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The article discusses how a Hopi mother decided to build her home using a technique called "cob," which is a process that involves making a home out of stone. The mother, Lillian Hill, became aware of the technique when she saw a flyer for natural earth building training course being held in Mexico. It is suggested that many other Hopi could begin using the cob technique to build cheap, sustainable, and environmentally sound homes.

The article offers news brief related to educational institutions in Great Britain. The St. Francis of Assisi Academy, the first high school that specialize in the environment was opened in Liverpool, England. The cobs are used in the construction of school building in Cornwall, England. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has invested £5 million funds in the Nuclear Skills Academy located at Sellafield, Cumbria.

Presents the schedule of several home building workshops in the U.S. from May 22 to August 7, 2005. The New Ecological Home in Austin, Texas; Cob Building Workshop in Williams, Oregon; Continental Cordwood Conference in Merrill, Wisconsin; Straw Bale Construction in DePere, Wisconsin.

Reports on the response of Coop Construction of France to European Union calls for energy efficient homes by replacing modern product by the traditional material known as cob.

Presents the working details for a house named Cobtun by Associated Architects built alongside the River Severn in England. Basis for the house design; Reasons on why cob was chosen as the main material; Description of the glazed wall.

Provides an overview of a number of the commonly used, traditional and contemporary natural building materials and techniques. Earthen materials; Cob; Adobe; Compressed earth blocks; Rammed earth; Rammed earth tires; Pneumatically Impacted Stabilized Earth; Earthbags; Cast earth; Earthen floors; Natural plasters and finishes.