Busy, busy so little time for blogging recently. I had to be in Cardiff the other week for work so stayed the night with two friends of mine who live in the wilds of Wales. Oh. My. God. They've built a straw-bale house before but I wasn't prepared for the fact they'd almost finished this one and that it was so gorgeous.

While I was lying in a hammock looking out over the woods in one of the big windows I thought about how expensive buying property is, especially in Brighton. Location is a factor, but property is generally expensive. The way we've become accustomed to the concept of such exorbitant expense is really rather strange, given that I don't place a great deal of worth on most of the buildings I see.

The materials of a straw bale and wood construction are lovely, the shape is organic, the space as big as you're prepared to build and above all it is yours, designed and built, thought and crafted with your own hands. This isn't an investment opportunity or a machine for living in, but a breathing space.

These buildings are 'reversible'. You could take them down and leave nothing behind. They could last a year or tens of years. They can be modified infinitely. I think they also teach you how you can live, sustainably and in harmony with your surroundings. They make me feel calm and content. My day of being an enlightened peasant can't come soon enough.

Update: There's more information over here on Simon Dale's website about this low-impact woodland home.

Update: Kevin Rose picked up Simon's website. This submission picked up 1,898 diggs. Not bad!