The lives of birds and insects are so closely intertwined that you’re unlikely to have one without the other and both are extremely dependent on plants for shelter and sustenance. In nature, nothing works in isolation so, if you want … Continue reading →

There is a raging debate among naturalists about the desirability of cultivating exotic plant species and there are no easy answers. My own view is that we should try our best to avoid introducing any new species into an existing … Continue reading →

Here are some of the more frequently asked questions that I have encountered over the years. They have been categorised in order to make it simpler for the reader.

What is Rainwater Harvesting Myths about the cost and complexity of RHW systems have meant that many people do not take it seriously enough. Rainwater Harvesting is getting a lot of publicity these days but there is still a lot … Continue reading →

Apart from saving fresh water there are also some ways of reusing and recycling water so as to reduce our requirement. The technology for this could be hi-tech, like a filtration plant, for example but we will concentrate on basic … Continue reading →

There are literally thousands of sites on the internet which will show you ways of saving water. Some boast of having the 100 best tips while others give you five; but almost all of them are useless to us here … Continue reading →

Glass curtain walls and façades, seen as signs of modernity & progress, are inappropriate for our tropical climate. Unfortunately, there is a strong trend in India these days towards designing building with glass curtain walls. These are seen as making … Continue reading →

Why Asbestos is Poison Asbestos reinforced cement sheets make for a cheap and effective roofing system that minimises the amount of steel used to erect it. Asbestos itself is a naturally occurring mineral found in many places and the fibre … Continue reading →