Learn the key differences and similarities between cob house and straw-clay house construction! In this video, I break down the essential building components for both natural building methods, comparing materials, techniques, and structural elements side-by-side. Whether you're planning a DIY natural building project or just curious about sustainable construction, this guide will help you understand what goes into each building method and which might be right for your needs. Perfect for homesteaders, eco-builders, and anyone interested in earthen construction!

Here's some research I've compiled. Feel free to discuss below! **Build a Cob House For $58K Instead of Paying $400K For a Mortgage (Full Breakdown)** The average American paying off a $200,000 house will hand over $343,000 by the time they actually own it. $143,000 just vanishes into interest payments. But there's a proven alternative that eliminates debt entirely: building a cob house with your own hands. Let's break down the REAL numbers behind debt-free natural building and show you exactly how regular people on normal incomes are opting out of the mortgage system. **The Brutal Reality of Mortgages:** A $200,000 home financed at 7% interest = $1,331 monthly payments Total paid over 30 years: $478,000 Pure interest paid to banks: $278,000 First year breakdown: $14K interest vs $2K toward equity **Cob House Cost Breakdown ($58K Total):** • Land: $10-15K for 5 acres (rural areas) • Permits: $3K (varies by location, can be $15-50K in strict areas) • Foundation: $6K (with DIY labor + equipment rental) • Roof: $12-15K (metal roofing, quality materials essential) • Walls & Structure: Under $2K (clay, sand, straw) • Interior Finishes: $2K (earthen floors, clay plasters) • Total: $58K with ZERO interest payments **Where The REAL Savings Come From:** ✓ Wall materials: $2K vs $10-15K for conventional lumber framing ✓ Interior finishes: $2K vs $9-12K for tile and drywall ✓ Contractor markup eliminated: Save $20-50K in management fees ✓ Labor costs eliminated: Save $60-80K by doing it yourself ✓ Interest payments eliminated: Save $278K over 30 years **30-Year Total Cost Comparison:** Conventional $200K house: $658K-748K (mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance) $58K Cob house: ~$109K (taxes, insurance, minimal maintenance) **Difference: $549K-639K stays in YOUR pocket** **Realistic Timeline & Savings Plan:** Year 1-2: Live cheap, save $1,500/month = $36K saved Year 2: Buy land ($15K) + build tiny 250 sq ft starter cottage ($12-15K) Year 2-4: Live rent-free in cottage while building main 800-1000 sq ft house

New Course Available in the Classroom! Click Here to Access Discover America's last remaining counties where you can build alternative homes without building codes or permits. This comprehensive 2025 guide reveals the top locations for code-free construction, including Missouri's Ozarks (land from $4,000/acre), Idaho's northern counties (officially no codes since inception), and Southwest desert regions (parcels as low as $500/acre). Learn which building methods—cob, adobe, straw-clay, hempcrete, earthbag, and tiny homes—work best in each climate, with detailed adaptations for humid, cold, and dry regions. Includes practical budget breakdowns showing total project costs under $100k, real-world examples from thriving alternative building communities like Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage and Earthship Biotecture, and a 10-step action plan to secure your land before counties adopt new regulations. With hundreds of code-free counties still available but political pressure mounting, this guide provides the exact county names, land prices, climate considerations, and critical warnings you need to build your dream alternative home with maximum freedom and minimal cost. Time-sensitive information as the window for regulatory freedom is rapidly closing. Click Here to Read the Full Guide

Hey guys, I'm getting back on the computer as I transition into my Winter Mode. Here's a little motivational cob building video. I'll be releasing a lot of new articles and videos soon, which I'll post here for us to discuss.

As the busy Summer season winds down, I'll be incrementally getting back onto the Skool page more again. For now, I'm going to share some of the videos I've been working on.