Meet the building team and teachers for the 2010 season

Elke Cole

Program Founder and Designer Elke Cole lives at O.U.R.Ecovillage and designs, builds and teaches “houses that love you back” . Her background is in architecture with a degree received in Germany. After independently working on home designs in the Comox Valley, she became involved with natural building in 1994. Since then she has designed, built and taught both independently as well as with the Cob Cottage Company, the Down to earth building bee , Cobworks and Earthrising Foundation. Projects include many natural and hybrid homes in the pacific northwest, in the US and Costa Rica. Elke is involved with three longterm projects: O.U.R.Ecovillage, Baobab Home in Tanzania and Garden of Peace School in Tamil Nadu, India.

Elke is coordinator and lead instructor for the natural building programs at O.U.R. ECOVILLAGE.

*

Cindy Walker

Cindy started her career as natural builder by building her own cob/bale house in the Similkameen Valley. After finishing it she deepened her focus and experience on plasters through working with recognized Natural Plasterers in North America: Carole Crews, Bill and Athena Steen and others. She returns to O.U.R.Ecovillage to join our teaching team and continue the beautiful plaster work on the Healing Sanctuary.

*

*

Robert Laporte

is the founder of the Econest School of Natural Building and resides on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. He is a recognized natural building pioneer, teacher and author. He is a leading expert in earth, clay/straw and timber frame construction. Robert has been designing and building natural homes for the past thirty years in Canada and the United States and has lead more than 1,500 students in over 100 workshops in 6 countries.  Since researching natural building in Europe in 1990 he has become a leading proponent of light clay construction in North America and his innovative development of an energy-efficient straw clay enclosure system has set the standard for light clay construction in North America.

For more information about EcoNest visit our website: www.econest.com

Gord Baird

Ann and Gord Baird walk the talk of sustainable living in their newly completed (Dec 08) multi-generational home which features  passive solar design, solar PV, solar thermal, composting (no flush) toilets, rain water harvesting, grey water re-use, a living roof, earthen floors, and natural finishes into their exceptionally beautiful and simple earthen home.  This modern and affordable version of earthen architecture is the first legal load bearing two story cob residence in North America.  The couple’s passion and knowledge is expressed in their work consulting, building, advancing policy, and in the hundreds of tours they have given through their home.  The Eco-Sense home is registered for the Living Building Challenge.   They teach that if it isn’t affordable it isn’t sustainable and live their motto ”Less life stuff…more life style!”

*

Keith Hirsche

has 30 years experience in the energy industry, primarily as a research geoscientist in the oil and gas sector. Over the past ten years he has become increasingly involved in the theoretical possibilities and practical application of renewable energy systems. Keith is a director of the BC Sustainable Energy Association.

*

*

Chris Walker

has worked as a designer and installer of renewable energy systems, has taught renewable energy technologies and policy at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ontario. Chris has an MSc in Sustainability Leadership and wrote his masters thesis on sustainable power generation.

*

*

Tom Jensen

Tom Jensen is a Rammed Earth builder and operates Earthen Homes in the Cowichan Valley. After several years as an environmental custom cabinet maker, he combined his attention to detail and his passion for the environment, and began his career in earth masonry. His construction experience ranges from creating sacred spaces with green design to building Rammed Earth feature walls.

*

*

*

Randy Churchill – Over trained as a mechanical engineer, Randy escaped academia to build awesome projects with an accent on heavy timber work. He has designed, cut and raised more than 130 custom timber frames – the smallest being 25 sq ft and the largest 18,000 sqft. Most interested in salvaged wood and smart, smaller house designs he will be focused on Project Management and training others in the craft of working heavy timbers. Randy believes that good design addresses all the materials and systems of a home prior to construction to avoid conflicts and unnecessary costs.

*

*

Kris Dick-

our lead engineer from Building Alternatives in Manitoba. Kris supports our work with his professional advice and has a great way to explain challenges of engineering to our students.

*

*

Trent Berg

Trent lives at O.U.R. Ecovillage and has been overseeing all building and infrastructure activities for a number of years. He has a broad set of skills including welding, carpentry and beer-making! Trent is in charge of tools and materials.