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Earthen Touch Natural Builders, We are natural building contractors who are committed to helping owner-builders create homes which are earth-friendly, sustainable and beautiful. From creating a natural home from the foundation up, or transforming your current living space with natural and sustainable elements, we are ready to assist in any manner. For a complete list of our services, view our website www.earthentouchbuilders.com. Carolyn Riege of Earthen Touch Natural Builders is a member of the NBN Board of Advisers. Santa Fe. *Natural Building Network Inspiring Supporters. 

The Adobe Association of the Southwest champions earth construction of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Its purpose is to be a voice within the earth building community. AAS shares knowledge about earthen construction and participates with other earth construction organizations. Host of the annual Adobe USA conference. www.adobeasw.com 

Ampersand Sustainable Learning Center is a place to explore aspects of sustainable living through hands-on experiences.   Our off-grid site demonstrates sustainable systems including permaculture, land restoration, photovoltaics, organic gardening and recycling wastewater. We build with natural and salvaged materials, cook with solar ovens, and rely on rain catchment.  We will be offering a series of natural building workshops and internships in 2008 including earth floors, earth plasters, greenhouse construction, earthbags, passive solar design and solar water systems. www.ampersandproject.org (505)780-0535. Cerrillos.

Carole Crews. Specializing in alis, historic restoration and making art from simple materials, Carole hopes her book on the subject, to be published by Gibbs Smith, will be out within the year. She has built a retreat and gathering space bordering national forest land in the NM high desert which includes a 16-ft. diameter adobe dome with cob and adobe additions. Her next project is to design and establish an affordable group home for elders and those in need of a rest cure. Contact at seacrews[at]taosnet.com or 575-758-7251.  www.carolecrews.com *10% Discount to Natural Building Network members on workshops or consultation fees. Taos.

Kurt Gardella is a part-time instructor at Northern New Mexico College in El Rito, NM, USA where course offerings are available in Adobe Construction through internet/distance education. Contact Kurt by email to learn more at kurt [at] nnmc.edu. El Rito.

Alan Macrae,  is a licensed contractor, native born New Mexican, and author of Mud, Space, and Spirit. His view of the world is a home not only reflects who we are but influences who we are. Experienced in adobe construction, Alan develops distinctive living spaces in Taos, New Mexico.  http://taosrealestatecondos.com/index.php

North Carolina

Ohio

Susan E. Clellan has been in construction for over 20 years, working in historic restoration, commercial and residential construction. For the past 13 years she has been involved with Natural Building and materials. Susan has designed for and built with adobe, strawbale, pumice-crete and rastra block and is available for consultations, design and construction. Cleveland. Email: sclellen [at] sbcglobal.net.

Texas

Bruce Thauburn, The Permaculture Playground, bruce.thauburn [at] gmail.com. When I was fifteen I got my first job as a plasterers apprentice. 47 years later there are not many types of constructs that are unfamiliar to me. The best thing about that is the experience to put an idea through to a predictable result while reserving niche spaces for spontaneous creativity. In 2007 at the Natural Builders Colloquium at Quiet Valley Ranch in Kerrvillle, Texas, I found my tribe and what I came here for. There is a bridge between the Heartfelt Natural Building World and the Commercial Project Management Principles and Disciplines being built and that is where I will dedicate my efforts. With Whimsey and Mirth we shall teach each other in the public eye. I am a teacher of children and a storyteller, a sonador if you will. My commitment is to be in service and share what I have learned. Ingleside on the Bay

Kindra Welch of ClaySandStraw.com works to support those who aspire to live in and/or build their own natural home. Through workshops, design consultation, construction management and old-fashioned hard work she helps people realize their building visions. Trained as an architect, Kindra followed her heart to work on construction sites and in communities. After completing an apprenticeship with Cob Cottage in 2004 she has dedicated her energy towards natural building in all its forms. Austin.

Czech Republic

Max Vittrup Jensen. I am currently busy building Czech Republic's first legal 'real' strawbale building, which will function as a demonstration house for natural building, renewable energy and permaculutre design. I'm a self taught natural builder, functioning pre-dominantly as consultant and instructor in all areas related to permaculture and sustainability. In '05 I put on the "1st European Natural Building Colloquium" in Hungary. My recent 40 year crises has me going commercially into developing a building company to make big-bale straw houses conventional for the mainstream...while extending my Human Ecology degree with a civil engineer study in Environmental Management, and becoming a dad...Radka, my partner is a Waldorf teacher. I'm Danish, lived in USA, Australia, Norway, Holland and now Czech since I left Denmark in '89. Bouzov. www.permalot.org

Permalot.......Over the hills, through the woods, and at the end of a dead-end road; that's where you'll find the little Hamlet of Bouzov Svojanov; a 600 year old village with a present-day population of only 20 local Czech people. It is also here that you will find a land trust which we would seek to manage as a model for rural sustainability and in doing so seek to return life to a village almost abandoned by the modern migration to the city. www.permalot.org

Denmark

Sara Tommerup, I am a 24-year old female Natural Building apprentice, who is currently looking for projects where I can help and teach, but most importantly, continue apprenticing to become a professional natural builder. Since 2006 I have apprenticed with Caroline Meyer White in Denmark, Cob Cottage Company in Oregon and Kiko Denzer, also in Oregon. Besides hands on building, I am very focused on creating natural building teaching environments and more extrovert communication between the conventional movement and the movement of sustainable living. Stommerup [at] gmail.com. Copenhagen.

England

Paul Tomkins is an independent hard-working individual with earthship/eco/permaculture and living materials building experience, eager to continue working and learning applying what I have learned to different climates and cultures. All round construction background and knowledge, very eager to travel and take part. Please contact for CV and help get me out there doing what I do best. Contact me via email at pablowmedown [at] yahoo.co.uk. East Sussex.

