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Natural Building

I've been bitten by the natural building bug, and I've decided to infec...er, um, share what I'm learning with the rest of the world. I hope to eventually settle into an eco-community and build my own house. In the mean time I'm reading books, surfing the web, and taking classes on the subject.

Right now, this lens covers only three of the many different ways to utilize natural materials when building. As I become more educated on the subject I'll add more techniques and also build individual, more indepth lenses around specific subjects like straw bale, cob, and rammed earth.

So, sit back and enjoy the ride. Please keep all hands and feet inside the car at all...oh heck, get out and run around crazy if ya want! It's ok with me. :)

(photo by gerrythomasen / CC BY 2.0)

Strawbale Construction

I'm having flash backs to my old Leggo set...

photo by ricosloungeStraw has been used in wall construction for thousands of years in some areas of the world, but usually in a mixture with clay and sand. Today's straw bales are a product of the industrial revolution, being the packaged waste from modern hay making (ok, no snickering in the back row.)

These large, fairly dense blocks are wonderful insulation in a naturally built home. They reduce the amount of lumber needed while creating thick, well insulated walls. They are great at keeping sound out and temperatures regulated. Straw bales are surprisingly fire resistant, too. They also stand up to high winds very well. So, who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? Not strawbalers, that's for sure.

For more info, check out my lens on strawbales: Don't Be Afraid of The Big Bad Wolf. Build with Strawbales!

Hello (insert name here), this is Straw Bale

Just a little introduction

Houses of straw - the rediscovery of strawbale building
by ecofilm | video info

374 ratings | 265,078 views
curated content from YouTube

Build Your Library With Strawbale

Er, um, I mean: Do some reading about strawbale

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Learn to Stack Straw Like A Pro

Well, at least like a gifted amateur

strawbaleworkshops.com
Attend a workshop with a real live professional strawbale builder.

Natural Building In The Real World

Random pics gleaned from the verdant fields of flickr

a living roof on the cob building by arifm
cob house building requires some dancing by Uncleweed
My Visit to the Mountain Homestead by eliduke
133-3318_IMG by ercwttmn
curated content from Flickr

Cob

And I don't mean corn

photo by erissivaA traditional building technique from the British Isles (you know those white houses with the thatched roofs? that's cob with a lime plaster), cob is being transformed into something new in the US. Cob is made by combining clay, sand and a binder, such as straw and/or manure (ya, I said manure), with water to make a sticky mud. This mud is then used to build your structure.

Cob is more akin to sculpting with clay than any other technique. It's so versitile that you can make walls, benches, or even ovens out of it. You can add beautiful art elements right onto the walls of your living space and highlight them with a coating of colorful earth plaster. Another popular decoration in owner-made cob houses is to include glass bottles or jars into the walls. They let in light and make a colorful stained glass effect.

For more info on cob, check out my lens Building with Cob.

The Beauty of Mud

Some inspiriing imagery and thoughts

Cob documentary teaser
by dailyjohn2 | video info

238 ratings | 142,315 views
curated content from YouTube

Cobby Books & Videos

Expand your artistic building skills.

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Show Some Love

Vote for your favorite natural building technique

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Earthbag Construction

It's my bag, baby. Ya!

photo by diamondmountainThe bad Austin Powers imitations aside, earthbag construction is another great way to utilize the ground beneath your feet. Developed originally for temporary military shelters and protection against flood waters, earthbag construction for permanent structures was made popular by Nader Kalili in the 1980's and 90's.

Earthbag involves filling long bags with (you guessed it) earth and stacking them to make the walls of the structure. Because the bags act as the binder, there is less of a need to worry about the clay/sand ratio than there is in other techniques, such as cob or adobe. As the structure is being built, strands of barbed wire are laid down in between each layer of bags to prevent shifting. Earthbag structures tend to be domes, though building a rectangular or square house is possible with a little extra planning.

Earthbag Education

Crack open a book before you break ground

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It's an obsession, I know

Check out what natural building youtube vids I've faved

There's a plethora of natural building vids on youtube. Some are professionally produced, and some are just a random person sharing their passion with the world. Um, that's passion for building, of course. Anything else would loose me the g-rating on this lens, now wouldn't it?

Check out some of my absolute faves on everything from mixing cob to earthbag construction.
Design with Nature - download it at calearth.org
by dastonkalili | video info

364 ratings | 175,589 views
curated content from YouTube

Go Ahead, Get Dirty

Just remember to wear your play clothes

There are a surprising number of educational opportunities for those wanting to know more about natural building. There are few established schools, but many eco-communities or homesteads offer courses or internships on a variety of techniques. Also, professional builders will sometimes give classes for those interested in building their own structures.



So, what are ya waiting for? Get out there and get ta buildin'!
Yestermorrow Design/Build School
Yestermorrow teaches intensive hands-on courses in sustainable design, building, woodworking, and traditional crafts.
Build It Green
A great resource for finding educational opportunities at traditional colleges. Already a builder? Live in Claifornia? Learn how to become a Certified Green Building Professional.
Intentional Communities Web Site (ecovillages, community, communes, cohousing, coops, sustainable living...)
Many intentional eco-communities offer classes, internships, work exchange, or even paid jobs (gasp!) in natural building. IC.org is a fantastic resource for finding these places all over the world.
Natural Building Network - Welcome
The Natural Building Network is a non-profit organization supporting natural building, while providing inspiration and leadership for a sustainable world. Many listings for workshops are appropriate for the recently initiated...er, I mean, the "new amateur builder."
NaturalHomes.org
A great site, full of links to the websites of naturally built structures, classes, building services and resources, books, and more. The most fun part? They've got a map with little icons for naturally built homes around the world. Check it out to see if you're living near one!
The Ecovillage Training Center of The Farm
I attended at two-month natural building apprenticeship here and liked it so much I found some temporary employment and stuck around for another four months. Not only do you learn about building, but get to live in one of the oldest and most respected intentional communities in the US, The Farm.

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Building Community

Other squidoo lenses on natural building

Know of a great lens about natural building and want to share it? Post it here, then vote for your fave. Think you want to make one? Have at it, then submit it to this list. It's fun, and it helps the natural builders connect with each other and the general public. And as far as I'm concerned, ya can't beat that with a stick.

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Don't Be Afraid of The Big Bad Wolf. Build with Strawbales!

Incorporating straw bales into construction is a r more...4 points

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How to Build Your Own Straw Bale House

It's not an easy matter to build a straw bale hous more...4 points

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Cob Natural Building

Cob is a mixture of straw, sand, earth and water. more...2 points

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Build a Cobb House

Cobb homes are a awesome alternative for people wi more...2 points

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Building a Home From Recycled Paper

Newspapers, magazines, junk mail, cardboard boxes, more...2 points

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Eco-Friendly Tiny Homes

Hand build a tiny house, put it on wheels and live more...2 points

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How to Build Your Own Straw Bale House

It's not an easy matter to build a straw bale hous more...1 point

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Earthaven Ecovillage

Earthaven is an aspiring ecovillage in a mountain more...1 point

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Building with Cob

What I did with my summer vacation: spent a week c more...1 point

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Rocket Stoves - Cool Name, Hot Stove

No, a rocket stove won't throw anything into orbit more...1 point

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Eco Domes: How to build your very own, sand bag, earth friendly shelter

There is something very nuturing in these type of more...1 point

My Other Natural Building Lenses

If you enjoyed this lens, and would like to learn more about natural building, please consider visiting some of my other lenses on the subject. Thanks!
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MerryM

Hiya, I'm Merry. I've been walking a green path these past few years, educating myself in natural building and community living. I'm also an avid (or... more »

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