Earthbag Training Center Proposal in Nepal

All of us were heartbroken over the recent earthquakes in Nepal. The big question now is what can I do to help in the most effective way? The following proposal is the rough draft of a Go Fund Me proposal to cover my expenses in Nepal for about two months starting in September. If you’re an NGO in Nepal who’s interested in setting up an earthbag training center, please contact me by email.

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Free Earthbag Training for NGOs

This earthbag shelter can be built for around $200 -$300 in a few days by a few workers.
This earthbag shelter can be built for around $200 -$300 in a few days by a few workers.

Due to the amazing success of earthbag buildings surviving the recent earthquake, I’m receiving requests to train the trainers who will help rebuild Nepal. I just started the Take it to Zero project and so it seems fitting to offer this training for free.

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Remembrance Farms Earthbag Fundraiser

Remembrance Farm wants to build an earthbag roundhouse like ours
Remembrance Farm wants to build an earthbag roundhouse like ours

“During eight weeks beginning in January 2015, we will create the first infrastructure at Remembrance Farms. We will be building a twenty foot diameter round building using an exciting technique called “super-adobe” or “earth-bag” construction. This low cost method utilizes local materials and requires only simple tools. The technique can be learned easily and the structures are durable and beautiful. A traditional vetiver thatch roof and rammed earth floor will complete the building.

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2015 Chiang Dao Natural Building Workshop, Thailand

“We will learn how to build a roundhouse with a dome roof, using rice-husk bags, bamboo, earth and other local materials. We will not be using any electrical tools. After the workshop, you will be able to go off and build one for yourself!

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Free Training Materials for Natural Builders

Free $300 Earthbag House plans – just one of many free resources available on our sites that could be used to teach natural building training courses
Free $300 Earthbag House plans – just one of many free resources available on our sites that could be used to teach natural building training courses

I’ve been corresponding with a long time reader about how to develop low cost natural building training courses. The idea is to provide a range of free and low cost training materials that instructors can choose from to develop training programs for students. Kelly and I have already made a pretty good start with our videos, free plans, online articles, blog posts and Instructables. Some of these are listed below for ease of reference. These free materials could be supplemented with my low cost Earthbag Building Guide and/or DVD.

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Superadobe Earth Dome workshop in Italy

23-29 August, Pontestura, Italy. Vide Terra organizes a 7 days superadobe workshop during which we will build a 1.8m (6feet) internal diameter earth dome with a door and a window opening. The course will be held in English and Italian. The trainers will guide you in the construction of the dome and will share the … Read more