THE MUD HOME
  • Home
  • Building
    • Earthbag
    • Living Roofs
    • Gravel Foundations
    • Off-grid how to >
      • Off-Grid Prep Course
    • Earth Plaster
    • Mud as Mortar
    • Wattle and Daub
    • Lime; Hydrated, Hydraulic, and Putty
    • Mud Building Blog
  • Books
    • Dirt Witch
    • Mud Ball
    • Mud Mountain The Book
    • An Earthbag House in 7 Days?
  • About
    • Contact
  • Learn Mud
    • Courses
    • Mud Building PDF Package
    • Other Projects
  • Earth Whispering
    • Join the Earth Whispering Exploration
    • MUD MOUNTAIN

Considering going off-Grid?

Sign up for the mini course

Creating a Regenerative Paradise in Guatemala

26/4/2018

3 Comments

 
There’s a lot of blag in the online world, a lot of fluff and bluff and good angles, so I take my time when getting to know new folk. One person I’ve had my beady mud eye on for a while now is Oliver Goshey, natural building expert and podcaster. He’s also building something very special with his friends in Guatemala. But more about that in a minute, because there’s so much to learn from this guy. 
Picture
Unloading materials in Senegal
The Natural Builder
I love how we natural builders are all so different. And that’s just as it should be. Some of us are mud mavericks (ahem), others of us are more methodical. Oliver started out in conventional construction, and steadily developed from there. “I always knew there were better ways of building,” he says. So he began learning more about permaculture design principles and ancient building techniques. “From there I gradually found my way into the subculture of natural builders and survivalists who were using the materials and resources around them to build beautiful homes.”

​Yes. There really is a subculture. And it exists in every corner of the planet, from Asia to Europe to the Americas and beyond. When you join it, you realise all is possible. It’s where regenerative spells are being cast, and futures are created.
Picture
Oliver applying the final layer of an earthen floor in Senegal
I doubt I’ll ever reach the limits of clay
Oliver Goshey has done a lot of building in a lot of far-flung places. One minute you see him stomping cob, the next he’s helping construct a bamboo roof, the next he’s involved in a stone wall pointed beautifully with lime mortar. How many darn natural building techniques does this guy know? I wondered.

“I’ve looked into all of the main natural building methods going and have tried to get my hands on as many types of projects as I can...I would say my favourite building method would be any which is correct for its place and context, because no matter how much I might love building with one material, it could be entirely inappropriate and impractical where I’m building. With that said, I love clay.”

Funny how mud gets us all, eh? Why is that?

“It seems to be the most versatile, abundantly available, easy to work with, forgiving for beginners, and healthy material I’ve come across. It can be formed into bricks like adobe, free-form sculpted as with cob, rammed into forms as rammed earth, and sifted finely and mixed into plasters...Clay also dampens sound and has great acoustic properties, it endures high temperatures so it’s perfect for stoves, ovens and fireplaces too. It can be fired into pottery, used as a dietary supplement, heck I’ve even used it to quickly stop bleeding from wounds. I think clay is on par with water as far as magical, almost-other-worldly materials go. I doubt I’ll ever reach the limits of clay.”
Picture
Installing a repurposed telegraph pole into a cob building in the Philippines
While Oliver’s travels have been an amazing education in the world’s natural building arts, they have, however, also brought to light one rather sad common thread.

“While every place is different in its perception of natural building, the one observation that is fairly consistent around the world is that natural building is often thought of as a low-class or low-budget building style, and this is a perception I’m intent on changing. I’ve worked in many communities where people who still live in perfectly good earthen or other natural homes don’t trust natural materials or view them as outdated and nothing to aspire to.”

Yes, I have found the same thing. And makes little odds whether you’re in London or Bangkok, your average construction engineer still believes natural building doesn’t last, even when a 600-year-old wattle and daub house is standing proudly behind them.