South Africa

McGregor Alternative Technology is a Non Profit Educational Institution teaching sustainable building, renewable energy, permaculture and holistic healing. We teach the poor and those who can't afford a home by giving them  skills on how to build and repair their own houses and those of other people as a means of employment. Our building courses of earthen/cob houses cover permaculture as a way of designing our homes and creating food forests, using minimal energy for maximum productivity. Western Cape. www.mat.org.za. 

Thailand

Pun Pun Organic Farm is a sustainable living and learning center. We propagate rare and indigenous seeds and host programs teaching organic farming, earthen building and sustainable living. Our second project is a family compound in Colorado, USA, to be a center for modeling different kinds of sustainable living techniques and natural building.
Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai. www.punpunthailand.org. 

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Architects

California

Architects/Designers/Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR), is an educational non-profit organization working for peace, environmental protection, ecological building, social justice, and the development of healthy communities. ADPSR believes that design practitioners have a significant role to play in the well-being of our communities: www.adpsr.org.

New Mexico

Econest  Building Center, is owned and managed by Robert Laporte and Paula Baker-Laporte. Paula Baker-Laporte is an architect, baubiologist and author specializing in healthy and ecological design. Santa Fe. www.econest.com 

New York

Kevin V. Connors, eco_logic STUDIO, provides Architecture, Engineering and Planning for ecological recreational, institutional, commercial and residential development. Involved with alternative building systems, low and high-tech materials and assemblies. Focus on architecture and spirit, therapeutic design. ecologicstudio [at] aol.com, (716) 834-9588. Buffalo. *Natural Building Network Sustainable Member. 

Sandra L. Heiser, eco_logic STUDIO, provides Architecture, Engineering and Planning for ecological recreational, institutional, commercial and residential development. Involved with alternative building systems, low and high-tech materials and assemblies. Focus on architecture and spirit, therapeutic design. ecologicstudio [at] aol.com, (716) 834-9588. Buffalo. *Natural Building Network Sustainable Member

Oregon

Erica Ann Bush, Assoc. AIA. B.Arch Cornell University, ’06. Currently designs for Nir Pearlson Architects, Inc. in Eugene. Specializes in passive solar and climate-sensitive design with a passion for natural building. Recently completed a cordwood pavilion in Ithaca, NY (pinetreepavilion.bushtoolbox .net). With experience in log-building, cordwood masonry, straw bale, light-clay, cob, and holistic acquisition of materials, Erica has much to offer clients who seek to build more sustainably. Contact Erica at erica[at]green-building.com. Eugene.

Denmark

Fornyet Energi architect Flemming Abrahamsson, for more than 30 years, has been working with renewable energy from sun, wind, biomass, compost and the like. His small firm works in the fields with the greatest importance to ecology: building stoves (rocket and masonry); composting toilets; masonry work; architecture services; consulting for building technicians and self- and with-builders working with Natural Building; courses, workshops and lectures in Natural Building; and building design. Fornyet Energi designs specialized components, manufactured by Danish producers, to meet specific local environmental needs. Stenlille. *Natural Building Network Regenerative Member

Sara Tommerup, I am a 24-year old female Natural Building apprentice, who is currently looking for projects where I can help and teach, but most importantly, continue apprenticing to become a professional natural builder. Since 2006 I have apprenticed with Caroline Meyer White in Denmark, Cob Cottage Company in Oregon and Kiko Denzer, also in Oregon. Besides hands on building, I am very focused on creating natural building teaching environments and more extrovert communication between the conventional movement and the movement of sustainable living. Stommerup [at] gmail.com. Copenhagen.

South Africa

McGregor Alternative Technology is a Non Profit Educational Institution teaching sustainable building, renewable energy, permaculture and holistic healing. We teach the poor and those who can't afford a home by giving them  skills on how to build and repair their own houses and those of other people as a means of employment. Our building courses of earthen/cob houses cover permaculture as a way of designing our homes and creating food forests, using minimal energy for maximum productivity. Western Cape. www.mat.org.za. 

Texas

Kindra Welch of ClaySandStraw.com works to support those who aspire to live in and/or build their own natural home. Through workshops, design consultation, construction management and old-fashioned hard work she helps people realize their building visions. Trained as an architect, Kindra followed her heart to work on construction sites and in communities. After completing an apprenticeship with Cob Cottage in 2004 she has dedicated her energy towards natural building in all its forms. Austin.

Thailand

Pun Pun Organic Farm is a sustainable living and learning center. We propagate rare and indigenous seeds and host programs teaching organic farming, earthen building and sustainable living. Our second project is a family compound in Colorado, USA, to be a center for modeling different kinds of sustainable living techniques and natural building.
Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai. www.punpunthailand.org. 

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Artists

California

Michelle Flores is an artist building in cob and using natural plasters. By trade she is a Fine Artist/Muralist/ Faux Finish Artist. Michelle has been certified as a Natural Plaster Installer by American Clay and is experienced in making and applying earthen plasters directly from the earth. www.shellynova.com. Ojai.

Kleiwerks International promotes social transformation and ecological regeneration by leading hands-on trainings in natural building and whole-systems solutions that result in community-based sustainability centers. We offer short workshops; six-week trainings for trainers; community events; volunteer opportunities ranging from a few days to season-long; international projects and programs; and urban education centers in Asheville, North Carolina and El Cerrito, California. www.kleiwerks.org

The Natural Builders is a contracting company offering design, build, and consultation services in natural construction. Based in the East Bay (San Francisco Bay, CA). The Natural Builders work in residential construction,
with owner-builders, schools, and communities to build healthy structures that emphasize the use of local materials including locally milled lumber, soils, straw and recycled materials. www.thenaturalbuilders.com 

Michele Pike is a member of Sunburst, an intentional community on California's Central Coast. The community runs a meditation retreat center on 4,000 acres where they present workshops and retreats with a variety of themes, highlighted by teaching the Sunburst meditation technique. Michele's particular interest is sustainable living. To that end, she has spear-headed the construction of a cob meditation structure with a living roof on the sanctuary as an example and inspiration for future resident/member dwellings. Michele is also the author of the book, How to Live An Exotic Life in an Ordinary World, published by Journey Publications. singinggarden [at] yahoo.com. Buellton.

