This summer Nate Cunnings and Ben Van Netten designed and built this cob oven for The Smokin’ Tuna Cafe, located in East Sooke on Vancouver Island. The oven was created on the cozy outdoor patio that over looks the waterfront. All of the materials were scavanged from local sources. Nate says he plans to continue natural building and oven making professionally.

Builders Contact Info:
Nate Cunnings, natusinvic (at) hotmail.com
Ben Van Netten, benvannetten.com »

In Gifu, Japan, Sanyo has created the Solar Ark – a large energy generating building that is meant to symbolize the goal of becoming a ‘clean energy society’. Approximately 530,000 kWh of clean energy is produced annually by single-crystal silicon solar cells. They have a solar energy museum called the Solar Lab and programs for learning about solar energy. Congratulations to Sanyo for leading the way! Step-up multi-national corporations…

Bale Bags are as versatile as tuct tape. They are good meanwhile stuffing. I’m not sure about them being used in a permanent way… but they sure come in handy as quick wall fill. They can go into a wall quickly while the cob is being made… or over the course of the winter. I used these in my north wall with some light-clay to fill the cracks. It was better than nothing. I wonder if they would work as insulation in a attic?

If nothing else they hold straw all your loose straw and are great to sit on!

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Becky Bee is in the forefront of the United States cob revivial. She is a teacher, sculpture, facilitator, author, cobber and inventor. She is the author of “The Cob Builders Handbook“, one of the funnest cob instructional books. Speaking of fun books… The little book ” You Can Make The Best Hot Tub Ever” is about making a wood fired rocket stove hot tub.

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Brick tongs. When my dad built the fireplace in his house he carried many-a-load with these handy tongs. Helpful indeed!

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