Episodes

It's a Solstice/Christmas/New Year double episode with Grain Architecture's founding director and designer Janna Laan Lomas. In this episode we discuss the nuts and bolts of sustainable design from an architect's perspective. I also speak with Janna in episode 38, where we discuss her background and training, and the response from the architecture world in response to the climate emergency. This episode contains discussions on: Her approach to construction Insulation and Mass geek out Desi...

This week I'm joined by Clare Whitney from Clayworks for Building Sustainability Podcast BS36. Clayworks Clay plasters are unique blends of unfired clays mixed with minerals and pigments to provide healthy, breathable finishes for internal walls and ceilings. Manufactured in Cornwall from abundant raw materials, they are amongst the most sustainable and healthy wall finishes available. They are recyclable, compostable, re-useable, and contain no toxic ingredients or VOCs. As well as being 100...

Kiran Pereira is the author of the forthcoming book Sand Stories: Surprising truths about the global sand crisis and the quest for sustainable solutions. Kiran was raised in India where she witnessed the impacts of indiscriminate sand mining. Following her Master’s degree at King’s College, London, during which she explored this very topic, Kiran works as a social entrepreneur to find and promote solutions to the global sand crisis. Her work has been featured in the award-winning documentary San...

Part 2 of the 2 part episode in partnership with Earth Building United Kingdom and Ireland (EBUKI.co) We wanted to find out about the training available to those wanting to get into earth building in the UK and Ireland. All to often this information is provided from the trainers perspective and doesnt show the difficulties of getting into this industry. In this episode I talk to Miki Z and Jamie Ingle. This episode with conversations with and ends with my thoughts on what we can do to better t...

Part 1 of a 2 part episode in partnership with Earth Building United Kingdom and Ireland (EBUKI.co) We wanted to find out about the training available to those wanting to get into earth building in the UK and Ireland. All to often this information is provided from the trainers perspective and doesnt show the difficulties of getting into this industry. In this episode I talk to Kit Jones and Anna Castilla Vila. Episode 34 will follow straight on from this episode with conversations with Miki Z ...

I'm very pleased to welcome the podcast - builder, photographer, publisher, editor and blogger... Lloyd Kahn! Lloyd is the editor in chief at Shelter Publications, has now published eight books on building; this series is called The Shelter Library Of Building Books. Included are Home Work, the sequel to Shelter, Tiny Homes, and Lloyd’s favorite, Builders of the Pacific Coast. In the mid-‘60s, Lloyd Kahn quit his job in the insurance business and began working as a carpenter, first building po...

This episode we are talking with British folk singer, Jay McAllister AKA Beans on Toast. We began talking about "how the arts, music and storytelling could save the world from climate catastrophe." But, I think what came out of the conversation was that of hope, believing in people and celebrating the good in humanity. The conversation covers the role of the artist, how to have hope, great storytellers, inspirational books, socially distanced gigs.... to name but a few topics... and it ends wit...

This episode we are speaking with Sarah Partridge of Orchard Barn - http://orchardbarn.org.uk/ Orchard barn is an off grid restoration project that is rebuilding a barn and long house using the traditional tools and techniques that were used to build it the first time round. The Mick & Pat Show Join us for informal conversations surrounding beer, film, politics and philosophy. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the showConnect with me: IG - @jeffreythenaturalbuilder Twitter - @JNaturalBu...

This episode we talk with Scott McAulay, from the Anthropocene Architecture School. Scott is a part 2 architectural technician who has been making lots of noise to shake up the architectural education model. We discuss Scott's journey to this point and how the anthropocene architecture school has developed and grown into a rebellious voice of common sense - pushing for a change in the education of architects to bring the climate emergency to the forefront of design requirements. Support this Po...

Full show notes coming soon! Emily's Blog - https://plasterwithwa.wordpress.com/ Japanese Earthen Plaster Exchange - https://thejepe.org/ Japanese Plaster Craft - https://www.facebook.com/groups/japaneseplastercraft 'Mizugone' Plastering Video discussed - https://youtu.be/Mti9FiZha6Q The Mick & Pat Show Join us for informal conversations surrounding beer, film, politics and philosophy. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the showConnect with me: IG - @jeffreythenaturalbuilder Twitter - @...

Today I talk with Emily Reynolds, author of 'Japan's Clay Walls: A Glimpse into their Plaster Craft' - This is part 1 of 2! Today we discuss trowels, bamboo backing, Links Japanese Earthen Plaster Exchange www.righttoroam.org.uk The Mick & Pat Show Join us for informal conversations surrounding beer, film, politics and philosophy. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the showConnect with me: IG - @jeffreythenaturalbuilder Twitter - @JNaturalBuilder Facebook - Jeffreythenaturalbuilder Li...

Something a bit different today. I talk with Wibbs Coulson about how we can look after our bodies to keep us able to build, craft or just stay in good shape! Videos from the podcast Yoga inspired movements for wrists/arms/shoulder health - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDbyFi67fkA Anatomy in motion inspired movement for back pain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_mE9qmTPss Box breathing technique - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG48FfT3Qno Movnat inspired Combo work out - https://www.you...

