that does not harm the earth and ourselves. Natural builders use naturally occurring, unprocessed materials like sand, clay, straw, rock, gravel, sod, wood and salvaged/recycled materials like windows, doors, glass bottles and tires to build structures that please the eye, the heart, the wallet and the earth. A major principal of natural building is using what is locally available (vernacular). Natural builders use what is around, what is plentiful and what doesn't need to be transported long distances, burning fossil fuels. A natural building is built to last a long time, but, if and when it does bio-degrade, it does not create garbage but returns to the earth gracefully. In nature there is no waste. This is the goal with natural building.
Another principle of natural building is to consider vegetation, weather patterns and orientation to the sun, so as to be in harmony with the environment and to heat and light the building with the sun to minimize the need for artificial heating, cooling and lighting. Natural building is good exercise because, as with all construction, it is labour intensive. Natural building fosters community because it calls on many hands and many feet to get things built. This has been the case with the MudGirls here on Lasqueti Island, as it can in be in your community.
One of the goals of the Mud Girls Natural Building Collective is to promote sustainable housing through the techniques of natural building. For more information contact us!
site design by:
Cob is a sculptable mixture of sand, clay, straw and water. It is mixed by hand and by foot, and is applied by hand. Cob construction, also known as earthen building or natural building, is an ancient tradition used by people all over the world. Cob construction creates structures that provide excellent thermal mass and is great in passive solar heating (using the sun's light to help with heating.) It's incredibly conducive to creativity, allowing sculptural design which incorporates curvy roundness and unique forms. It's a very forgiving method of building and is great fun. It is completely non-toxic and is safe for folks with chemical sensitivities and pregnant women. It is even safe and easy for kids to help out. Natural building is the answer to the question of how we can provide ourselves with shelter in a way
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