100% Reclaimed House!

When one thinks of Oregon, it is often associated with friendly, liberal, laid-back, Birkenstock-wearing folk. That is probably because many of the people who call Oregon "home" fit this stereotype to a "T". Whether in the trendy Portland area or the more remote woods of the north-western state, regardless of the social class or annual income, people are truly dedicated to a "greener" living. This is true for two Oregon based organic farmers, Virginia Krakowiak and Jon Clark. These two belong to a small, local certified organic farmer's collective... which basically means in the world of sustainability and environmental preservation they are the rockstars.

Not only are they helping better the world through sustainable, organic farming, but they are also devoting their efforts to create a 100% reclaimed house just outside of Portland. If that is not good enough, they are using almost 0 electricity. That's right 0 (z-e-r-o) electricity. This means that the house is being built all by hand powered tools. Techniques that were commonplace in this country 200 years ago are now being revitalized in hopes for a "greener" America. All of the materials used to make this house have been reclaimed from different construction sites as well as salvage yards. This house is a manageable 16' x 20' or 320 square feet. Sure, that seems like an awfully small space, but this is not Virginia or Jon's year-round home. This is a second home they will live in during the harvest season. If that doesn't convince you enough that Virginia and Jon are a couple of eco-rockstars, they actually share the home with other local sustainable farmers. These people deserve a hug! Not only are they devoting themselves to a "greener" lifestyle, but they are also providing for their fellow farmers.