Looking for trusted natural building information?
Looking for trusted natural building information?

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Would you like to live in a natural home?
Would you like to live in a natural home?

A home that is non-toxic & made from local materials...
A home that uses a fraction of the energy...
A home that reflects how you live...

Turn your dream into reality
Are you a hands-on learner?
Are you a hands-on learner?

Looking for practical experience building actual natural homes?

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Baled straw was first used in construction in the late 1800's by settlers in
Nebraska. Strawbales were used to construct many types of buildings, including schools, barns,
houses, corer stores, and more. Some 75+ year-old buildings are still inhabited

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Straw and clay are the fundamental materials when building naturally. And understanding the properties of each will help you know which material to use for any given application.

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Upcoming Workshops

Clay soils provide versatile building materials, used for thousands of years to create beautiful and durable structures. Clay materials can be formed into bricks (such as adobe) or built monolithically (such as cob or rammed earth).

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Natural paints and plasters are non--toxic, durable, and superbly empowering.

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Cob Wall Building
Cob Wall Building

learn to build strong walls with clay soil!

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Fiber-Rich Clay Plaster
Fiber-Rich Clay Plaster

Learn the most versatile clay plaster recipe!

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Adobe Floor - Base Layers
Adobe Floor - Base Layers

learn how to tamp a rammed earth floor & trowel a leveling layer

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We make natural building possible

for anyone that dreams of a well-built, efficient home made with local, natural materials.

What We Do

Designed just for you
Designed just for you

We design custom homes that use 40-80% less energy, use natural & healthy materials, and allow our clients to live in alignment with their eco-goals.

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For the DIY-er
For the DIY-er

We offer pre-designed strawbale house plans with the same support tools we give custom design clients. For those who want a natural home but don't have the budget for a custom design.

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Get experience
Get experience

Sigi teaches hands-on natural building workshops on a wide variety of topics. Our safe, supportive learning environment empowers everyone to contribute…even if you have no previous building experience.

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Down to Earth Design focuses exclusively on designing natural buildings.  Every project complies with U.S. building codes and includes details that ensure durability in wet/humid climates.

Offering three options to help you turn your dream of a natural home into reality:

Sigi Koko is the principal designer at Down to Earth Design, which she founded in 1998 to help people achieve their dreams of living in natural, healthy homes.  She translates each client’s vision into a unique building design that reflects their personality and lifestyle, while responding to the surrounding landscape and climate.  Sigi’s uniquely collaborative design process provides a high level of information and support, encouraging her clients to engage fully throughout design and construction.  Sigi also teaches natural building workshops that empower her clients to contribute meaningfully during the construction of their own home.

About Sigi

Recent Podcast Interview

on Jeffery Hart's Building Sustainability Podcast

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