Andrew Poundstone, Kortney Garrison, Mabel Garrison Poundstone. We are a family of three living, for now, about ten miles north of Tijuana. We returned from Peace Corps service in South America in 2005 and have been doing education work since then. We are looking for an opportunity to work/live/build in the northwest, preferrably rural Oregon. Our interests include natural building, gardening, small house design, natural/homebirth, photography, living the best life with as little money possible. (619) 474-2696, www.flickr.com/photos/onedeepd rawer. National City.

Betty Seaman, is an artist and natural builder living in Santa Barbara County.  She has taught extensively with Cob Cottage Company as well as on her family complex "Spirit Pine Sanctuary" where there are several cob homes and other structures. Betty is an experienced builder of structures large and small from homes to bread ovens.  Her passion is fresco, finish plasters, small intimate/sacred spaces (benches, meditation rooms, playhouses) and working with kids. Email: cobbetty [at] gmail.com. Los Olivos.

Hawaii

Aina Hale Earthworks is the natural building group of the To Each Their Due Organization, a nonprofit sustainable development group based in Puna, Hawaii.  It is our mission to educate people of the threat to the ecology and humanity of this planet from unsustainable lifestyles.  We are attempting to decrease humanity’s ecological impact by creating socially and environmentally sustainable structures, while educating people of the various ways to simplify lifestyles to help mitigate further crisis around the world. Through our workshops, we facilitate natural and sustainable construction, renewable energy implementation, and permaculture design for multiple applications.  Telephone 808-965-0344. www.toeachtheirdue.org. Hilo.

Michigan

Deanne Bednar, Illustrator of "The Hand-Sculpted House" and "The Natural Plaster Book", teaches Natural Building Workshops in Cob, Straw-Bale, Earthen and Lime Plasters, Thatching, Sacred Spaces and Design at her Strawbale Studio. Oxford.

New Mexico

Ampersand Sustainable Learning Center is a place to explore aspects of sustainable living through hands-on experiences.   Our off-grid site demonstrates sustainable systems including permaculture, land restoration, photovoltaics, organic gardening and recycling wastewater. We build with natural and salvaged materials, cook with solar ovens, and rely on rain catchment.  We will be offering a series of natural building workshops and internships in 2008 including earth floors, earth plasters, greenhouse construction, earthbags, passive solar design and solar water systems. www.ampersandproject.org (505)780-0535. Cerrillos.

Michael Blaha of Organic Arts is an artist, web designer, natural builder and cob enthusiast.  Michael keeps a blog about natural building and related topics at www.ilovecob.com. Contact Michael  at http://organic-arts.com/contact/. Taos. *Natural Building Network Inspiring Member

Carole Crews. Specializing in alis, historic restoration and making art from simple materials, Carole hopes her book on the subject, to be published by Gibbs Smith, will be out within the year. She has built a retreat and gathering space bordering national forest land in the NM high desert which includes a 16-ft. diameter adobe dome with cob and adobe additions. Her next project is to design and establish an affordable group home for elders and those in need of a rest cure. Contact at seacrews[at]taosnet.com or 575-758-7251.  www.carolecrews.com *10% Discount to Natural Building Network members on workshops or consultation fees. Taos.

North Carolina

The Ashevillage Institute (AVI) is an urban education center and living laboratory for sustainable solutions in action.  AVI is based in a residential household a few blocks from downtown Asheville, NC.  We offer workshops and service learning opportunities in permaculture, natural building, urban homesteading, natural healing, and related topics.  AVI is a project of Kleiwerks, www.kleiwerks.org.

Kleiwerks International promotes social transformation and ecological regeneration by leading hands-on trainings in natural building and whole-systems solutions that result in community-based sustainability centers. We offer short workshops; six-week trainings for trainers; community events; volunteer opportunities ranging from a few days to season-long; international projects and programs; and urban education centers in Asheville, North Carolina and El Cerrito, California. www.kleiwerks.org

Oregon

Kiko Denzer lives in western Oregon, where he shares home and garden with his wife Hannah and their two small boys. Kiko make things, writes, teaches, builds, and runs a little company called Hand Print Press. He's worked with earth as a building material since 1994. In addition to providing material for sculpture (and his home), the sudden coalescence of a "natural building movement" has provided him with a context where art is not just an aesthetic product or service, but rather a means to create harmony, beauty, and a living culture. Kiko is interested (and has experience in) various kinds of work, from sculpture to ovens, stoves, and fireplaces; compost toilets; interior and exterior design, construction, community development, and teaching. He is the author and publisher of Build Your Own Earth Oven, Dig Your Hands in the Dirt: A Manual for Making Art out of Earth, and Make a Simple Sundial. Blodgett. www.handprintpress.com 
http://www.kikodenzer.blogspot.com

From These Hands, LLC is a Portland based company that offers earthen building design, construction and consultation.  We also sell Local Mud Works, our original earthen floor mix.  Training or installation services are available with this product.  With our mission to provide these reliable earthen building services, we are rekindling the trust and knowledge to build with the earth.  Sukita Crimmel, the owner, is known for her love of mud! www.sukita.com 

Bernhard Masterson is the consummate natural builder who fuses a deep commitment to sustainable systems and a rich sense of aesthetics to create unique living environments. Trained as a sculptor and educator Bernhard has focused on natural building since 2002. He has become skilled in alternative waste systems, water management, Rocket stoves, earth ovens and Rumford fireplaces. Bernhard is a positive and insightful teacher who derives deep satisfaction from empowering others to pursue their visions. bernhard_masterson [at] hotmail.com.

