Sally Bennett spent eight years building an environmentally friendly shed using cob. She learned how to combine subsoil clay, sand, and straw and tread them before placing them on her wall. After retiring earlier than planned in 2023, the 69-year-old suddenly had much more time to devote to the process. Sally held an unveiling of … Read more
In Europe dry stone walls are an indelible part of the landscape. In the U.K. alone, there are an estimated 74,000 miles of stone walls, all built without mortar or rebar. Landscape designer Christa Moné in Forestville, California first became aware of these ancient structures when she was living and working in France. “I helped … Read more
The School of Constructive Arts is a field school teaching regenerative design, building, and ecology through direct observation, participation, and experimentation. Their approach integrates ancestral knowledge of natural materials and energy with advancing technology and contemporary building techniques to derive sustainable models of living for our time. They are building a campus in the Big … Read more
Straw has a long history as a building material, finding application in thatch roofs, as a binding agent in adobe bricks and cob, as insulation, and in straw bale construction. Straw, a renewable, recyclable, regionally available, and low-cost material, offers a climate-friendly alternative to conventional building materials. Indeed, straw provides a viable solution to decarbonizing … Read more
The second home on Maui, Hawaii using hempcrete for wall construction has been completed. Hempcrete is not only fire, mold and termite resistant, it’s also non-toxic, sound insulating, energy efficient, and absorbs carbon dioxide from the air. The owner, Jon Woodhouse, says, “Walking into my home, you can feel the difference compared to conventional home … Read more
Miguel Elliott, founder of Living Earth Structures in Petaluma, California. specializes in building with cob. Elliott has built over 250 cob structures around the world. His creations range from small ovens and benches to full-sized homes — each one is a unique work of art. “Nothing is more sustainable,” Elliott says. “If you take a … Read more