"I can't see tech workers breaking out the saws and sandpaper and building quality neighborhoods in their spare time"
I should have you over to my house sometime. I completely tore out the downstairs of my house. The guy that's helping me with the kitchen cabinets is an old cobol programmer. I think your experience with carpentry and people that enjoy carpentry might leave a little to be desired. (I don't mean any disrespect by this) and I'm not saying that just because you chose "saws and sandpaper" for what is needed to build a structure.
I am curious why do you think tech people would not be interested in building things using lumber? If you are looking for a book to read pickup "Shopclass as Soulcraft." I don't think its going to make you want to pick up a trade but I think it might give you a different perspective.
People keep thinking I'm saying technical folks don't like wood, or something. I just mean when everyone already has a day job, and no one has real training or worthwhile experience, you are probably going to have trouble getting good results in a reasonable amount of time.
IMO this falls into the ol' boat of engineers thinking they can do everything just as well as people who were professionally trained. "Drilling for oil? How hard can it be!"
P.S. Unless frames come precut or premade these days, how exactly do you plan to build a house without some form of saw?
It was the sandpaper part that sounded funny to me.
Speaking of framing, you know that aisle of 2x4x8s you walk past at home despot? They are not all 96 inches long. If you look close some are labeled "framing studs." They are precut to 92 5/8 precisely so that you don't need to cut down every stud when you are framing a wall.
You might not like New Zealand then - its 95% stick built (well, wood) and has a minimum of concrete. That was changing, but after seeing the Christchurch earthquake, this wobbly island isn't going to be allowing heavy stuff that isn't braced like a battleship anytime soon.
I should have you over to my house sometime. I completely tore out the downstairs of my house. The guy that's helping me with the kitchen cabinets is an old cobol programmer. I think your experience with carpentry and people that enjoy carpentry might leave a little to be desired. (I don't mean any disrespect by this) and I'm not saying that just because you chose "saws and sandpaper" for what is needed to build a structure.
I am curious why do you think tech people would not be interested in building things using lumber? If you are looking for a book to read pickup "Shopclass as Soulcraft." I don't think its going to make you want to pick up a trade but I think it might give you a different perspective.