Texas

Gary Zuker, Owner-Builder of timberframe and light straw-clay residence.  I have no prior construction experience, but after this one turned out so nice I would love an excuse to build another one! Austin. http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu /homepage/staff/Zuker/
StrawHou se/

Australia

The Cob Mob,  We are a resource for cob and natural building in Australia. We teach workshops on cob construction, earth ovens, rocket stoves, natural plasters and earthen floors. We provide design, consulting and information services on cob and natural building to the public, owner-builders, building professionals and officials. Working with schools and community groups, we organize cob projects creating beautiful outdoor spaces, strengthening community and deepening a sense of place and belonging. The Cob Mob is  Karen Stillwell Temple and Jason Temple. www.cobmob.com.au, thecobbers[at]gmail.com. Bobin, NSW.

Denmark

Sara Tommerup, I am a 24-year old female Natural Building apprentice, who is currently looking for projects where I can help and teach, but most importantly, continue apprenticing to become a professional natural builder. Since 2006 I have apprenticed with Caroline Meyer White in Denmark, Cob Cottage Company in Oregon and Kiko Denzer, also in Oregon. Besides hands on building, I am very focused on creating natural building teaching environments and more extrovert communication between the conventional movement and the movement of sustainable living. Stommerup [at] gmail.com. Copenhagen.

England

Paul Tomkins is an independent hard-working individual with earthship/eco/permaculture and living materials building experience, eager to continue working and learning applying what I have learned to different climates and cultures. All round construction background and knowledge, very eager to travel and take part. Please contact for CV and help get me out there doing what I do best. Contact me via email at pablowmedown [at] yahoo.co.uk. East Sussex.

 

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Balecob

Arizona

Seven Generations Natural Builders (SGNB) is dedicated to teaching people how to house themselves. We teach cob, straw bale, and other natural building skills. We advocate building with local natural materials using methods that are ecologically sensitive, environmentally sound, and economically affordable. We have six partners living spread out from the Southwest of the US, the Northwest, Northeast and Hawaii.  Inquiries in these locations is wonderful, but we also travel throughout the US and over seas for the right projects. http://www.sgnb.com

California

The Natural Builders is a contracting company offering design, build, and consultation services in natural construction. Based in the East Bay (San Francisco Bay, CA). The Natural Builders work in residential construction,
with owner-builders, schools, and communities to build healthy structures that emphasize the use of local materials including locally milled lumber, soils, straw and recycled materials. www.thenaturalbuilders.com 

Betty Seaman, is an artist and natural builder living in Santa Barbara County.  She has taught extensively with Cob Cottage Company as well as on her family complex "Spirit Pine Sanctuary" where there are several cob homes and other structures. Betty is an experienced builder of structures large and small from homes to bread ovens.  Her passion is fresco, finish plasters, small intimate/sacred spaces (benches, meditation rooms, playhouses) and working with kids. Email: cobbetty [at] gmail.com. Los Olivos.

Hawaii

Seven Generations Natural Builders (SGNB) is dedicated to teaching people how to house themselves. We teach cob, straw bale, and other natural building skills. We advocate building with local natural materials using methods that are ecologically sensitive, environmentally sound, and economically affordable. We have three partners living spread out from the Southwest of the US, the Northwest, and Hawaii.  Inquiries in these locations is wonderful, but we also travel throughout the US and over seas for the right projects. Oahu. http://www.sgnb.com 

Oregon

Cob Cottage Co., is committed to deconsumerizing, to reducing the flow of cash, resources and waste, and helping others to do the same. We work with a wide range of natural materials at the North American School of Natural Building where we teach. (Ianto Evans, Linda Smiley). Coquille.

Bernhard Masterson is the consummate natural builder who fuses a deep commitment to sustainable systems and a rich sense of aesthetics to create unique living environments. Trained as a sculptor and educator Bernhard has focused on natural building since 2002. He has become skilled in alternative waste systems, water management, Rocket stoves, earth ovens and Rumford fireplaces. Bernhard is a positive and insightful teacher who derives deep satisfaction from empowering others to pursue their visions. bernhard_masterson [at] hotmail.com. Portland.

Ernie Wisner, Natural Builder and Teacher in Cob, Balecob, and Rocket Stoves. Portland. eawisner [at] gmail.com

Jeffrey Empfield promotes ecological and economical solutions for beautiful shelter.  Having grown up in a family of carpenters, Empfield's work combines a lifelong practice of design with his professional background in environmental history and sustainable agriculture/landscape management.  With an emphasis on local ecology and materials, Empfield creates natural, modest, affordable, and soulful spaces.  Specialties: timberframing, strawbale, cob and earth plaster, salvaged materials, Japanese-style gardens and structures, courtyards and transitions between inside and out.  Willing to travel.  oikosdesign[at]gmail.com. Bend.

Washington

Eli Adadow, Ancient Earth School Natural Building is an organization dedicate to experiential education through building sustainable structures using natural materials. Located on Whidbey island just north of Seattle, Ancient Earth has been teaching hands -on workshops since 2001. Our medium is primarily the natural environment. Our modalities include Cob, Straw bale, Earth Bag, Lite Clay, Natural Plasters, Earthen Floors and Mass Heating. We host workshops and offer hosting, we consult in our region as well as travel.  Join us for information and self transformation . We build with our hands, but also our hearts. www.naturalbuildingschool.org. ancientearth [at] whidbey.com (360)331-7621. 
Freeland.

Vincent Miresse, Holistic & Sustainable Living Soulutions ~Handy Human, Custom Work, and Manifestation~,  A natural and simple living consultation and construction company, specializing in the ecology of green and natural building, which offers lifestyle and building alternatives and solutions to its community and clientele. (360) 733-2393, vincentmiresse [at] gmail.com. Bellingham.

