Natural Builders Cooperative

About Us

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 ...

 Our Services

• 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!

Pricing & Scheduling

How it works:

1. FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION - for most projects, we would want to visit the site and discuss your plans with you first.

2. 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

3. PRICING:  

   • Design:  $40 / hr

   • Project Management:  $30 / hr

   • Labor:  $20 / hr

   • use of local cooperators and onsite materials can reduce costs

This Cob House (Coquille, OR) - the inimitable Ianto Evans - one of "Top 10 Most Influential Cob Builders"

> good demonstration video 

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!

Cyprien Outdoor Adventures

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

Natural Building Blog 

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. 

Contact Us

Michael D. Kelly, PE, LEED AP - project manager

Natural Builders Cooperative

(314) 934-0429

mike@oakandlimestone.org