The Shedworker's Bookshelf - using natural finishes by Adam Weismann and Katy Bryce

One of the best ways of personalising your shed is to build it yourself and there's also a current trend towards constructing your own garden office building out of environmentally-friendly materials. This week's choice - using natural finishes by the friendly and knowledgeable Adam Weismann and Katy Bryce (whose company Cob in Cornwall we've featured here before) - is published by the highly regarded Green Books. It includes step-by-step instructions for applying lime-based and clay-based plasters, renders and paints, as well as exploring the benefits of natural finishes for the buildings, their owners and local suppliers.

There are plenty of case studies and of course lots of shedworking structures plus it's marvellously illustrated throughout - including photos of Katy and Adam actually doing the things they're writing about - and a sumptuous section on finishes from around the world in such spots as Japan, Morocco and Italy. In short, if you're contemplating any kind of eco-friendly build, this is an absolutely essential book to have on your bookcase (and even if you're not, it's a fascinating piece of art to meander through in your shed).

There is also an online resources and suppliers database accompanying the book at www.naturalbuildingresources.com and you can download sample pages here. Go here to buy a copy and click on the button below to go to the Green Books site where you can snap up other green building delights.