Building with Nature in Mind | Musing on Natural Building
We're told that we are supposed to get a job so that we can make money to pay for things we need to live.
Live edge cedar siding and walnut door trim from our land with clay plaster. Note the solar panels. We get 100% of our energy needs fulfilled through solar.
Unpacking this belief has shown me that not only do I not need to pay for all (or even most) of the bare necessities, but that the options available in the mainstream are not always healthy, ethical, beautiful or aligned with nature.
Subscribing to the belief that we are not capable to meet our own basic needs robs us of an essential part of being human.
It is only recently that we have accepted the reality that making a wage was the best way to meet our needs. Money is necessary today (unless you're really hardcore), but it's a shame that the majority of the population is not able or believes they are not able to meet their own needs. Meeting our basic needs of water, food, water, shelter and medicine are given over to the experts or professionals.
It hasn't always been this way...
View from our gazebo of the clay plaster on our solar shed and decorative flags made by a friend.
Providing for oneself, family, community or tribe is the simplest act of being radically human To address the roots of the life we live everyday. In ways large and small, we can meet some or most of our own basic needs.
Shelter building is done by most species on Earth, but why do we humans "leave it to the pros"?
Since awakening to a deeper, expanded and illuminated view of the world, I have been focused on the basics of water, food, water, shelter and medicine. Shelter is the subject of this post, and I'd like to explore that a bit here.
A heritage yellow pine log home we visited in Arkansas with oak shingled roof. Built in early 1800s, this is now a historical landmark. Log cabins such as these are traditional in this area.
As I mentioned earlier, if we give over control to others, we are not always meeting our needs in a manner that is aligned with the Earth.
In the case with the vast majority of buildings, the origins and outcomes are divorced from Nature. The methods are standardized (time is money right?) and horrendously polluting and destructive materials are utilized as a matter of course. What gives?
Concrete is used unscrupulously and has become the standard method of building in many cases. The production of cement (the dry products that becomes cement when mixed with water) is very energy intensive, harmful and polluting from production until it becomes stone. It is in fact one of the primary producers of greenhouse gases source. This doesn't even touch on the negative effects of pavement on the watershed (which are massive). And don't even get me started on vinyl...
From off-gassing plastic materials to poor air quality and the necessary ties to the bank, modern building is not designed to support healthy habitations. Rather it is standardized to allow for quick production of uniform building (and to make lots of money in the process!).
Detail of our cedar log cabin.
Unless you're rolling in the dough, most of us must settle for standard methods of construction that make sick buildings. Glues, fire retardants and plastics all make for an unhealthy body that may manifest in a wide range of symptoms and sensitivities. But.....
By choosing to DIY you can create an empowered and life-giving natural building
We have chosen this lifestyle because we believe in a better way of living than the modern culture that has severed much of its ties to the natural world. Wren and I both have visited many buildings constructed with natural materials and in alignment with nature and we feel the difference. Wren is especially sensitive and thrives in natural buildings and usually suffers a bit in modern toxic environments. We caught the natural building bugs, it's contagious.
There's something ancient, connected and inherently beautiful and healthy about natural buildings.
Meeting our own needs of shelter is one way we choose empowerment over standard industrial buildings.
A clay hut at ECHO demonstration site in Homestead, Florida. This is a common earthen design in sub saharan Africa.
Building can seem daunting, but it doesn't need to be...
Before our societal organization became extremely specialized, we were more connected to meeting our own needs. Beavers don't hire a contracted to build their den... Yet they also don't use plastic and concrete. Instead they use the resources available the them. We have forgotten that we too can build!
During WWII, citizens were encourage to grow Victory Gardens. Really this was a hyped up movement that was commonplace before the rise of urbanization and the industrial society. "By 1944 Victory Gardens were responsible for producing 40% of all vegetables grown in the United States. More than one million tons of vegetables were grown in Victory Gardens during the war." source. I bring this up to show that when pressed, humans can shift behavior to meet their own needs.
Many of the folks planting victory garden didn't know how to grow food, but guess what??? THEY LEARNED.
Amaranth grows easily on our homestead and is a quality grain. We seek to grow much of our own food here.
Using natural building materials is a healthy (for the Earth and all of its inhabitants), rewarding and economical way to meet our shelter needs.
