Building with the earth, featuring Lydia Doleman
Doleman’s expertise in natural building started with her love for Legos as a child. (Photo courtesy of Lydia Doleman)
As part of building in a city with sustainability and alternative living at the heart of its culture, Ashland Builders has had the privilege of working with one of our local natural building rockstars, Lydia Doleman, owner and operator of Earth Dragon Natural Building.
Doleman’s creative fingerprints are enshrined (literally) all over the Rogue Valley in jaw-droppingly beautiful natural buildings you’ve probably come across. As both a practitioner and a passionate advocate of natural building, she joins us here in the newsletter to unravel the secrets behind this eco-friendly approach to construction.
Defining Natural Building: Materials and Philosophy
"I loved building as a kid," Doleman shares, "but there was still this idea that it was not a job for girls." However, a chance encounter in Montana with a group of women constructing a straw bale house became a pivotal moment, steering Doleman towards a path that combined ecological consciousness, affordability, and artistic expression.
Doleman explains natural building by breaking down the core elements. "When people talk about natural building, they're really looking at minimally processed, low tech, local as possible, non-toxic, minimally processed materials." Typically, these materials include wood, straw, earth or clay-based components, drawing inspiration from time-honored pre-industrial building forms.
Natural building is not only about the materials. It's a holistic approach, reflecting an intersectionality of ideas and values. "This is our biggest investment in our lives – building a home," Doleman reflects. "People drawn to natural building want their ethics, principles, and morals reflected in their building, embodying a reflection of how they see their place in the world."
This breathtaking, straw-bale-built structure built by Doleman serves as the locus of operations for Rise Up Artisan Bread in the Applegate. (Photo courtesy of Lydia Doleman)
Wall Systems: Straw Bale, Wood, Cob, and Hempcrete
Delving deeper into the tangible aspects, Doleman sheds light on the prevalent wall systems in natural building.
Straw bale, Doleman notes, utilizes industrial waste products, repurposing the left-behind stalks of barley, wheat or rice in crop fields. These bales of straw act like a dense brick of cellulose inside the wall, providing energy-efficient insulation.
Wood, a familiar natural material, finds its place primarily in log homes.
Cob, an old English term meaning ‘lump’ or ‘loaf’, is an earth and masonry material incorporating clay, sand, and straw. Doleman says building with cob is like making “a big, monolithic pinch pot,” allowing for creative sculptural opportunities in its building process.
Hempcrete, is a new material Doleman says “looks kind of like a giant rice krispie treat,” with hemp headstalks mixed in a slurry of lime to form a textured wall structure.
High Performance, Low Toxicity
Natural wall systems come with a myriad of advantages. Doleman highlights their non-toxic nature, high insulating performance, and user-friendly appeal. "For some people with chemical sensitivities, that is one of the avenues to becoming interested in natural building," she points out. Additionally, these systems promote healthy indoor air quality, with both the design and natural walls’ breathability providing superior airflow to most conventionally-built structures.
Some of Doleman’s clients opt to reduce the labor costs by joining the project, adding sweat equity to their home. “You don't have to have a PhD to install straw bales in your wall or do cob or another wall system called ‘light straw clay’. They're very simple wall systems to install,” she says.
Building For Climate and Longevity
Doleman emphasizes the importance of designing a building that aligns with the local climate, providing protection from the elements. "Straw bale has been in the building code for a long time in the Pacific Northwest, superseding those energy requirements by having a really good R value, which means resistance to heat flow, [indicating] how insulative your wall system is.”
Doleman dispels the notion that natural building implies shorter lifespans for structures. "Design simplicity and protection from the elements contribute to the longevity of natural building," she asserts. The key is in making informed decisions during the planning phase and avoiding significant alterations once construction is underway.
(Photo courtesy of Lydia Doleman)
Looking for an Eco-Friendly Addition, ADU or Structure?
In conclusion, Doleman encourages those interested in a naturally-built home, addition, ADU or outbuilding to seek out existing natural building projects: engaging with homeowners and learning from their experiences. "Ask them what drew them to the project, what they're happy about, and what its energy performance is," she suggests.
For Doleman, the heart of natural building lies not only in the materials and techniques but also in the shared knowledge and community that continues to grow and thrive.
To learn more about natural building and Lydia Doleman’s work, visit www.earthdragonnaturalbuilding.com.
Ashland Builders works with natural building subcontractors like Doleman to bring our clients’ sustainable visions to life. Contact Justin by email at justin.ashlandbuilders@gmail.com or by phone at (541) 708-1132.