“There seems to be a pervasive idea that anything new and modern is better or that the over-industrialised countries and their infrastructure...are the only ones worth emulating,” says Oliver.

New World Creation
But Oliver Goshey’s vision isn’t restricted to building. And this makes what he’s doing especially exciting. He speaks about something that I find incredibly important, and still quite visionary today. It’s the notion of regeneration. He’s all about creating beautiful worlds that not only minimise damage to the environment, but that breathe new life and grow.

And because Oliver isn’t just poncing about on Google, he and his friends are actually making this vision a reality. Where? Guatemala.
Picture
The Abundant Edge homestead's market garden
The Regenerative Paradise in Guatemala
“We are involved in a lot of projects here. Everything from large farm designs down to rocket stove installations for indigenous families, but our main project at the moment is building our own regenerative homestead model where we live on Lake Atitlan,” says Oliver, who stresses that The Abundant Edge is not a one-man-show. "I really want to mention how essential my team members Jeremy, Neal and Adriana are." Adriana Urueta is an ecologist in charge of logistics and marketing, while Jeremy Fellows and Neal Hegarty are both permaculture design and plant experts. Sounds like a capable bunch.

The homestead is a real adventure. The team are attempting to turn an acre of rocky land into a regenerative paradise. And from where I’m stood it looks like they’re doing a darn good job of it. Right now, they’re in the process of building a beautiful natural home, a small market garden, a goat dairy (the goats are very cute), food forests, waste water filtration gardens, herb and medicinal plants, river-fed passive irrigation, aquaculture systems and more.

“We’ll look to focus on local community education and training on alternatives to coffee and corn production that can earn a lot more money for the owners while regenerating the landscape and local ecology,” says Oliver.

It’s a good idea. One thing that folk often get wrong when trying to create a new world is to fail to properly include or enhance the local community. And the consequences for that mistake can be pretty severe. No man (or living ecosystem) is an island, and you have to maintain good relations with your neighbours if you want to survive.

But it doesn’t end there. The Abundant Edge is one of the few projects I’ve seen that truly understands the importance of media outreach and economic viability. Without a platform, some way to reach new people, and an income, your project is massively disempowered. Hence the virtual side of The Abundant Edge, which is Oliver’s very informative podcast. Do hop over and listen because there’s much to be learned from it.
Picture
The cute goats.
If you want to learn more about The Abundant Edge or fancy getting involved in the project, you can contact Oliver Goshey and the team directly through the contact page on their website, or by signing up to volunteer with Atitlan Organics.

http://www.atitlanorganics.com/

The team also have a host of courses starting in October 2018, including Introduction to Natural Building and Introduction to Permaculture, and their first ever Permaculture Design certification for natural builders will kick off in February of next year. There’s also an exciting apprenticeship program for 2019.
Picture
Oliver surveying a natural home he designed and built in Guatemala
Do you enjoy The Mud Home?
If you find these articles inspiring or useful please consider joining us on Patreon. Your support pays for the running of this website, my virtual help, and my sustenance. A big thank you to all The Mud Sustainers, and everyone chipping in and keeping these posts and articles coming.
Join us on Patreon
3 Comments
Jorge
3/5/2018 05:08:11 pm

El hogar de Oliver, Adriana, Jeremy y Neal, es maravilloso. Apenas es una casita pequeña, por el momento. Pero están construyendo una acogedora estructura de bambú y materiales locales, incluyendo tejidos locales en el techo, es tan vistosa. Cuando puedan visitenlos. Es el lugar perfecto para poder ver cómo un proyecto es autosostenible y se autoregulariza biologicamente, culturalmente y económicamente. Abrazos.

Reply
Atulya
3/5/2018 11:54:11 pm

Gracias Jorge!

Reply
Roxana Hart
17/5/2018 04:34:48 pm

"No man (or living ecosystem) is an island . . .."

I had to laugh when I read this . . . I made the exact same comment to you (to which you never replied) a few months ago when you first found your 'eden.' I asked why you never remarked about the social environment into which you would be moving.

