Cal-Earth Pictures

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Greetings…

Becky and I have visited Cal-Earth more than once and found their work to be incredibly inspiring.  We naturally became interested in co-hosting a training with them.

We will be combining the best aspects of their work and ours at an Earth Building and Permaculture Design Workshop from Nov.8 – Nov.19, 2011.

Here is a quick picture summary of our visits to Cal-Earth.  Not only are the buildings unique, they are built to withstand earth quakes and hurricanes like few others.  And they were built with the earth right around the buildings.  AMAZING…!!!l

“Earth turns to gold in the hands of the wise.” Rumi

Pictures and Text by me… Bill Wilson

Becky and me in front of a demo home doubling as a classroom.

Logo at the entrance of Cal-Earth reception building.

Classroom dome made from straw bales. They primarily build with adobe, cob and brick.

Courtyard by the outdoor classroom and student kitchen.

Roof over the outdoor classroom.

Cluster of small shelters for demonstration. Simple housing for students taking trainings too.

More of the small shelters.  Most have no doors or glass in the windows.

“Earth One” – The vaulted house design. Nader wanted to show the general public how beautiful, functional, affordable and livable a Superadobe house could be.

The key… combining light with architecture.

Kitchen

Living Area

Office or Dining Room

Bedroom

Notice the warmth and curves on the inner walls of the home.

A bathroom even your grandmother would be comfortable in.

All of the Superadobe structures begin with bags filled with an earth mixture and then all tied together with barbed wire.

The bags are wrapped layer upon layer while slowly working their way inward to become a dome or an arch.

Once the basic structure is complete, the bags can be covered with an earthen plaster that has a natural color mixed right in, so there is no painting.

If a more traditional look is wanted, enough earthen plaster can be added to the walls to make them mostly flat.

Something we will look at during the training is how plants can be integrated with the structures to provide some of the other needs and services of the occupants.

In the Eco-Dome, small spaces are built off of the main living area to provide smaller and private living spaces.

To the left in another of Nadir’s beautifully crafted domes using fired brick. This is another classroom space.

Same space from the inside.

Everyone taking a training here will get to know this spot. It is the hands-on workshop area.

Everything is made with simple tools, brilliant design, and careful work.

Outdoor Meeting Ring

Some of the Cal-Earth staff with Becky. L-R: Mark Harmon, Ian Lodge, Dastan Khalili, Becky, and Bridget Butler

Becky and I were inspired by the commitment of the Cal-Earth staff to make their technology and experience available to people without means from around the world.

We invite you to consider joining us for the fall training.  The goal for Dastan and Sheefteh Khalili, Becky and me, and our teachers and staff, is to make this training a life-affirming experience for all who attend.  And when one takes this training they are also supporting us in our work.

Hope to see you in the fall… Bill Wilson of Midwest Permaculture

Earth Building and Permaculture Design Workshop
At Cal-Earth, Hesperia, CA
Nov.8 – 19, 2011
You can begin now with the Pre-Training Studies