Sanctuary to open doors for Sustainable House Day

ELAINE Wood owns a little house and two acres in Dunoon where she has created a sustainable sanctuary.

Elaine Wood at her "sustainable sanctuary" in Dunoon. Photo Contributed. Picture: Contributed

ELAINE Wood owns a little house and two acres in Dunoon where she has created a sustainable sanctuary that not only supports her, but does so in style and comfort.

She is one of three local people who will open their homes for Sustainable House Day on Sunday, September 13 so visitors can get practical ideas for their home and garden.

Ms Wood is an owner/builder who created a solar passive, wood frame and iron-cladded clerestory design with a sprawling garden fed by a rainwater tank, and a greywater system at the bottom of her yard, right next to the chooks.

She grows most of her own food, including carbohydrates, lives on a pension and saves each week thanks to her low energy use and abundant garden produce. More importantly, she gains obvious enjoyment from tending her plot and making things from her garden, from woven baskets to delicious Davidson plum jam.

"I have built two solar passive homes and I love this one the best. It is low maintenance with a number of things, like the kitchen, recycled and it takes advantage of natural light, ventilation and the aspect of the sun," Ms Wood said.

"I have much more land than I need with two acres - most of what sustains me can be created in a smaller space and certainly any suburban backyard can produce a lot of food."

The following three people's homes will be open from 10am to 4pm for Sustainable House Day on Sunday, September 13:

• Elaine Wood, 51 Cedar Place, Dunoon
• Simon Hartley, 2/89 Figtree Drive, Goonellabah
• The Robinsons, 182 Bentley Road, Tullera

The Sustainable House Expo is free. For more information, visit www.sevenonsibley.com/shd2015.