Spring 2026 Update on our Home

Here are some pictures and a little update on the home Debbie and I are building. Some of you have been following our project and some of you might be new.

We are building our home using a method called "light straw clay." Basically, the walls are filled with a mixture of clay and straw to provide a natural, breathable, and warm envelope. This is the our first time building, and it has been a massive undertaking all the way from the design and permitting processes to the actual construction. We are doing about 90% of the work ourselves so it has been a slow but rewarding process.

Enough words though... here are some pictures to give you an idea.

One of the best things about working with natural materials is that we get to experiment with curvy edges. We are also enjoying working with pigmented clay plasters. They seem to work with the light in a different way then modern painted walls. They look quite different at different times of day and each section is unique. We have even done some earthen plasters on conventional drywalled areas. Its a slow process, but it gives that special hand crafted look.

With our busy schedules, each moment we can find to have some peace is cherished. We still work to find some kind of balance between our work and quality of life. Sure we enjoy creating our home but because of the nature of the project it can be difficult to just let things be. There is always a push to get it done.

These walls and windows have not received their final render, trim, and coloring but are kind of nice just raw. This area is a grand room with big windows letting in as much light as we could get.

There is a huge list of things to do, however we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Thank you to everyone for your continued support of our work and home. Farm Hands Acupuncture and Massage continues to grow with us as we build our foundation and home. We are looking forward to the days were we can be at the clinic a little more and start growing some food on the land where we are building.