Earth, Wood and Sun – Natural Building, Local Style

By Janaia Donaldson, originally published by Peak Moment Television

August 1, 2013

Society
NOTE: Images in this archived article have been removed.

Image Removed“When we’re able to successfully work with local ecologies to meet our needs, we do the Earth a better service. And we are becoming empowered in our own lives.” Natural builder Chris Foraker gives a tour of work-in-progress at Aprovecho Center, Oregon. The structure’s clay, straw, sand, and wood come primarily from their own land. Much of the work was done by amateurs using techniques that don’t take industrial levels of technology. Aprovecho builders pioneered using small diameter flat-sided poles to replace dimensional lumber — a technique accepted into the local building code. Chris dreams of reintroducing “regional vernacular architectures.” This building beautifully expresses that dream. Episode 239. [aprovecho.net]

Read Janaia’s blog Exploring Sustainable Living at Aprovecho Center.

Janaia Donaldson

Janaia Donaldson is the host and producer of Peak Moment TV conversations showcasing grass roots entrepreneurs pioneering locally reliant, resilient communities during these challenging times of energy and resource decline, ecological limits, and economic turbulence. We tour North America in our mobile studio, taping on location. Peak Moment Conversations are online at www.peakmoment.tv/conversations. Produced bi-weekly, there are over 200 half hour programs as of 2012.

Tags: Building, natural building

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