My Stay At The Sustainable B&B That Beth Built

Back in March 2015 I saw an ABC OPEN article about well-known Gippslander, Beth Ripper, called The Sustainable House That Beth Built.  I was intrigued. I always thought I would build a sustainable house made completely from salvaged materials and with techniques that had minimal environmental impact, but opportunity hasn’t presented itself yet. Now, fast forward 18months and here I am staying at Beth’s Riverside Cottage B&B which was originally a stable on the property. Everything in this B&B has been salvaged/recycled except for a small microwave! She even bartered some gardening labour for building labour! It’s absolutely beautiful and has everything one needs.

Beth also showed me around her house which has the following features:

• Small urban block with north south orientation
• Krammed straw, radially sawn timber and colour bond steel walls
• Rammed earth floors, and plywood and recycled chipboard internal wall cladding
• Recycled materials in finishes including mosaic, pressed metal, and redgum timber benchtops
• Permaculture  garden design with chooks, outside bath house and pizza oven.

Here are some photos I took to inspire you, but please read the ABC OPEN article to learn more.

I think stories like this need to be told more often to inspire others to create a circular economy where there is no such thing as waste, only resources.