Not only are we inherently social beings, i.e., not islands, but especially when one moves to another country/ cultural space one is by definition insinuating themselves into an already established community (and in Spain, that could be centuries old) with its own customs, norms, expectations, etc. that must be taken into account out of respect, if nothing else.

Since you had never said anything about the social environment into which you would be moving (regardless of your self-declared tendency to keep to yourself), I was curious about it. I still am.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Many thanks to the Mud Sustainers supporting this site!

    List of Sustainers
    Picture
    Do you find The Mud Home valuable? Please consider supporting the blog on Patreon. For as little as $2 a month (not even a coffee where I'm from), you can join the club.
    BENEFITS FOR PATRONS INCLUDE:
    Email priority, private Facebook group, review copies of my books, sneak previews of courses and books, Q and As, priority for courses and more.

    Author

    Atulya K Bingham
    Natural builder and author of Mud Ball.


    Picture
    "Beautifully written and inspiring." The Owner Builder Magazine

    FREE!

    Picture
    If you want the step by step guide of how I built my house, sign up for the PDF.
    WHY NOT? IT'S FREE!

    Categories

    All
    Adobe
    Building Codes
    Building With Wood
    Cob
    Composting Toilets
    Earthbag
    Earthbag Mistakes
    Earth Plaster
    Foraging
    Hobbit House
    House Renovation
    Insulating Plaster
    Insulation
    Laying Earthbags Faster
    Limecrete Floor
    Lime Plaster Issues
    Natural Floors
    Natural Roof
    Off Grid
    Permaculture
    Roofing Options
    Stone Houses
    Straw Bale
    Sustainable Building
    Using Lime
    Wattle And Daub
    Yurt

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Join the free Mud Home earth plaster mini course.

    Picture
    All the Mud Home How-to posts have been compiled into a PDF package with 75 articles and over 200 photos. You can still buy it now, and enjoy lifetime access to all the updates.
    PDF Contents

    My latest book is now out!
    Picture
    “Entranced! Be inspired by one who’s lived and breathed dirt.”
    Kim Fraser, Get Rugged
Disclaimer: All the content in The Mud Home website is provided for informational purposes only. The author undertakes no responsibility for any person or entity who chooses to use the information on this website. It is not intended to be a standard and should not substitute for the exercise of good engineering judgment by engineers. It is the user’s obligation to make sure that he/she uses the appropriate practices and consults the appropriate experts when building. It is the user's obligation to make sure they are following health and safety guidelines. The author is not responsible for any accidents, injuries or damages to persons or property incurred while using the information presented in this website.

Some blog articles refer to the use of lime. Please note, lime is caustic and can cause burns. Read The Mud Home guide to using lime safely here.

EARTHBAG BUILDING PDF
EARTH PLASTER GUIDE
BOOKS
Newsletter
About Atulya
Privacy Policy

SUPPORT

Picture
Picture
The Mud Home takes many hours a week to run, and costs a lot to sustain. If you find this site useful or inspiring, please consider supporting it so that it can continue.
Picture

Many thanks to all those who've already become Mud Sustainers.

The Mud Home  Copyright © 2013  Atulya Kerry Bingham
  • Home
  • Building
    • Earthbag
    • Living Roofs
    • Gravel Foundations
    • Off-grid how to >
      • Off-Grid Prep Course
    • Earth Plaster
    • Mud as Mortar
    • Wattle and Daub
    • Lime; Hydrated, Hydraulic, and Putty
    • Mud Building Blog
  • Books
    • Dirt Witch
    • Mud Ball
    • Mud Mountain The Book
    • An Earthbag House in 7 Days?
  • About
    • Contact
  • Learn Mud
    • Courses
    • Mud Building PDF Package
    • Other Projects
  • Earth Whispering
    • Join the Earth Whispering Exploration
    • MUD MOUNTAIN