When architect Neha Ballal floated the idea of moving to the mountains and building a mud home, her decision was met with skepticism: “Everyone’s doing the opposite. Why would you retreat to the place everyone’s leaving behind?” But today, when her home gets visitors from the city (it is listed on Airbnb) it makes for … Read more
Using locally sourced and some imported resources, participants at an earthen bench building workshop worked together to create three benches during the 2025 Silver City CLAY Festival. “Benches or pizza ovens are such a great way to get your hands dirty, to learn more easily, because it doesn’t take a lot of material, unlike building … Read more
Meet Roan & Ivy, a vibrant couple living in neighboring tiny homes on their off-grid property in New Mexico. They bought their 2 acres and built both the earthbag home & shed tiny house for under $15k. Their alternative, simple lifestyle enables them to live frugally on their own terms while focusing on their passions, … Read more
Thomas Hearts is one of the founders of an intentional-community in Socorro County, New Mexico, called Happy Castle Art Camp and they are gearing up to break ground on their very first Superadobe Earthbag Dome and they want you to be part of it. They are calling this the “Bonfire Dome” and a free natural-building … Read more
Ellen Snortland and her husband have now lost a home to fire, another to flooding and another to a mudslide — and they’re tired of fighting the elements. “We are going to have to deal with extreme weather for the rest of our lives. To pretend otherwise is really folly,” she said. “I don’t see … Read more
Anthony Dente is a licensed engineer and principal at Verdant Structural Engineers and Verdant Building Products and is the vice president of the Cob Research Institute, where he is committed to appropriate material use for all structural building systems. Anthony graduated from the Architectural Engineering program at Penn State University and moved to Berkeley, CA … Read more