This year was a 20th REUNION of the first Natural Building Colloquium, held at Black Range Lodge in Kingston, NM, bringing together natural builders in a week of building, presentations and the exchange of ideas !

The Natural Building Colloquium gathering 2015 NM
Many of the original folks who have been evolving the movement were there : Ianto Evans, Linda Smiley, Michael Smith with whom I originally studied natural building, and also illustrated their book The Hand-Sculpted House. Cedar Rose Guelberth, from Colorado, who did a 5 day Plaster Workshop at Strawbale Studio, and whose publication The Natural Plaster Book I also got to illustrate. Even Flemming Abrahamsson, our thatcher we brought over from Denmark to teach us how to thatch on the Strawbale Studio in 1998 ! And more. What a “blast from the past”. A favorite: Max Edelson & Flemming Abrahamson designed and built on site a Rocket Stove Barrel Oven & Griddle ! And Sun Ray Kelly’s Treehouse, built during the Colloquium.
Here is an AWESOME BLOG on the Colloquium by Ziggy, who I got to visit at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage a few years ago. There are GREAT PICTURES on this blog, so check it out !

Deanne is “kvelling” with Flemming, Master Thatcher from Denmark, who came to Strawbale Studio to teach us the skill.

Thatching Presentation at Natural Building Colloquium NM 2015