, 455 Research Drive, Mills River, NC. 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.
Summer 2014 Courses and Field Labs. Each course is three credits except where noted.Students are required to register for a total of 9 credit hours, or 3 classes.Lower division courses are designated with 1000- and 2000-level course numbers.Upper division courses are designated with 3000- and 4000-level course numbers. The Global Comparative Lens Series The distinctive feature of Semester at Sea is the opportunity it affords students to engage in global comparative education.
On each voyage, Semester at Sea offers a set of Global Comparative Lens courses that are designed to help students deepen their understanding of specific features of life and culture in the countries we visit on a given itinerary. Each course views the countries through a distinct lens—focusing on the art, music, religion, politics, environment, health, or other specific aspect of the countries we visit.
Summer 2014 course registration will take place online via the MyPassport page. Important updates will be posted here; please check back often. Schedule - Cloud Cottage Community of Mindful Living.