Wisconsin

Bryan Burnoski is currently based in the Midwest in a small Western Wisconsin town conveniently located one hour north of Minneapolis, Minnesota.  I will be hosting various workshops focusing on cob structures using balecob, rocket stoves, earthen ovens, garden walls and benches. Projects will be ongoing and may not always be in a workshop format. I am interested in hosting people who want to learn how to build with local resources in order to create beautiful, simple and natural structures. Email: bryanburnoski [at] hotmail.com or call 651-428-5493. Osceola.

Czech Republic

Max Vittrup Jensen. I am currently busy building Czech Republic's first legal 'real' strawbale building, which will function as a demonstration house for natural building, renewable energy and permaculutre design. I'm a self taught natural builder, functioning pre-dominantly as consultant and instructor in all areas related to permaculture and sustainability. In '05 I put on the "1st European Natural Building Colloquium" in Hungary. My recent 40 year crises has me going commercially into developing a building company to make big-bale straw houses conventional for the mainstream...while extending my Human Ecology degree with a civil engineer study in Environmental Management, and becoming a dad...Radka, my partner is a Waldorf teacher. I'm Danish, lived in USA, Australia, Norway, Holland and now Czech since I left Denmark in '89. Bouzov. www.permalot.org

Permalot.......Over the hills, through the woods, and at the end of a dead-end road; that's where you'll find the little Hamlet of Bouzov Svojanov; a 600 year old village with a present-day population of only 20 local Czech people. It is also here that you will find a land trust which we would seek to manage as a model for rural sustainability and in doing so seek to return life to a village almost abandoned by the modern migration to the city. www.permalot.org

Denmark

Sara Tommerup, I am a 24-year old female Natural Building apprentice, who is currently looking for projects where I can help and teach, but most importantly, continue apprenticing to become a professional natural builder. Since 2006 I have apprenticed with Caroline Meyer White in Denmark, Cob Cottage Company in Oregon and Kiko Denzer, also in Oregon. Besides hands on building, I am very focused on creating natural building teaching environments and more extrovert communication between the conventional movement and the movement of sustainable living. Stommerup [at] gmail.com. Copenhagen.

England

Paul Tomkins is an independent hard-working individual with earthship/eco/permaculture and living materials building experience, eager to continue working and learning applying what I have learned to different climates and cultures. All round construction background and knowledge, very eager to travel and take part. Please contact for CV and help get me out there doing what I do best. Contact me via email at pablowmedown [at] yahoo.co.uk. East Sussex.

Ireland

Paul Dillon is a builder and teacher in cob, balecob and natural building design. Co. Tipperary.

South Africa

McGregor Alternative Technology is a Non Profit Educational Institution teaching sustainable building, renewable energy, permaculture and holistic healing. We teach the poor and those who can't afford a home by giving them  skills on how to build and repair their own houses and those of other people as a means of employment. Our building courses of earthen/cob houses cover permaculture as a way of designing our homes and creating food forests, using minimal energy for maximum productivity. Western Cape. www.mat.org.za. 

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Bamboo

California

Kleiwerks International promotes social transformation and ecological regeneration by leading hands-on trainings in natural building and whole-systems solutions that result in community-based sustainability centers. We offer short workshops; six-week trainings for trainers; community events; volunteer opportunities ranging from a few days to season-long; international projects and programs; and urban education centers in Asheville, North Carolina and El Cerrito, California. www.kleiwerks.org

The Natural Builders is a contracting company offering design, build, and consultation services in natural construction. Based in the East Bay (San Francisco Bay, CA). The Natural Builders work in residential construction,
with owner-builders, schools, and communities to build healthy structures that emphasize the use of local materials including locally milled lumber, soils, straw and recycled materials. www.thenaturalbuilders.com 

Hawaii

Aina Hale Earthworks is the natural building group of the To Each Their Due Organization, a nonprofit sustainable development group based in Puna, Hawaii.  It is our mission to educate people of the threat to the ecology and humanity of this planet from unsustainable lifestyles.  We are attempting to decrease humanity’s ecological impact by creating socially and environmentally sustainable structures, while educating people of the various ways to simplify lifestyles to help mitigate further crisis around the world. Through our workshops, we facilitate natural and sustainable construction, renewable energy implementation, and permaculture design for multiple applications.  Telephone 808-965-0344. www.toeachtheirdue.org. Hilo.

New Mexico

Pete Fust has been studying, propagating, and building with bamboo for several decades. Kingston. www.strawbalecentral.com *Natural Building Network Regenerative Member

North Carolina

Kleiwerks International promotes social transformation and ecological regeneration by leading hands-on trainings in natural building and whole-systems solutions that result in community-based sustainability centers. We offer short workshops; six-week trainings for trainers; community events; volunteer opportunities ranging from a few days to season-long; international projects and programs; and urban education centers in Asheville, North Carolina and El Cerrito, California. www.kleiwerks.org

Washington

Vincent Miresse, Holistic & Sustainable Living Soulutions ~Handy Human, Custom Work, and Manifestation~, A natural and simple living consultation and construction company, specializing in the ecology of green and natural building, which offers lifestyle and building alternatives and solutions to its community and clientele. (360) 733-2393, vincentmiresse [at] gmail.com. Bellingham.

Denmark

Sara Tommerup, I am a 24-year old female Natural Building apprentice, who is currently looking for projects where I can help and teach, but most importantly, continue apprenticing to become a professional natural builder. Since 2006 I have apprenticed with Caroline Meyer White in Denmark, Cob Cottage Company in Oregon and Kiko Denzer, also in Oregon. Besides hands on building, I am very focused on creating natural building teaching environments and more extrovert communication between the conventional movement and the movement of sustainable living. Stommerup [at] gmail.com. Copenhagen.

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Building Codes

Arizona

Development Center for Appropriate Technology, works to enhance the health of the planet and our communities by promoting a shift to sustainable construction and development through leadership, strategic relationships, and education. (David Eisenberg, Tony Novelli). Tucson. 

