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Canning seems to me to be an inherent activity, if you mother canned it is far more likely that you will can.  I grew up in a family of ten in rural Nova Scotia so my mother canned in self defence….Grin.  I have always preferred less sugar in my food and canning makes this possible, there are so many great alternatives-honey, maple syrup, fructose or agave nectar.  A real motivator has been industries introduction of plastic to the inside of cans, a little research on this practice will curl your toes.

I can mostly fruit, tomatoes or pickles, due to their acidity these can all be processed with a simple water bath caner, I’m a bit afraid of the pressure cooker. When it comes to preserving vegetables my method is to dehydrate and vacuum seal.  This summer I dehydrated a 50 lb. bag of walla walla onions because I use onions in all my dishes.

Welcome to the dome kitchen

I had originally planned to build an out door canning kitchen, figuring it would be far too hot in the summer to can inside, once again the insulating qualities of the dome amaze me. It is consistently 22 Celsius in the dome, I have not managed to keep out the  fruit flies but the dome kitchen is very comfortable to can in.  I’ve waited four years to get my propane tanks in and gas lines run and finally I’m cooking with gas, what a pleasure.  You are also looking at my first ever tile job, who knew…I can tile…grin.  The kitchen is still awaiting the finishing touches (Island, cabinet doors ) but the functionality is excellent and I love that I am no longer dependant on electricity.

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Cool doesn’t begin to describe summer in a ‘Sculptural Monolithic Dome’ imagine a constant 22 Celsius no matter the temperature outside.  I’d say hot…but its not!  The dome seems to like to be 22c winter and summer the weird thing is how the temperature outside makes that feel inside.  In winter its just right where as in summer when I come in to work at the computer it feels so cold I actually put on a sweater. The beauty of it is that I can do what I love year round, which is to cook.

Cooking is my zen…its what I do to chill out and to show my love to others.  I’m a consummate foody who loves to cook. preserve, dehydrate, experiment, all things food.  Last year I did 300 pounds of canning, so far this year I’ve dehydrated 10lbs of cherries, frozen 10 and used 20 to start a batch of cherry wine.

A dear friend came to the dome today, she has not been here since I was living in my 1950′s airstream in 2005…she was goob smacked! The dome blew her away.  Sweet!  We had an elegant dinner, fabulous Okanagan wine and a great chance to catch up.  In conclusion building a dome may not make you a gourmet chef but living in the round will surely make you cool!

PS: did I mention I’m dehydrating 50lbs. of walla walla onions…its a great way to handle your winter onion supply.

Stay cool build a dome!

Stay c

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Customize your new home and still enjoy the convenience of modular housing with a do-it-yourself kit. Whether you want a log home, a conventional stick built home, or a geodesic dome, there is a wealth of choices which allow you to build in a variety of options according to your own needs.

Log homes constructed of pre-cut materials have been around for decades, and remain a popular housing choice. Traditional log cabin models have been augmented by more modern designs, and range from small and cozy to palatial. Manufacturers often provide two options: either hire their on-staff professionals to construct the home or do it yourself.

Geodesic domes became popular in the sixties as homes built easily from unconventional materials, and their ease of construction makes this type of housing a great choice. The dome is an inherently strong, durable construction; dome kit manufacturers bill geodesic structures as energy- and space-efficient, and hurricane- and earthquake-resistant; their construction lends domes easily adaptable to passive solar heating. A geodesic dome from a kit can be erected in remarkably little time – days instead of weeks. Available materials include conventional timber as well as steel framing with poly covering; they can be winterized for year-round use in temperate climates.

Another dome design available in kits is the concrete dome; used either for above-ground or subterranean home construction, these kits result in homes which stand up to hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. Inherently energy efficient, they stay warm in winter and cool in summer with minimal supplementary energy consumption.

One idea gaining popularity is an add-on design consisting of single-room units which can be combined in an endless number of configurations. This allows someone to start with a small dwelling – possibly even a one-room house — and then build on as desired. One popular kit builder, Shelter-Kit, offers a cabin kit consisting of a variety of units which can be combined to include porches, decks, and an unlimited number of rooms, combined in a variety of configurations. Great for a summer cabin or seasonal guest home, when heated, insulated and finished off inside it can also become a year-round home. The same company also offers kits for loft homes, capes, and other more conventional housing.

