Design Coalition

Summer Workshop, July 2002

The July 2002 workshop group was small, but easly the most experienced so far. Douglas, Mary Kay and Charlie all had participated in past workshops; Brenda, Evan and Jon of the Madison Children's Museum had built with straw-clay and earthen plaster when they worked with Lou on the award-winning First Feats museum exhibit.

A classic circle toss, mixing the straw and clay slip. Our little group hand mixed and packed the North wall of the Connector in about a day's time. We plastered too and listened to fine evening presentations: Electro-Ecologist Spark Burmaster spoke about healthy wiring; Andy Pace of Safe Building Solutions described AFM's non-toxic finishing materials; Professor Jim Wasley showed slides of healthy homes around the country; and Douglas Piltingsrud again delved into clay science.

Mary Kay mixes a batch of clay slip

Despite allergies, Brenda soldiers on

Douglas firmly tamps a corner full

'Little' Jon and the bamboo reinforcing

Charlie gleans a forkful of fallen straw-clay mix

Evan climbs into position for some stomping

Straw-clay teamwork near the top of the wall -- Douglas, Charlie and John.

More photos of past hands-on home building workshops:
Autumn '01 | Spring '02 | Summer '02 | Summer '03 | Autumn '03

Top of Page

Back to The Affordable Natural House