Show notes available at: http://jeffreythenaturalbuilder.com/natural-builder-question-time-pt2-will-stanwix-bs25 In this episode I talk with Will Stanwix - Co-author of 'The Hempcrete book - Designing and building with hemp lime'. Will is not only a hemp-lime builder, but also a trained building surveyor and now an accomplished earth builder too. This is the second part of a 2 hour conversation between Will and myself. For this, we took turns to ask each other questions and go off on geeky/sil...

Show notes available at: http://jeffreythenaturalbuilder.com/natural-builder-question-time-pt1-will-stanwix-bs24 In this episode I talk with Will Stanwix - Co-author of 'The Hempcrete book - Designing and building with hemp lime'. Will is not only a hemp-lime builder, but also a trained building surveyor and now an accomplished earth builder too. This is the first part of a 2 hour conversation between Will and myself. We recorded a conversation right at the beginning of lockdown , then decided...

Full show notes available at: http://jeffreythenaturalbuilder.com/bs23-earth-floors-are-the-most-sustainable-floors-sukita-reay-crimmel This week I am talking with earth floor expert Sukita Reay Crimmel. Sukita has laid thousands of square feet of earthen floor, written the book on earth floors... and was an extremely influential teacher to me back at the beginning of my natural building journey! This episode is essentially two earth floor lovers, geeking out pretty hard. We talk through the b...

The second of our 'Barn the Spoon' double bill. In this episode Barn talks about 'New Wood Culture' - A holistic approach to working with wood that connects the growing of trees and managing of woodlands. It encompasess selecting, appreciating and felling of trees, and all the items that can be crafted from them. Barn is a greenwood worker, spoon carver and author Podcast Links Barn the Spoon Spoonfest Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park Barn's Book - Spon - https://tinyurl.com/28wqnmj4 Bodgers Ball F...

Support this podcast - Patreon The first of a Barnaby Carder (Barn the Spoon) double bill. Barn is a spoon carver, co-organises spoonfest and is the author of several books including the excellent Spon. In this episode Barn tells us about how he got into wood-working at a young age and later discovered the joys of working green wood. His journey has been unusual and is told with Barn's classic humour. This episode is sponsored by https://www.cyclaireshop.co.uk/ Episode links Spoonclub The Gree...

This episode is a conversation with Bristol Permaculture legend Sarah Pugh. We discuss the nuances of permaculture in a city and how permaculture is all about building communities. Black Lives Matter Links Donate to Stop Hate UK Black Lives Matter UK (UKBLM) Legal fund to combat racial injustice Petitions to sign Update GCSE reading list Teach British Children About the Realities of British Imperialism and Colonialism Anti-Racism Education to be Compulsory in U​K Schools Anti Racism Resources...

I talk with Paul Allen from the Centre for Alternative Technology about how Britain can get to Net Zero carbon using only existing technologies. Incorporating work from the last 12 years of Zero Carbon Britain research and the latest scientific and technological developments, the report presents a technically feasible scenario showcasing a future Zero Carbon Britain using only proven technology. Link: Executive summary of Zero Carbon Britain: Rising to the climate emergency Zero Carbon Britain...

This week we have a conversation with mud mason, Becky Little from Rebearth. "Rebearth is a Scottish company founded by mud mason Becky Little. We specialise in building, art and education using raw earth and natural materials. We have 25 years of experience in earth building techniques including mudwall (cob), wattle and daub, light clay and hemp, turf building, soft capping, clay plasters, earth sculpture and decoration. By learning from the past and working with nature, we celebrate and de...

We continue our meander into the benefits for human health of access to countryside. This week in a conversation with writer, Illustrator and land justice campaigner - Nick Hayes Nick is just putting the finishing touches to his new book, 'The Book of Trespass - Crossing the Lines that Divide Us' and talks us through the themes and issues presented in the book. The Book of Trespass, Crossing the Lines that Divide Us A meditation on the fraught and complex relationship between land, politics an...

This episode takes us a little away from our chosen niche, and looks at how we can create sustainability by getting out into nature, learning the plants and developing a deeper connection to the natural world. I talk with Fern Freud about foraging. Fern is a passionate forager and loves everything it encompasses: food, history, folklore, anthropology, the natural environment. She grew up foraging with her family on the South Downs, mainly for mushrooms, and now runs workshops and classes in Su...

Claire O'Neill is a director at 'A Greener Festival' a not-for-profit company, committed to helping events, festivals and venues around the world to become more sustainable and to reduce environmental impacts. As pioneers in event sustainability since the first research in 2005, AGF provide certification, training, expertise, and facilitate the exchange of best practice. A Greener Festival Award was set up in 2007 and since assessed nearly 500 events across 5 continents, from 500 to 200,000 dai...

In the second of our birthday / lockdown triple bill... I have a conversation with Beth Williams, who is a 'Structural Engineer + Certified PassivHaus Designer. Passionate about diversity in construction, timber engineering and efficient, humble design' BETH WILLIAMS MEng (Hons), CEng MICE Beth graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2011 having studied Structural Engineering and Architecture. Beth has worked in architectural and engineering practices in Sheffield, Gloucestershire and now...