Choosing a kit for your new home can give you options you might not otherwise have, and can end up being a great financial decision as well; kits can save enormous amounts of money in construction, whether you do the work yourself or hire someone to do it for you. In some cases you may even be able to avoid a mortgage altogether. For more and more people, it’s becoming a sensible, easy route to a new home.

Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire, who has written numerous articles for the Internet and for local and regional publications. She may be reached at amfredenburg@yahoo.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aldene_Fredenburg

Adding to the list is the Sculptural Dome blueprint, save money on your engineering and get the strongest, most energy efficient, innovative design in dome building. You will be so impressed by this amazing dome building process you’ll want to build one yourself

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Domes are commonly defined as features that are shaped like the upper half of a sphere. Throughout the years, designers have implemented their own changes and variations to the classic dome design, making the appearance of architectural domes more varied and diverse. This article will describe a few of the more common types of architectural domes that consist of more than just a hollow half sphere.

Coffered Domes

These types of interior domes are characterized by their overlaid web of crossed supports. When these are arranged properly, a series of recessed areas called coffers is the result. The coffers of these architectural domes are usually shaped like squares, rectangles, or octagons. These interior domes may be highly ornamented; some even feature stained glass coffers. Many, though, are simple in terms of their color and design. Whatever their appearance, the varied texture of these architectural domes always provides variety to building interiors. Undoubtedly the most famous coffered dome is the one found in the Pantheon in Rome.

Cupolas

Cupolas are exterior domes that are used to crown roofs, churches, bell towers, or larger domes. Derived from the Latin word for small cup, cupolas have a number of features that set them apart from other types of architectural domes. These specialized exterior domes are often illuminated, serving as a beacon of sorts when placed on top of churches and hotels. In some cases, cupolas contain windows make of traditional or stained glass. Some owners of hotels and resorts also make these exterior domes accessible to guests since the location of cupolas often provides breathtaking panoramic views.

Onion Domes

Eye catching and often brightly colored, these exterior domes generally taper to a point, resembling the food after which they are named. These bulbous exterior domes are often part of the design of Orthodox churches, and appear frequently in Russian, Indian, and Arabic architecture. India’s awe inspiring Taj Mahal features a massive onion dome that serves as the building’s focal point.

Interior Domes

Exterior domes must be strong, but the sole purpose of interior domes is to make indoor spaces more attractive. Therefore, the beauty of these types of architectural domes is always the main concern. Interior domes can feature the classic half-sphere design, but they can also be rectangular, oval, octagonal, or virtually any other shape. Some interior domes are crafted of stained or translucent glass, many are embellished with abstract patterns or paintings, and others are adorned with rosettes and architectural medallions, which provide color and texture to otherwise plain interior domes.

Stromberg Architectural is the world’s leading producer of architectural domes and dozens of other elements. Visit Architectural Domes for more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Collin_Davis

A dome has a marvellous feel to it, is it the shape, the flow of the space? The beauty of the Sculptural Monolithic Dome blueprint is that it puts access to this divine architecture into your hands as a home builder. Today it is 100 degrees outside and in the dome its a comfortable 72 without so much as a fan. ( Its the foam ) its like living in a very strong cooler.   Because Domes are beautiful inside and out

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As our population ages and employment becomes more competitive, the downward pressure on income threatens our ability to sustain life’s necessities – food, clothing and shelter. Life feels ever more precarious as we watch disasters around the world destroying people’s lives. Our sense of security is increasingly tied to the concept of sustainability. The dream of North American acquisition must be scaled to what the planet can withstand. As Chinese, Indian, and Asian economies ramp up their activity, we are forced to look at our choices within the context of the planet’s ability to furnish everyone with capitalism’s dream of independence. As individuals, what can we do to support the earth in a more sustainable way of living? The foundation of this shift to green living begins with the basic concept of shelter – our idea of home.