Since moving to our homestead, we both have learned a lot about building and have reaped the benefits of learning these skills.
We have erected a composting toilet, gazebo, solar shed, outdoor kitchen, yurt platform and are gearing up for a sauna soon.
Without gaining DIY skills we would not be able to live this way. As it stands we are able to choose to use stone, wood and clay to construct the necessary structures.
There are many methods techniques and materials we will discuss in future posts. The great thing about the diversity of options is that there are opportunities to use local material around the globe. Whether using straw bales (forget whatever you've heard of the 3 little pigs...), sun baked adobes, stones or stout timbers, humans have been building with natural material FAR longer than the industrial options we rely so heavily on today.
Stone dwellings in Canyon de Chelly. Humans living very locally and incredibly integrated into their environment!
We are passionate about healthy and sustainable living and residing in a natural structure is a must!
Not only do we avoid ties to banks & debt (I'll pass on the mortgage thank you very much), we also replace toxic and unhealthy spaces with structures that are connected to the Earth.
When their time is passed (hopefully long after we're gone) they will return to their respective elements. Although we do not use strictly 100% natural materials (enameled roofing is a great industrial innovation that allows safe and easy water harvesting), we strive to build as close to nature as is locally possible.
Have you ever felt the warmth of a clay plaster or seen the sun dance on timber?
In many ways, especially the US, the idea to 'do it yourself' can often come up as being illegal and even stand you in a way to get your property seized or at least your buildilng on hold. By making 'laws' that say this and that about how a building HAS to be build etc, most people can't build their own structure and also be following the rules.
I have built my own little tiny house however, and really enjoyed it, but it was a challenge with permissions sometimes. :)
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Such a beautiful Post. You know how I feel about Lloyd kahns series .... we poured over those books for hours and hours. There is something so sensual and real about natural buildings. I like the way you can see the Earth within them. The stones the rocks the clay the woods. Lucky to live in a place without ridiculous building regulations. That's why we always built homes on Wheels because no one could tell us what to do with those spaces. We always had a dream of living in a house like the ones that you built but it's not possible where we live. However the sauna is still on the cards as I think we could probably get away with that one.
I love the Shelter books! "There is something so sensual and real about natural buildings" YES YES YES~! I feel you on this so hard. Most buildings are just so human. It's a refresher to step into somethings nature created not ppl. Although as builders we can skillfully arrange elements to make us happy and comfortable.
The lack of codes here was a MAJOR draw to move (that and water, green spaces, low population, distance from cities and affordability...)
The wheels are a great way to skirt the issue. luckily wood is light and lends itself to mobility. OOO< get away with it. is there a outbuilding section in the codes. I know some places I've lived didn't require permitting for building less than say 30 sq m. I really hope you get to build the sauna of your dreams. Saunas are a much needed healing source for us all.
Yes there are some out buildings that you can build. Now it's a matter of finding a materials and the time. When you have finished yours can you come and help us build ours? you are quite welcome to stay in our bus ...and we might even feed you.xxx
I love Lloyd Kahn too!!!
Or worse yet the government! don't get me started on that rant.
Typo 1994 should be 1944 in victory garden discussion.
You have discussed previously but building codes make it virtually impossible to build your own shelter in most cities. We built a house when I was in high school (so thats like 30 + years ago for reference) and my dad acted as the general contractor. We did what we could and sub'd some of the big jobs like framing and pouring the foundation. Even then it was difficult dealing with the city and the various inspectors. And this was in a small town of about 5,000 population.
The change starts with people starting to go off the grid but there has to be some societal changes. Governments have to be receptive to these changes or get out of the way.
Ya, the USA was definitely NOT growing that much food in 94, thanks.
What you bring up is super real and a big hurdle. Codes are there to create safety standards and they can be like a death grip. I'm sure it hasn't gotten ANY easier since you were building...
Ya, you nailed it here "Governments have to be receptive to these changes or get out of the way". Also there's the element of sneaking around the codes by doing different things like small out-building, composting toilets and interior earthen plasters. Still we have a lot way to go and in the event of any catastrophes (heaven forbid) we will be SOL without the grid to make all the material to rebuild....