David Eisenberg co-founded the Development Center for Appropriate Technology in 1991. He has decades of construction experience ranging from construction of the steel and glass cover of Biosphere 2 in Oracle, Arizona to building structures of concrete, structural steel,  masonry, wood, adobe, rammed earth, and straw bales. He co-wrote The Straw Bale House book, and helped write the first loadbearing straw bale construction building code for the City of Tucson and Pima County, Arizona. He has been working to create a sustainable context for building codes, offering trainings on alternative building approaches for code officials, and guiding alliances with partners in specific activities, such as the ASTM Earthen Materials Task Group and the Codes Committee of the U.S. Green Building Council. He served two terms on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Green Building Council and was served as vice-chair of the ASTM E6.71 Subcommittee on sustainability for buildings. www.dcat.net. 

British Columbia

O.U.R. Ecovillage is a 25 acre model/demonstration sustainable village, originating in 1999, is well known for it's work in legitimizing sustainable design - particularly within the regulatory process.  The village is rezoned as a new precedent-setting model which includes aspects as 1)a protected conservation park, 2) an organic production farm, 3) a school (working on academic accreditation), and 4) a residential housing cluster (cob/strawbale hybrids). O.U.R. Ecovillage is the forum/setting for "TOPIA: The Sustainable Learning Community Institute". www.ourecovillage.org Shawnigan Lake. *Natural Building Network Inspiring Member

California

Kleiwerks International promotes social transformation and ecological regeneration by leading hands-on trainings in natural building and whole-systems solutions that result in community-based sustainability centers. We offer short workshops; six-week trainings for trainers; community events; volunteer opportunities ranging from a few days to season-long; international projects and programs; and urban education centers in Asheville, North Carolina and El Cerrito, California. www.kleiwerks.org

North Carolina

Kleiwerks International promotes social transformation and ecological regeneration by leading hands-on trainings in natural building and whole-systems solutions that result in community-based sustainability centers. We offer short workshops; six-week trainings for trainers; community events; volunteer opportunities ranging from a few days to season-long; international projects and programs; and urban education centers in Asheville, North Carolina and El Cerrito, California. www.kleiwerks.org

Texas

Bruce Thauburn, The Permaculture Playground, bruce.thauburn [at] gmail.com. When I was fifteen I got my first job as a plasterers apprentice. 47 years later there are not many types of constructs that are unfamiliar to me. The best thing about that is the experience to put an idea through to a predictable result while reserving niche spaces for spontaneous creativity. In 2007 at the Natural Builders Colloquium at Quiet Valley Ranch in Kerrvillle, Texas, I found my tribe and what I came here for. There is a bridge between the Heartfelt Natural Building World and the Commercial Project Management Principles and Disciplines being built and that is where I will dedicate my efforts. With Whimsey and Mirth we shall teach each other in the public eye. I am a teacher of children and a storyteller, a sonador if you will. My commitment is to be in service and share what I have learned. Ingleside on the Bay

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Building Design

Arizona

Shay Salomon, is a carpenter and construction manager who coaches owner-builders towards a mortgage-free life, and leads building and mindfulness workshops, usually for women. A cofounder, with Greg Johnson, Jay Shafer, and Nigel Valdez of the Small House Society (www.smallhousesociety.org), she wrote Little House on a Small Planet (Lyons Press/Globe Pequot, 2006) which chronicles the small house movement and offers advise to people who want to improve their life by living in far less space and creating Sacred Spaces. Tucson. www.littlehouseonasmallplanet .com

Seven Generations Natural Builders (SGNB) is dedicated to teaching people how to house themselves. We teach cob, straw bale, and other natural building skills. We advocate building with local natural materials using methods that are ecologically sensitive, environmentally sound, and economically affordable. We have six partners living spread out from the Southwest of the US, the Northwest, Northeast and Hawaii.  Inquiries in these locations is wonderful, but we also travel throughout the US and over seas for the right projects. http://www.sgnb.com

British Columbia

Elke Cole, Natural House Design.  Elke designs, builds and teaches "houses that love you back". Her background is in architecture with a degree received in Germany. After independently working on home designs in the Comox Valley since moving to Canada, she became involved with natural building in 1994. Since then she has worked both independently as well as with the Cob Cottage Company, the Down to Earth Building Bee and Cobworks. She is also coordinating  the "Natural Building Skillbuilder" at O.U.R. ECOVILLAGE, Shawnigan Lake. Victoria.

Michael Hollihn, Prana Timber Frames. I am a traditional timber framer with a focus on using sustainably harvested timber and light-clay infill. I am familiar with western and japanese style timber framing. I offer complete design from forest management, ecosystem mapping, prescription harvest, with a goal of managing the forest into old-growth succession. On site saw-milling and a passive-solar designed home that will stand for hundreds of years. Midway. www.circleworks.ca

Hajo Meijer is the sole proprietor of EcoCentric Design, an architectural design studio located in Southeastern B.C., which strives to integrate beauty, functionality, ecology and spirituality into the built environment, utilizing natural, healthy materials and sustainable technology. www.ecocentricdesign.ca. Kaslo.

California

Architects/Designers/Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR), is an educational non-profit organization working for peace, environmental protection, ecological building, social justice, and the development of healthy communities. ADPSR believes that design practitioners have a significant role to play in the well-being of our communities: www.adpsr.org.

SunRay Kelley's organic designs take their form from the shapes of living trees.  The teacher in his first college drafting class told SunRay on seeing his designs,  "Learn to use a hammer, boy, because no one but you is going to be able to build that." Since then, Sunray has been building things that "nobody but SunRay could build."  The structures seem timeless and rooted, like they grew from the site. His forms had always been organic, based on wild round timber, but incorporating the sculptural qualities of earthen building--cob, light-clay straw and strawbale--into his work has been "a revelation and a completion". SunRay has personally contributed his energy to homes, temples and "follies" across the United States.  He has traveled the world studying buildings and live patterns both modern and ancient.  His unique style and personal energy have earned him legend status, even among master craftsmen.  www.sunraykelley.com. Middletown.

