Steve Brodmerkel had been building conventional structures for more than fifteen years before joining the natural building revolution. His competence had built him a professional career, from site planning and design through foundations, wall and roof systems, interior/ exterior finishes, and home utility systems. Eventually, his desire to find, design and produce shelter that is responsible to people and the natural world led him to this genre.
Steve knows what works and what doesn't in the building industry; and he's seen what's sustainable and what's toxic. His wealth of knowledge and experience and practical, innate ability to see and address creative solutions within the built environment combines in these workshops with his clear communication skills to guarantee participants will understand and enjoy how buildings work and what makes them successful in the world of earth and straw.
Steve's background includes eco-psychology, therapeutic wilderness work, and ropes course training. A neighbor of Earthaven, Steve is the father of an awesome seven-year-old girl.
Mollie Curry, 9-year resident of Earthaven Ecovillage and experienced teacher of natural building and permaculture, has helped build her community from the ground up. She knows that building naturally not only is right, it's fun! She can help you integrate your head, heart, and hands into the building process. Mollie has walked far as a wilderness ranger, loves co-counseling and deep ecology, and considers blueberries a cure-all. She runs her own earthen paint and plaster business (Earth Circle Natural Building) and consults and works on building and art projects. She says, "Your hands are full of ancient knowing - let them loose to speak to us in mud!"
Mollie will just be returning from a stint as co-leader of Lama Foundation's natural building summer internship program in Taos, NM.
Steve Kemble is a musician and natural builder, based in Tucson, Arizona. As a consultant on our project, his sweet spirit, experience and confidence have been essential. Steve brings his mastery of strawbale construction to us after he and Mollie co-facilitate the Lama Foundation interns.
Mark Mazziotti was a natural builder trapped in a graphic designer's body. He worked for Public Media Center in San Francisco for 14 years where he learned everything about what's wrong with the world.
These days however, he's more likely to be found in the mud trying to get it right. He apprenticed with Michael Smith and Darryl Berlin at Emerald Earth in California and has experience building with straw bale, cob, earthbags, and natural plasters. He recently returned from teaching a workshop in South Africa with Builders Without Borders. Plagued by an unfailingly pessimistic attitude, Mark is amazed to report that things keep working out. Mark was the Intern Coordinator for the 15-week Internship Program in 2006 that put those beautiful walls up. He's living and building at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage this year, but his smile is just too yummy to delete from this page (don't you agree?)!
Arjuna da Silva:
~ 828-669-0114
1041 Camp Elliott Rd., Black Mountan, North Carolina, USA 28711
