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This course covers the opportunities and evolving variations within the field of natural building. Architects, builders, and owners and students will gain an excellent introduction to the art and science of natural building materials, techniques, and design considerations, while also giving participants the opportunity to get their hands on straw bale, adobe, pressed block, cob, natural plasters and more. The five-day workshop will be full of guest instructor presentations, experimentation, open discussion, and extensive hands-on instruction.

• Site Analysis
• Design Considerations
• Foundation & Roof Options
• Straw bale Construction
• Earthbag Construction
• Adobe and Pressed Block
• Cob Construction
• Rammed Earth Construction
• Straw/Clay Construction
• Soil Testing
• Plasters
• Building Codes
• Insurance and Financing
• Construction Details
• Healthy Building Materials
• Practical Building Techniques
• Code Issues
• Lessons Learned
• Tours of Local Homes and Schools

Building Without Borders by Joseph Kennedy

Earthbag Building by Kaki Hunter and Donald Kiffmeyer

More Strawbale Building by Chris Magwood, Peter Mack, and Tina Therrien

The Art of Natural Building by Catharine Wanek, Kennedy & Smith

The Hand-Sculpted House by Ianto Evans, Michael G. Smith, Linda Smiley

The Natural Plaster Book by Cedar Rose Guelberth and Dan Chiras

The Solar House by Daniel D. Chiras

• Building for the Future: Sustainable Home Design
• Building for the Future Online
• Designing and Building Natural Homes
• Straw Bale Construction and Natural Plasters

"My goal for the course was to take a giant step towards building my own sustainable house. Instead, I took six giant steps!"
- Designing & Building Natural Homes workshop participant 2007

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience - the people, the setting, and the instruction.
-- Skip Londos, Natural House Building workshop participant

Workshops begin at 9 am unless otherwise noted. Please show up at 8:30 am the first day.