Kleiwerks International promotes social transformation and ecological regeneration by leading hands-on trainings in natural building and whole-systems solutions that result in community-based sustainability centers. We offer short workshops; six-week trainings for trainers; community events; volunteer opportunities ranging from a few days to season-long; international projects and programs; and urban education centers in Asheville, North Carolina and El Cerrito, California. www.kleiwerks.org

Penny Livingston-Stark is internationally recognized as a prominent permaculture teacher, designer and speaker. She has been working professionally in the land management and development field for 25 years and has extensive experience in all phases of ecologically sound landscape design and construction as well as the use of natural non-toxic building materials. She specializes in site planning & design of resource-rich landscapes, integrating rainwater collection, edible landscaping, pond and water systems, habitat development and watershed restoration for homes, co-housing communities, businesses and diverse-yield perennial farms. Penny currently serves on the board of the Solar Living Institute and The Institute of Noetic Sciences' Site Development Committee. Bolinas.

The Natural Builders is a contracting company offering design, build, and consultation services in natural construction. Based in the East Bay (San Francisco Bay, CA). The Natural Builders work in residential construction,
with owner-builders, schools, and communities to build healthy structures that emphasize the use of local materials including locally milled lumber, soils, straw and recycled materials. www.thenaturalbuilders.com 

Candy Vanderhoff, Consultant in green building materials and bioclimatic home design. Is Interested in spiritual process and methods of construction as it relates to ones values and beliefs based on vast research of indigenous architecture of Oceania.  Recently founded poetrybench.com, a women's earthen bench building group in San Diego.  Writes and teaches sustainable village design and native plant restoration programs to youth.  Owner/ builder of a two chamber cob oven and is currently designing homes for Katrina victims. Has a masters degree in architecture. San Diego. Candy is a member of the Board of Directors of the Natural Building Network. *Natural Building Network Inspiring Member

Colorado

Solar Energy International (SEI) provides education and training to decision makers, technicians and consumers of renewable energies. SEI also provides the expertise to plan, engineer and implement sustainable development projects worldwide. Our professionals have project and training experience in the Americas, Africa, Micronesia and the Caribbean. During the past 12 years, SEI staff have delivered services to the Pan American Health Organizations, Non-Governmental development organizations (NGOs), foreign, national and state governments, universities and individuals seeking the benefits of renewable energy. Carbondale. http://solarenergy.org/ 

Hawaii

Aina Hale Earthworks is the natural building group of the To Each Their Due Organization, a nonprofit sustainable development group based in Puna, Hawaii.  It is our mission to educate people of the threat to the ecology and humanity of this planet from unsustainable lifestyles.  We are attempting to decrease humanity’s ecological impact by creating socially and environmentally sustainable structures, while educating people of the various ways to simplify lifestyles to help mitigate further crisis around the world. Through our workshops, we facilitate natural and sustainable construction, renewable energy implementation, and permaculture design for multiple applications.  Telephone 808-965-0344. www.toeachtheirdue.org. Hilo.

Seven Generations Natural Builders (SGNB) is dedicated to teaching people how to house themselves. We teach cob, straw bale, and other natural building skills. We advocate building with local natural materials using methods that are ecologically sensitive, environmentally sound, and economically affordable. We have three partners living spread out from the Southwest of the US, the Northwest, and Hawaii.  Inquiries in these locations is wonderful, but we also travel throughout the US and over seas for the right projects. Oahu. http://www.sgnb.com 

New Mexico

Earthen Touch Natural Builders, We are natural building contractors who are committed to helping owner-builders create homes which are earth-friendly, sustainable and beautiful. From creating a natural home from the foundation up, or transforming your current living space with natural and sustainable elements, we are ready to assist in any manner. For a complete list of our services, view our website www.earthentouchbuilders.com. Carolyn Riege of Earthen Touch Natural Builders is a member of the NBN Board of Advisers. Santa Fe. *Natural Building Network Inspiring Supporters. 

Ampersand Sustainable Learning Center is a place to explore aspects of sustainable living through hands-on experiences.   Our off-grid site demonstrates sustainable systems including permaculture, land restoration, photovoltaics, organic gardening and recycling wastewater. We build with natural and salvaged materials, cook with solar ovens, and rely on rain catchment.  We will be offering a series of natural building workshops and internships in 2008 including earth floors, earth plasters, greenhouse construction, earthbags, passive solar design and solar water systems. www.ampersandproject.org (505)780-0535. Cerrillos.

Econest  Building Center, is owned and managed by Robert Laporte and Paula Baker-Laporte. Paula Baker-Laporte is an architect, baubiologist and author specializing in healthy and ecological design. Santa Fe.

Tom Watson, Whole Systems for Human Comfort, Site Planning, Water Systems,  telephone 505-501-0949. Embudo.

 

New York

Kevin V. Connors, eco_logic STUDIO, provides Architecture, Engineering and Planning for ecological recreational, institutional, commercial and residential development. Involved with alternative building systems, low and high-tech materials and assemblies. Focus on architecture and spirit, therapeutic design. ecologicstudio [at] aol.com, (716) 834-9588. Buffalo. *Natural Building Network Sustainable Member

Earthwood Building School, is a small "mom and pop" business run by Rob and Jaki Roy. Rob, active in the alternative building field for 27 years, is the author of thirteen owner-building books and has conducted hundreds of workshops at Earthwood and throughout the United States. Jaki instructs at the hands-on sessions and keeps the school running smoothly from behind the scenes. Through its course offerings, books, videos (and DVD), building plans and conferences, Earthwood strives to promote an integrated approach to home design, emphasizing energy efficiency, self-sufficiency and responsible stewardship of natural resources. West Chazy.

