Earthbag Canteen for Students in Nepal

In partnership with the Open Institute of Social Science, a research and teaching cooperative devoted to a fairer and more just society, Good Earth Global has built an earthquake-resistant, eco-friendly kitchen and dining hall for their vacation retreat. This project has a unique heart shape that combines 2 semi-circles. The canteen also has 3 attached toilets/showers. This … Read more

Heating with the Sun

Using the sun to heat your house has got to be the most economical and ecologically benign way to keep comfortable when the temperatures drop. There are a number of common strategies for doing this. My favorite method is passive solar design, where there are no “active” fans or pumps to contend with. Most passive … Read more

Natural Building and a New Sense of the Earth

This nearly one hour video program features some of the luminaries of the natural building movement and is well worth watching. In addition to the many interviews are some luscious images of the process and result of fine natural craftsmanship. Meet Linda Smiley and Ianto Evans who pioneered cob building in the U.S. and who … Read more

The Carriage House

About 15 years ago I built the “Carriage House” using a prefabricated steel vault as a supporting structure for earthbags filled with scoria as insulation. It is a two story affair, with the lower one being a garage/shop and the upper one an office and storage space. I located a new 34′ X 16′ steel … Read more