Tend & Keep Natural Building · Course home My library

Build · 7 lessons

Natural Building

Earth, straw, timber and stone: homes with warmth and character that pass inspection.

7 lessonsAbout 3½ hours of reading7 hands-on family projectsCalculators included

0 of 7lessons complete

My libraryAll 6 courses, 40 lessons and the free land guide, with your progressOpen my library →

Start here

Lesson 1: Choosing a method

Cob, straw bale, timber and stone

Begin the course

The lessons

Go straight to any lesson or section

1

Choosing a method

Cob, straw bale, timber and stone

~30 min readPractice: Make and test sample blocks6 worksheet tasks

1 · Two jobs a wall can do 2 · The methods 3 · Estimate your walls 4 · Mixing methods 5 · A path through the code Hands-on practice Worksheet

Not started

2

Designing small and beautiful

Light, proportion and a home that fits

~30 min readPractice: Draw a small home that fits your life6 worksheet tasks

1 · How much house 2 · Patterns 3 · Designing with the sun 4 · A sample small home 5 · Beautiful details Hands-on practice Worksheet

Not started

3

Foundations and keeping walls dry

Good boots and a good hat

~30 min readPractice: Build a model foundation and roof6 worksheet tasks

1 · Four ways water gets in 2 · The foundation 3 · The roof 4 · Walls that breathe 5 · The site and the years Hands-on practice Worksheet

Not started

4

Walls: straw bale and light straw-clay

Warm, quiet, thick walls

~30 min readPractice: Build a straw-clay or bale test wall6 worksheet tasks

1 · Load-bearing or infill 2 · Straw bale, step by step 3 · Light straw-clay 4 · A safe work party Hands-on practice Worksheet

Not started

5

Earthen plasters and floors

The finish you can touch

~30 min readPractice: Mix and apply an earthen plaster sample6 worksheet tasks

1 · Choosing a plaster 2 · Mixing and applying 3 · Earthen floors 4 · Color, texture and care Hands-on practice Worksheet

Not started

6

Getting alternative methods approved

Codes, appendices and the building department

~30 min readPractice: Prepare a building department packet6 worksheet tasks

1 · Three paths to yes 2 · The building department 3 · The permit packet 4 · Inspections 5 · Insurance and resale Hands-on practice Worksheet

Not started

7

First build: a garden studio

A small, real building from start to finish

~30 min readPractice: Plan your family's garden studio6 worksheet tasks

1 · The design 2 · Plan yours 3 · The build 4 · Building together Capstone practice Worksheet

Not started

What you'll make together

Lesson 1: Make and test sample blocks
Lesson 2: Draw a small home that fits your life
Lesson 3: Build a model foundation and roof
Lesson 4: Build a straw-clay or bale test wall
Lesson 5: Mix and apply an earthen plaster sample
Lesson 6: Prepare a building department packet
Lesson 7: Plan your family's garden studio

How this course works

Work at your own pace. Each lesson takes about 30 minutes to read, plus an afternoon or two of hands-on practice.
Worksheets and records save on this device as you type. Use the same browser to keep your progress.
Mark each lesson complete when you're done. Your progress shows here.
Subjects practiced: Science, Engineering, Math, History, Art and design, Life skills, Art, Civics, Writing, Speaking, Research.

For your homeschool records

Course record

Student: — · Natural Building, Tend & Keep School

Lesson	Completed	Hours	Worksheet
1 · Choosing a method	—	—	0 of 6
2 · Designing small	—	—	0 of 6
3 · Foundations and dry walls	—	—	0 of 6
4 · Straw bale and straw-clay walls	—	—	0 of 6
5 · Plasters and floors	—	—	0 of 6
6 · Getting it approved	—	—	0 of 6
7 · First build: a studio	—	—	0 of 6
Total	0 of 7	0	—

Dates and hours come from each lesson's progress record. Detailed worksheets print from each lesson.

Back to my librarySee every course, pick up where you left off, or start the next oneOpen my library →