Sandra L. Heiser, eco_logic STUDIO, provides Architecture, Engineering and Planning for ecological recreational, institutional, commercial and residential development. Involved with alternative building systems, low and high-tech materials and assemblies. Focus on architecture and spirit, therapeutic design. ecologicstudio [at] aol.com, (716) 834-9588. Buffalo.

Sunstone Cottage & Cabin,  Anne & Don Sacilowski. Specializing in plans under 1,000 sq. ft. Plans available from 224 sq. ft- 1,000 sq.ft. Simple dwellings that have an emphasis on storage, efficiency and most of all, charm. Offering a choice of plans suited to your needs, working one-on-one to achieve that goal. Small plans are not all created equal, and Sunstone is dedicated to providing a variety of plans to anyone seeking a home in this size range. Email: sunstonecottage [at] aol.com. Depew.

North Carolina

The Ashevillage Institute (AVI) is an urban education center and living laboratory for sustainable solutions in action.  AVI is based in a residential household a few blocks from downtown Asheville, NC.  We offer workshops and service learning opportunities in permaculture, natural building, urban homesteading, natural healing, and related topics.  AVI is a project of Kleiwerks, www.kleiwerks.org.

Kleiwerks International promotes social transformation and ecological regeneration by leading hands-on trainings in natural building and whole-systems solutions that result in community-based sustainability centers. We offer short workshops; six-week trainings for trainers; community events; volunteer opportunities ranging from a few days to season-long; international projects and programs; and urban education centers in Asheville, North Carolina and El Cerrito, California. www.kleiwerks.org

Ohio

Susan E. Clellan has been in construction for over 20 years, working in historic restoration, commercial and residential construction. For the past 13 years she has been involved with Natural Building and materials. Susan has designed for and built with adobe, strawbale, pumice-crete and rastra block and is available for consultations, design and construction. Cleveland. Email: sclellen [at] sbcglobal.net.

Oregon

BioLime is a new company based in Portland, Oregon that intends to introduce & sell its own line of Bio-ecological Lime paints & plasters. No synthetics, no polymers, 0 VOCs, earth-based color pigments and purely natural adhesives and resins with an ingredient base dating back to the historical lime plasters of pre-Pompeian building systems. Our product line is guaranteed with over 2000 years of time-tested history. BioLime will provide training and support for its products at its showroom/studio in Portland. www.biolime.com, 503-245-1702.

Kiko Denzer lives in western Oregon, where he shares home and garden with his wife Hannah and their two small boys. Kiko make things, writes, teaches, builds, and runs a little company called Hand Print Press. He's worked with earth as a building material since 1994. In addition to providing material for sculpture (and his home), the sudden coalescence of a "natural building movement" has provided him with a context where art is not just an aesthetic product or service, but rather a means to create harmony, beauty, and a living culture. Kiko is interested (and has experience in) various kinds of work, from sculpture to ovens, stoves, and fireplaces; compost toilets; interior and exterior design, construction, community development, and teaching. He is the author and publisher of Build Your Own Earth Oven, Dig Your Hands in the Dirt: A Manual for Making Art out of Earth, and Make a Simple Sundial. Blodgett. www.handprintpress.com 
http://www.kikodenzer.blogspot.com

From These Hands, LLC is a Portland based company that offers earthen building design, construction and consultation.  We also sell Local Mud Works, our original earthen floor mix.  Training or installation services are available with this product.  With our mission to provide these reliable earthen building services, we are rekindling the trust and knowledge to build with the earth.  Sukita Crimmel, the owner, is known for her love of mud! www.sukita.com

House Alive! We teach workshops in cob, natural building, appropriate technology and design. We integrate these disciplines in our workshops so that participants gain confidence and knowledge to start planning more sustainable and wholesome strategies for building and living. Our family lives in a code approved natural building. Our home site displays all the techniques we teach, including solar electricity, composting toilets, several strawbale and cob buildings, greywater systems and more. We always welcome visitors! Jacksonville. www.housealive.org

White Oak Farm & Education Center  is a non-profit farm based education center nestled into a northern fold of the Siskiyou mountains of Southern Oregon. The Farm is dedicated to pursuing community food security, fostering agricultural and ecological diversity, and teaching the arts of sustainable living.  We offer a variety of hands-on workshops in natural building, permaculture, and ecological forestry that focus on real world approaches to housing and feeding ourselves and our community. Williams. www.whiteoakfarmcsa.org

Jeffrey Empfield promotes ecological and economical solutions for beautiful shelter.  Having grown up in a family of carpenters, Empfield's work combines a lifelong practice of design with his professional background in environmental history and sustainable agriculture/landscape management.  With an emphasis on local ecology and materials, Empfield creates natural, modest, affordable, and soulful spaces.  Specialties: timberframing, strawbale, cob and earth plaster, salvaged materials, Japanese-style gardens and structures, courtyards and transitions between inside and out.  Willing to travel.  oikosdesign[at]gmail.com. Bend.

Texas

Gary Zuker, Owner-Builder of timberframe and light straw-clay residence.  I have no prior construction experience, but after this one turned out so nice I would love an excuse to build another one! Austin. http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu /homepage/staff/Zuker/
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Bruce Thauburn, The Permaculture Playground, bruce.thauburn [at] gmail.com. When I was fifteen I got my first job as a plasterers apprentice. 47 years later there are not many types of constructs that are unfamiliar to me. The best thing about that is the experience to put an idea through to a predictable result while reserving niche spaces for spontaneous creativity. In 2007 at the Natural Builders Colloquium at Quiet Valley Ranch in Kerrvillle, Texas, I found my tribe and what I came here for. There is a bridge between the Heartfelt Natural Building World and the Commercial Project Management Principles and Disciplines being built and that is where I will dedicate my efforts. With Whimsey and Mirth we shall teach each other in the public eye. I am a teacher of children and a storyteller,