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Cob Building

Oct 28
Love2
true cost natural building

Interview About the Reality of Natural Building

By Cob Building, Media, Timber Framing

true cost natural building

Oliver Goshey of Adundant Edge recently interviewed me for his podcast series. In our chat, we talked about the reality (or realities) of natural building, including the importance of building for your climate, the true cost of building a natural home, and some common misconceptions about natural materials. One piece of our conversation focuses on getting real about the expenses associated with natural building and the myth of the “$1000 house” (for lack of a better term). Although materials may be affordable, labor costs can be spendy for folks who aren’t able to do the work themselves.

We also talk some about the shou-sugi-ban wood preservation methods I’ve been experimenting with lately. Check out the full interview and tell me what you think. Questions and comments welcome.

Listen here: The reality of natural building and designing for your climate with Ziggy Liloia from “The Year of Mud”

Mar 03
Love5
Clay Plaster Benefits

The Unique & Beneficial Properties of Clay Plaster

By Clay Plaster, Straw Bale Building, Light Clay Straw, Cob Building
Clay Plaster Benefits

Clay plaster base coat application in process

Clay soil is one of the most ancient, rudimentary, yet effective building materials on the planet. Besides being naturally abundant across much of the earth, clay has unique properties that make it not only suitable but very desirable as a natural building material. Clay is used for the production of fired brick, sun-baked adobes, cob, and natural plaster finishes.

In this very basic introduction to clay soil, I will highlight some of the unique water-loving features and other useful attributes of clay when it’s used as a natural building material, particularly as a plaster finish.

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Feb 26
Love1
The Year of Mud 10 year anniversary

10 Years of Mud

By Cob Building, Workshops

The Year of Mud 10 year anniversary

It’s 2018, and that means The Year of Mud hits double digits this year (!). Ten years ago, I started The Year of Mud blog when I began my foolhardy journey into the world of natural building. Well dang. I’m not one to boast, but it’s been a lot of work to keep this website chugging that whole time. I certainly had no idea where I was headed when I decided to “build a mud hut” all those years ago. But one thing is for sure: natural building has been a huge focal point of my life since I first stuck my hands (and feet) in a batch of cob.

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Feb 16
Love9
insulation thermal mass

The Differences Between Insulation and Thermal Mass

By Winter, Straw Bale Building, Resources, Cob Building
trimming straw bale wall

A highly insulated straw bale home under construction

If you’re new to natural building, two of the most important fundamental concepts to understand are thermal mass and insulation. Materials for constructing walls typically fall into one category or the other. Understanding the differences will be critical if your goal is to build an efficient, comfortable house appropriate for your local climate. Let’s look at thermal mass and insulation in the simplest terms possible.

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Dec 05
Love2

Our Natural Building Story in New Pioneer Magazine

By Media, Straw Bale Building, Strawtron, South Slope Farm, Cob Building

New Pioneer Magazine - The Year of Mud

This summer,  April & I were interviewed for the winter issue of New Pioneer magazine. In it, we talk about our natural building journey and experiences living at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage and moving to Kentucky. It’s been a long time since I built the cob house that started all of this business (9 years ago, in fact). And even though it was only recently that we sold our straw bale house, we began work on that structure 5 years ago.

Doing this interview conjures up all those weird feeling associated with time and memory — like, some things feels so far away yet so recent at the same time. Anyway. Jereme did a great job with fact checking and this story gets my “yea that happened” stamp of approval. The article captures our story of learning how to build with mud and straw and all the mistakes and successes along the way.

You can purchase the winter issue of New Pioneer magazine here.

Sep 27
Love2

2017 Natural Building Essentials Workshop Photos

By Natural Building Workshops, Cob Oven, Clay Plaster, Photos, Cob Building

cob stomping mixing

We recently wrapped up our September Natural Building Essentials Workshop. Fourteen folks came out to participate, traveling from Texas, Florida, Kansas, Illinois, and beyond. It was an enjoyable ephemeral community for the week — everyone was eager to jump in the mud and help out. I enjoy this workshop format because it’s a chance to spend some quality time with the basic building blocks of a natural home — clay, sand, and straw.

Read ahead to view a photo gallery of the workshop!

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Sep 06
Love1

Fall is for Cob Benches & Outhouses

By Cob Building, Natural Building Workshops, Light Clay Straw
Framing the outhouse

Putting roof decking on the new outhouse

Our first official natural building project on the land this year is an outhouse. Ha! I kinda love that. Right now we’re in the midst of framing a small two stall outhouse that will be one of the site projects for work & learning during our upcoming Natural Building Essentials workshop. This outhouse is going to get a pretty special treatment in the form of light clay straw walls and a clay plaster finish. The finished product should be pretty de-luxe.

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Jun 07
Love0

Ziggy on The Permaculture Podcast

By Media, Timber Framing, Straw Bale Building, Homesteading, Cob Building, Permaculture
Clear Creek Road

This is Clear Creek, the valley we now call home

Last month, Scott Mann of The Permaculture Podcast came to our neighborhood to re-visit the community here on Clear Creek, the place we now call home just outside Berea, Kentucky. Last summer, he came for a visit to record a podcast and he had such a positive experience that he decided to make another trip. During his initial visit I was in Vermont attending a Permaculture Design Course, ironically enough.

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Feb 01
Love0

A New Chapter for Gobcobatron

By Cob Building, Strawtron
Gobcobatron, Cob House

A new chapter for Gobcobatron…

For long-time readers of this blog, you probably know the story of building my first house, Gobcobatron. That experience was, after all, the inspiration for “The Year of Mud” to begin with. About a month ago, we sold Gobcobatron. It’s exciting, a relief, and an interesting stew of emotions to no longer own what was once so very close to me. Mostly, I’m really glad to be completely untethered from a building I can’t easily maintain living 8+ hours away. The experience of selling the house also causes me to feel old(er) in a way, and a bit nostalgic too. And it’s fascinating to think about the house having its own story and its own path now, separate from me.

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