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Natural Building Portfolio

The Year of Mud

My natural building experience is multi-faceted. Since 2008, I’ve designed and built structures from the ground up and contributed work to many other buildings. Currently, my emphasis is designing and building custom timber frames and installing natural plaster finishes. Here’s a broader look at the types of work I’ve done over the past 10+ years:

  • Clay and lime plaster finishes
  • Custom timber frames
  • Straw bale, cob, and light clay straw wall construction
  • Earthen floor installations
  • Cob oven construction
  • Dry stone walls

How Can I Help You?

Here are some of the services I am happy to offer:

  • Timber frame design and fabrication (small homes, pavilions, outdoor structures, etc.)
  • Plaster finishes including clay and lime (for straw bale, light-clay straw, wood lath, drywall, and other wall types)
  • Earthen floor installations (in new builds and remodels)
  • On-site and remote consultation — topics include appropriate material choices for your climate, helping clarify your vision for your project, design troubleshooting, detail considerations

Please contact me for more details. I’m located in Berea, Kentucky but I will take on select traveling work within a reasonable distance. Please note that I do not build cob homes in case you are wondering!

Natural Building Portfolio

Here are a few examples of my work with timber framing, straw bale, natural plasters, earthen floors, and more. These days, I focus on timber framing and natural plastering work. I love the opportunity to work with timber and create something beautiful, durable, and long-lasting. And natural plasters bring me great joy, too — there’s something very fulfilling about the timeless qualities of earthen materials. A beautifully plastered wall will never go out of style, you know?

Workshops and Events

Every year, we host Natural Building Workshop at our place, South Slope Farm in central-eastern Kentucky. We thrive on the magic and connections that happen when we convene groups of people to share in these joyful experiences. During the summer of 2020, we began hosting monthly Pizza Nights. After three+ years of regular Pizza Nights, we’ve been grateful to help cultivate a new kind of community gathering centered around delicious food and spending quality time outside.

Assorted Woodworking Portfolio

When it comes to woodworking, I like to make “furniture of necessity” in particular, and I’m frequently finding new sources of inspiration. I wish I had another lifetime just to pursue working with wood. Maybe I have too many interests…

Want To Know More?

Do you want to know more about what you see here? Send me a message and let’s talk!