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Design Build Conversion of a workshop/barn into a single bedroom residence. The Home Construction Before

Landscape

Design build Our team of specialists collaborated to transition this landscape. The work included site planning, terrace gardens, retaining walls, built-in seating, outdoor storage, lighting, rain water management, gardening and planting. Gardens Building Before

Masonry Heater

The clients opted to replace a damaged and smoking fireplace with a masonry heater. It is built with a prefab core, insulated flue, passive heat vents, and faced with stone sourced from around the home. To learn more about masonry heaters visit the  Masonry Heater Association website. https://www.fourthriver.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Fourth-River-Workers-Guild-Masonry-Heater.mp4 New Masonry Heater Old Fireplace New Masonry Heater Site…
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Strawbale Coop

The coop houses ducks and chickens. It is built using straw bale walls, hemlock framing, and lime render. 

Bantha Tea Bar

Design build Bantha Tea Bar is located at 5002 Penn Ave in Pittsburgh Pa Bantha Tea Bar 2016 Bantha Hall 2018 Before

Rain Garden

  Garden Management One of the most appreciated gardens in Pittsburgh, the rain gardens at East Liberty Presbyterian Church filter a large percentage of the building runoff and serve as an oasis for life in the middle of East Liberty. Fourth River works with ELPC volunteers and staff to manage the gardens.    

Rachel Carson Ecovillage

  Consulting Fourth River has been serving as ecological building consultants for the Rachel Carson EcoVillage (RCE), a co-housing intentional community of 34 passive-house residences on the Chatham University, Eden Hall campus. Ground breaking is set for 2023. Rachel Carson EcoVillage website   Wild Animal Identification

Why soil health is important to you

If you own a home you likely own soil, lots of it. We don’t often think about the volume of soil we own. It always surprises me when we excavate for a project just how much earth there is in seemingly small urban lots. Most home properties in Pittsburgh have over a thousand square feet…
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Stewardship Starts With You

Around the globe, an overwhelming majority of people in developed areas live in urban areas. Every year, a massive amount of land in the United States is converted from green space, to alternative land uses like new homes or buildings and impervious surfaces such as roads or parking lots. These land use changes are especially…
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3 Plant Families That Attract Beneficial Insects

As with your own family, plants in the same family share similar needs, challenges and physical characteristics. In this case, we are going to look at a few plant families that attract beneficial insects (and spiders). Insects are attracted to pollen and nectar provided by flowers and stick around to eat up harmful garden pests.…
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