Dome homes offer a new blueprint for sustainable housing. Built of rebar, road mesh, lathe and concrete and insulated with polyurethane foam, these homes are superior to conventional building in a number of ways. A dome, by nature, offers the most amount of floor for the least amount of wall. It takes less material to create and its shape attains more than double the stability of a regular box home A dome will stand for literally hundreds of years, a significant shift from the “build-it-tear-it-down” mentality. With its low maintenance exterior and superior energy efficiency, a dome offers sustainable living for generations.

The threat of wildfires in Canada’s Okanagan Valley is what inspired the design of the sculptural dome. Built from an engineered blueprint this dome uses rebar and lathe as a form. When finished it has 6 inch thick concrete walls covered with 4 inches of polyurethane foam The dome is designed to meet the exacting standards and numerous requirements that must be met to attain a building permit. Research reveals that conventional dome building (i.e. the air-form monolithic dome) or the exacting math of Fuller’s geodesic dome can be inordinately expensive to build and dubiously permit-able. Created through collaboration with a sculptor, architect and engineer the sculptural dome blueprint is engineered to pass the scrutiny of local districts.

A dome plan can be as individual as you are. The first sculptural monolithic dome is a 38′ diameter structure designed with a 5-sided bathroom and pantry at its center. With 1100 sq. ft. on the main floor and 750 sq. ft. on the second floor, there is ample room to create a floor plan that meets your needs. If you require a bigger home, simply increase the diameter or build interconnecting domes. However you choose to build your dome, consider these properties: A dome is impervious to wind, can withstand substantial quakes, is fireproof, and considerably more watertight than wooden structures. Couple that with the dome’s natural energy efficiency, low to no maintenance, and extraordinary longevity, and you have a home that saves you money while lowering your carbon footprint.

To learn more about dome homes, self-sufficiency and sustainability visit http://www.DomeDiva.com,

Cindy Johnson lives in a dome on a ten acre property in Canada’s Okanagan valley and is currently drafting a program for HGTV called ‘Homes of the Future. Committed to sustainable living Johnson writes articles and blogs on self-sufficient alternatives in healing, gardening, preserving and green building.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cindy_Lou_Johnson

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This is how concrete domes have been constructed for the last forty years, there are several new innovations using fibreglass and other materials, there are also ancient ways like using mounded earth but may I suggest there is a new blueprint available that gives the builder independence from the need for a custom air form, special materials or outside contractors.

The biggest difference for me was the independence I had in building it. I hired a local builder to put in the foundation putting me in touch with both a plumber and electrician, also the septic company, after that it was easy to be an owner/builder. If budget is an issue doing the contracting yourself cuts cost significantly as your contractor will add his mark up to all the materials and labour cost. Want to know more email domediva@yahoo.com

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It took six weeks from having the foundation done to get the rebar form completed, this was the first time a sculptural dome was ever built so we had to figure many things out. I’m sure it could be done in three weeks with the info that comes with the blueprints. The shot crete pour was amazing the entire 6″ thick walls were done in two days. Talk about bomb proof.
If however you find yourself squeezed for time this video describes a dome that can be constructed in days.
God willing we will never need such extreme shelters, my dome was built more out of a concern for wild fires. In light of the weather changes we are experiencing and from a purely economical point of view, domes make sense.

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As you can see my bedroom takes up one quarter of the downstairs making my outside bedroom wall 30′ long. There is a door to the bathroom from the bedroom and another from the dining room. My walk in closet is built in the corner beside the entry door closest to the front door. It has a cool curved wall ,  sliding mirror doors and an interior light…love it.

As you can see in the floor plan the rest of the living space is open concept which is visually divided by the presence of the five sided bathroom. A portion of the five sided space has been walled off to serve as a kitchen pantry. The wall that separates the kitchen from the bedroom creates both a flat wall for cupboard hanging and on which to position the bed.  The up stairs which is accessed by the stairs which are mounted up the wall in the living room is one fifth vaulted and completely open plan.

In my 1850 sq. ft. dome the upstairs is 700 sq. ft. and could easily be divided into separate living spaces. For myself and the cat who lives with me it serves as a media room/social place where the acoustics often result in spontaneous musical gatherings.

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By Amanda Rodrigue

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