Tightly packed straw in prefabricated rectangular wooden wall frames are being assembled for housing in various places in Europe and Russia. Once the frames are assembled the walls can be lime-rendered. These houses perform well under resistance tests. Straw is available in abundance, is sustainable, has a low carbon footprint, can build strong and durable … Read more
I’m standing on the Community Rebuilds campus. Today they’re hosting events for the Natural Building Conference, a gathering of those interested in construction using materials like straw bale, soil and lime mortar… which is being mixed now. Moab has a housing problem… like other tourist-orientated towns in the region. Amanda Jane Albert is an instructor … Read more
3ndless 3arth 3covillage describes itself as “a regenerative community focused on land restoration, permaculture, natural building, holistic health, and eco-conscious education.” Co-founder and secretary, Samantha Iacobello explains that their main goal is to educate people—especially children and young adults—in these skills and eventually become a model of how communities can become more resilient, eco-conscious, and … Read more
The Rocky Mountain Natural Building Conference will be held in Moab, Utah from October 14 to 16 this year. The conference is coordinated by the Natural Building Alliance, and the program includes podium presentations, breakout sessions, round-tables, and outdoor workshops. Moab’s Community Rebuilds, a local organization that builds straw-bale, energy-efficient, affordable homes, is helping with … Read more
New Frameworks, a construction company in Vermont, specializes in natural and local materials. A vital part of its mission is to “draw down” carbon in its projects to reverse emissions. “Climate justice and climate response is not a theory to us; it’s a practice,” Ace McArleton, who cofounded the company in 2006, said. “And we … Read more
Bruce Jones left a comment on a recent blog post about some fun backyard sheds: “My family name is JONES so I’m a Welshman, five generations removed. Seeing these incredible creations is inspiring. I bought a small mountain in the High Desert of SoCal (part of the greater Mojave Desert) sixteen months ago and have … Read more