It's time we remembered how to work with the elements again. Luckily theres a large culture growing around natural building and it's much easier to learn than it was before.
Amen. I'm all in on this. Great post!
the american dream or so they tell us is to get a big house and a good paying job . But it reality is the big house just makes us buy more stuff
Big houses, big bills and big stress. It's a good point, one that reminds us to evaluate what we need. We're looking into building our house next year and it's exciting to dream up what we need and how to make that happen. I'd rather have little money and live empowered any day!.
YES. a big house, you think you need to fill it.
Beautiful post! I loved everything you shared here. The buildings you have designed and created are all truly beautiful.
We've always avoided mortgages and debt, our vehicles and homes always modest. A simpler home requires far less of everything which means we are doing less harm and taking fewer natural resources to live. We also get to focus on the joys of living instead of living to work.
We bought our log cabin for it's simplicity and natural construction. I can look at the knots and rings in the wood and I appreciate this home. It breathes and I feel healthy living inside of it.
The wood that we use for out buildings comes from a local man who is very respectful of the forest and selective about the trees he cuts. It is always natural, rough with the living edges. We've even bartered for some (We raised some pigs for him on our land). It all feel more personal and we know the wood is not sprayed with chemicals or preservatives.
Years ago I made an ulu with a caribou antler for a handle. It is a perfect tool for cutting and chopping, scraping, and will last a lifetime. Whenever I use it I feel something. Perhaps we just appreciate what we have when we've invested part of ourselves into the process?
I've been reading about utilizing our heavy clay soil for pottery and building construction! Perhaps next year I'll get to experience the warmth of clay plaster! :)
Thanks @walkerland, it means a lot coming from you. I'm just starting my journey as builder and hope to one day manifest the weird, oozy and whimsical nature I tend to doodle and felt with. Sun Ray Kelly is a big inspiration. Have you seen his work?
Glad you've stayed outta the debt trap. Too many are in the muck of the debt cycle. "We also get to focus on the joys of living instead of living to work." - love this, well said!
Isn't it great to notice the unique features of once living things? the knots and rings are part of the material, and it ties you to the Earth.
That sounds like a great connection for wood. Live edge is so stately and beautiful. Getting to know your fair trade organic wood is a great experience! We are developeing some good connections here to and will start taking some logs we fell to a community mill i will learn to run.
That ulu sounds amazing. I've yearned for one for a while, and i can relate to what you're saying about appreciation building based on investment. I read a Thoreau quote yesterday- “The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.” I think this for sure applies to this tool, perhaps the original multi tool? Perhaps that something is a connection to human lineage where live a hand made life.
As for clay plaster, we are leanring and are quite new to it too. The results so far have been good. We've even plastered over drywall on the ceiling of our composting toilet. Even upside down it sticks well. Perhaps consider plastering over drywall as an intro.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment! <3
In my experience the problem isn't really that people don't think they can do these things, it's that they don't want to. They think it's primitive... they think their better or to good for it... some have even compared it to slave labor, but my personal favorite to hear is that it's "uncivilized". I find it a bit ironic though that these are the same type of people who claim superiority over all other life due to our advanced intelligence, yet (most of) us dumb humans are the only ones who don't have even the most basic of survival skills. The only species that's going to care when/if the power goes out is humans.
Now on the other side of that for those of us who ARE willing and able to live more... responsibly let say... here in the US we run into all sorts of legal trouble in trying to do so. Food, water and shelter are obviously the 3 most basics. Build a shelter in the woods somewhere and your trespassing... so your immediately subjected to entering into debt contracts and taxed just for a place to stand. Build your shelter on that land you need a PERMIT (license to do something that is otherwise ILLEGAL) which cost money. Want to hunt? Trap? Fish? PERMIT! PERMIT! PERMIT! Want to put up some solar panels? Small wind turbine? PERMIT! PERMIT! How about a little hydro electric from your stream? PERMIT! Not to mention probably needing a whole environmental impact study done at your own expense. Collect rainwater... illegal! Want to have your own animals? Lots of them come with PERMITS!!! See where I'm going with all this? Now I suppose you can just try to hide as best you can, but how in the hell can anyone call that free when the simple acts of LIVING are quite literally ILLEGAL?