The things you can do with traditional architecture. A 19th c. post-and-plank (bulhus) on the Swedish island of Gotland needs a new sill plate (neglect led to old one finally rotting out). A few days of work with homegrown materials vs. tearing whole house down and buying new. 
Scarf in new parts with wooden pegs (iron nails attract moisture which creates opportunities for rot which is bad), put on a new cob-mortar and plaster it, good as new and will last at least another two or three centuries. All waste organic and can be buried or composted nearby.
Post-and-plank is an ancient building method almost extinct today, but it has many advantages, not least that is it recyclable. Here is one 19th c. bldg. partly built using recycled oak boards from a shipwreck. How old the shipwreck was when reused has yet to be determined.
Surviving examples of this Post-and-plank construction technique is most common in northern Europe but here is one in the US, Maryland, the oldest bldg. in Stevensville, the ca. 1809 Cray House. Very charming and a bit warped with age. Perhaps built by Scandinavian sailors?
