Welcome to my news page               updated: September 1, 2010

here you will find frequent updates of projects, events, workshops and more   

When you browse this site you will see that my work is made up of a few connected elements:

• Architectural Design for Natural Homes including permit drawings
• Consulting for home owners, owner builders, professionals and contractors looking for support relating to Natural Building
• Education: internships, workshops and classes on design and building
• Outreach: slide presentations, articles and Elke's blogs:

  On building and being       and  Sunday again at O.U.R.Ecovillage

I am located at O.U.R.Ecovillage in Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island, Canada. Please contact me with inquiries about my services.

Going to Tanzania: Volunteer opportunities in two great locations.

Elke returns to Baobab home in Bagamoyo and there's a new project in Mnenia, Kondoa region. Find out how you can enrich your travel plans this winter by adding a volunteer experience to your trip!

continuing Summer 2010 Education programs at O.U.R.Ecovillage:

At O.U.R. Ecovillage you have opportunity to learn many aspects of natural building. From Cob to Straw Bale, Natural Plasters to Design, there's something for everyone in the mix. We have posted this years workshop schedule with a great selection of natural building learning opportunities from 3 days to 9 weeks long. Visit  www.ourecovillage.org  for more info. 

I also direct your attention to the following

• I have posted a slideshow illustrating more than ten years of Natural Building in BC
• "First Earth: uncompromising ecological architecture" is a film by David Sheen. Elke was interviewed in this film along with many other builders and activists."FIRST EARTH is a documentary about the movement towards a massive paradigm shift for shelter - building healthy houses in the old ways, out of the very earth itself, and living together like in the old days, by recreating villages. An audiovisual manifesto filmed over the course of 4 years and 4 continents, FIRST EARTH makes the case that earthen homes are the healthiest housing in the world; and that since it still takes a village to raise a healthy child, it is incumbent upon us to transform our suburban sprawl into eco-villages, a new North American dream". http://www.davidsheen.com/firstearth 
• If you're looking for more workshops in natural building please visit www.naturalbuildingnetwork.org for listings from all over North America and beyond

Are you considering building a natural home or addition? There's a team here to work with you: design, engineering and building. Talk to us for a consultation.