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At From the Earth, our main goal is to bring the power of earth into peoples
homes and lives. We believe that earth has natural properties that can help us
reconnect to nature and to ourselves. An earthen living environment can be
extremely grounding, promoting a healthier and more peaceful life. Earthen
building materials are non-toxic, soothing to the touch and can be applied to
almost any existing surface. From earthen plasters to a simple cob wall, you
will be amazed by how the powers of earth will affect your environment and
your life.
Building with Earth
Lets us add new vitality to your home and life with our home earthen building
services. Through natural building techniques and natural design principles, we
will help you create an earthen environment that reflects the rhythms of nature
as well as your personality. Working closely with you on every aspect of building,
we will create a personalized space that is balanced and inspiring. We offer an
unique selection of services including earthen remodeling, room additions, and
landscaping. Although we use a variety of natural building materials, our primary
building material is "cob", an earthen mixture of clay, sand and straw. Since
cob (A.K.A. Adobe) is not fired like conventional clay bricks, structures are
built when the mixture is wet. Once dry, cob is extremely strong and it is used
to build walls, ovens, fireplaces and even entire houses. Cob is a great building
material because it is durable as well as malleable, allowing any builder to
create organic and sculptural, living environments.
Cob Workshops
We offer a series of "hands on" cob workshops which are educational, fun and
empowering. If you are interested in natural building but you don't know where
to start, then a workshop is the ideal solution. Whether you want to build your
own house or just have fun in the mud, cob workshops are geared for all types
of people, young and old alike. We have a wide variety of workshops including
garden walls, earth ovens and even large scale sculpture; guaranteeing that
there is one for you. If you are looking for a specific workshop, we can custom
design a workshop to suit your needs. We also hold workshops especially for
children, schools, community centers and colleges.
2006 Workshop Schedule
Earth Ovens
Let us design and build a custom wood-fired earth oven for your home or
garden. Earth ovens are a great addition to any environment and bake foods
unlike any conventional oven. The secret is how the oven cooks, using convection,
conductive and radiant heat simultaneously. This creates an ideal baking
environment for breads and pizzas, producing moist breads with crisp,
caramelized crusts. Even wood used to heat the oven contributes to the taste
of the food adding a rich, deep flavor. Besides the unique cooking attributes of
an earth oven, the can also be visually stunning, adding new life to any
environment. Because the outer layer is made of cob, you can sculpt the oven
into what ever form you desire. From a simple domed form to a wild mythical
beast, the possibilities are endless.
Earth Sculptures
Enhance any living environment with custom earthen sculpture. Commission a one
of a kind earthen sculpture for the interior and exterior environment. Whether
it is a mural over the couch, a carved wall in the entrance or a large scale
sculpture for the garden, we will work close with you in creating an art piece
that is visually stunning, well crafted and inspirational. Choose from a wide
selection of sculptural techniques including but not limited to cob, rammed earth,
earthen plaster, fired ceramic and mosaic. Our head designer and builder, Brian
Baker, has his MFA is sculpture/ ceramics and has been working with in his field
for the past ten years. He has exhibited his work across the nation and has
served as faculty at the prestigious Maryland Institute College of Art. He
personally guarantees that all work produced will be of the highest quality and
will meet your demands.
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