Photo credit: Findhorn Ecovillage (Scotland)
The Natural Builders Cooperative coordinates natural building projects (cob, straw bale, rammed earth) with any interested folks around the world.
What makes us great?
We are a true cooperative. We train folks interested in natural building, and often work on each other's projects (a la "work parties").
We would love to talk to you about the benefits of natural building, explore your goals, and help figure out the best approach for your situation.
And our specialty? We are designing "natural communities" where all buildings are built from the local "terroir". This is not only natural, but also reinforces cohesion throughout the community as everyone's property shares basic elements ...
cob building
thatched or bamboo roofs
passive solar (trombe walls & water heaters)
grey- & black-water features
wofati construction
underground structures
green living walls and roofs
> ask us about "Burn & Bury" designs!
How it works:
FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION - for most projects, we would want to visit the site and discuss your plans with you first.
PROJECT SCHEDULE: (1 - 6 months)
Project Design - we design to blend w/ site
Team Assembly - schedule available cooperators
Construction Phase - coordinate all workers, materials, and construction schedule
Restoration - re-grade & re-plant surrounding area
PRICING:
Design: $40 / hr
Project Management: $30 / hr
Labor: $20 / hr
use of local cooperators and onsite materials can reduce costs
old New Zealand cob house
This Cob House (Coquille, OR) - the inimitable Ianto Evans - one of "Top 10 Most Influential Cob Builders"
Straw Bale Studio - Great Lakes (MI) - Deanne Bednar's portfolio (> lifetime achievement award!)
Finger Lakes School of Natural Building (NY) - Matteo Lundgren
Earthen Shelter - Potter Valley, CA - Sasha Rabin & John Orcutt
Gregory Lehman - Goshen, IN
Uncle Mud - aka Chris McClellan (OH)
Hemp 4 Humanity (MI) - Cody Ley
Open Source Ecology (MO) - Marcin Jacobowski, PhD
Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage (MO)
Natural Building Network - global
Natural Builders (CA) - Kevin Rowell
The Year of Mud - Brian Liloia aka 'Ziggy" ... master of Japanese Plastering !
Kleiwerks International & natural builders directory
permies.com - Paul Wheaton's lab
Jeffrey the Natural Builder (UK)
Aprovecho Research Center (OR) - biomass stoves
School of Natural Building (UK) - Barbara Jones & Eileen Sutherland
Down to Earth Design (PA) - Sigi Koko (!)
MudStrawLove (NC) - Steve Kemble & Mollie Curry
Rising Earth Building - Mike McDonough !
Natural Building Collective - South Africa
Cob Research Institute - got cob approved in IRC 2021 App. AU!
Auroville Earth Institute - UNESCO Chair of Earth Arch
Geeli Mitti - a fantastic natural artist from India!
Habitat for Humanity - world's largest private builder
Yestermorrow Design/Build School (VT) - one of our favorites!
Natural Building Alliance (CO) - Jean Lotus & friends
Straw Bale Workshops (CO) - Timbo (see FREE courses online !)
Natural Home Builders (WA) - Gulliver Rankin!
Tuckey Design Studio (UK & Switzerland) - rammed earth
MudLove (UK) - good ol' Louise Southwell
Thannal Natural Homes - Biju Bhaskar
CalEarth (CA) - founded by Nader Khalili (SuperAdobe)
Mud Dauber School of Natural Building (NC)
Earthen Endeavors Natural Building (VT) - Liz Johndraw & Ariel Burns
Quail Springs Permaculture (CA) - Sasha Rabin (plus a couple Kellys & a Murphy! Erin Go Bragh!)
Earthen Shelter (CA) - Sasha Rabin (!) & John Orcutt
Build Outside the Box - Jeane & Kirsten
Haven Earth Trade School (TN) - Imani & River
Builders Without Borders - Frank Meyer, Kaki Hunter, Doni Kiffmeyer, Steve Kemble, Matts Myhrmann, Derek Roff, Gary Harvell, and Catherine Wanek.
PLUS: "The Golden Ratio" - an interesting video on how to design in harmony with proportions common in nature ...
PLUS: "The Vitruvian Triad" - a Roman architectural principle developed by Vitruvius that says properly built buildings should have "firmitas, utilitas, and venustas" - i.e. strength, utility and beauty ...
Michael D. Kelly, PE, LEED AP - project manager
Natural Builders Cooperative
(314) 934-0429