Empowerment Manual

A guide for groups seeking to organise with shared power and bottom-up leadership to foster vision, trust, accountability and responsibility. It provides keys to: understanding group dynamics; facilitating communication and collective decision-making; and, dealing effectively with difficult people.

The popularity of natural building has grown by leaps and bounds, spurred by a grassroots desire for housing that is healthy, affordable and environmentally responsible. While there are many books available on specific methods such as straw bale construction, cob or timber framing, few other resources introduce the reader to the entire scope of this burgeoning field.

Fully revised and updated, The Art of Natural Building is the complete and user-friendly introduction to natural building for everyone from do-it-yourselfers to architects and designers. This collection of articles from over 50 leaders in the field is now stunningly illustrated with over 200 full-color photos of natural buildings from around the world. Learn about:

• The case for building with natural materials, from the perspectives of sustainability, lifestyle and health
• What you need to know to plan and design your own beautiful and efficient natural home
• Explanations of thirty versatile materials and techniques, with resources on where to go for further information on each
• How these techniques are being used to address housing crises around the world.

Clearly written, logically organized and beautifully illustrated The Art of Natural Building is the encyclopedia of natural building.

Joseph F. Kennedy is a designer, builder, writer, artist and educator and cofounder of Builders Without Borders . Michael G. Smith is a respected workshop instructor, consultant, and co-author of the best-selling book The Hand-Sculpted House . Catherine Wanek is a cofounder of Builders Without Borders and author/photographer of The Hybrid House and The New Straw Bale Home .

Transition Town group involved in preparations for peak oil and climate change; an intentional community, founded with the highest ideals; a non-profit dedicated to social change -- millions of such voluntary groups exist around the world. These collaborative organisations have the unique potential to harness their members' ideals, passions, skills, and knowledge -- if they can succeed in getting along together. This is a comprehensive guide for groups seeking to organise with shared power and bottom-up leadership to foster vision, trust, accountability and responsibility. This desperately needed toolkit provides keys to: understanding group dynamics; facilitating communication and collective decision-making; dealing effectively with difficult people. Drawing on four decades of experience, Starhawk shows how collaborative groups can generate the co-operation, efficacy and commitment critical to success. Her extensive exploration of group process is woven together with the story of RootBound -- a fictional ecovillage mired in conflict -- and rounded out with a series of real-life case studies. The included exercises and facilitators toolbox show how to establish the necessary structures, ground rules and healthy norms. This is required reading for anyone who wants to help their group avoid disagreement and disillusionment and become a wellspring of creativity and innovation.