Carole grew up in the Northern New Mexico culture where working with mud ( adobe, cob, or earthen building) is still very much alive. She shares the history of the area and her experience melding art and mud with over 25 years of professional experience and experimentation. In the true do-it-yourself spirit Carole wrote and designed the book her self. Offering a unique wealth of knowledge and collection of photographs.
I took a little excerpt from the book, since Carole is famous for her alis finishes…
Carole’s Favorite Alis Recipe
6 qt. batch ( approx 150 sq. ft.)
Measure one gallon water into a bucket
Whisk in 5 qt powered kaolin clay
2 qt fine sand and /or ( preferably) whiting
2 qt mica ( fine flakes or powder )
1 handful of chopped straw ( optional )
1 handful of mica chips ( optional )
Slaked pigment as needed for color ( optional )
1 qt. cooked starch paste ( wheat, rice or cornstarch ) or 1 cup casein or butter milk or a combination of binders
The Cob Builders Handbook, You Can Hand-sculpt Your Own Home, by Becky Bee is a great book about cob building. I recommend reading this book along with The Hand Sculpted House for beginning cobbers. It’s a fun read and it’s accessible, in part, online at weblife.org/cob.
Of course, you can order the full book in paper form from Becky‘s web site. While your there check out her book You Can Make THE BEST HOT TUB EVER! for making a wood fired bath tub.
One man tries to kick oil, live locally and keep his goats out of the rose bushes
Doug Fine, adventure journalist; NPR contributor and author, shares his experiences living off grid in New Mexico. His new book, Farewell, My Subaru, is his account of one man trying to kick the the American oil lifestyle. Doug tells of his experiences raising goats and chickens, converting to a veggy oil vehicle and near death experiences at the Funky Butte Ranch.
Adam Weismann and Katy Bryce, of Cob in Cornwall, have announced their new book today. Using Natural Finishes: Lime and earth based plasters, renders and paints. A Step by Step Guide. The book covers all aspects of the preparation and application of wall finishes made from lime and earth.
Oikos Green Building library is a great online green building resource. They offer books for sale as well as many free online articles and book reviews.
Carole Crews has published the long awaited book Clay Culture: Plasters, Paints and Preservation. It’s now available on her site only!
The Cob Builders Handbook, You Can Hand-sculpt Your Own Home, by 
Adam Weismann and Katy Bryce, of 
