Let's hangout live and test the new Skool livestream feature. I'll pull up some SketchUp designs I've been working on, and we can do an open question and answer session. Time: Today (Thursday), 5:00 PM EST Here's the link: https://www.skool.com/live/fbKwHly3hyC

Quick update on the Winter Sale: We're down to 27 spots remaining at the $50 price (limited to 150 total). Sale ends in 2 days or when spots fill - whichever comes first. This is your last chance to get the complete natural building course for 90% off. **What's included:** - Complete foundation to roof instruction - Works for cob, straw-clay, rammed earth, adobe, strawbale, hempcrete, etc. - Land buying guide (avoid $20,000+ property mistakes) - Design course that would cost $500+ from an architect - All materials downloadable forever I've taught thousands of students since 2011. This is your roadmap to debt-free homeownership. 27 spots left: https://www.thiscobhouse.com/winter-sale To building more freedom in 2026, Alex

I have a brand new calculator app for you! It will calculate material and labor cost for your cob wall projects. Give a try! You can find the calculator on my website here: https://www.thiscobhouse.com/cob-wall-cost-calculator/ If you have any feedback or bug reports, please let me know!

Here's some research I've compiled. Feel free to discuss below! **Build a Cob House For $58K Instead of Paying $400K For a Mortgage (Full Breakdown)** The average American paying off a $200,000 house will hand over $343,000 by the time they actually own it. $143,000 just vanishes into interest payments. But there's a proven alternative that eliminates debt entirely: building a cob house with your own hands. Let's break down the REAL numbers behind debt-free natural building and show you exactly how regular people on normal incomes are opting out of the mortgage system. **The Brutal Reality of Mortgages:** A $200,000 home financed at 7% interest = $1,331 monthly payments Total paid over 30 years: $478,000 Pure interest paid to banks: $278,000 First year breakdown: $14K interest vs $2K toward equity **Cob House Cost Breakdown ($58K Total):** • Land: $10-15K for 5 acres (rural areas) • Permits: $3K (varies by location, can be $15-50K in strict areas) • Foundation: $6K (with DIY labor + equipment rental) • Roof: $12-15K (metal roofing, quality materials essential) • Walls & Structure: Under $2K (clay, sand, straw) • Interior Finishes: $2K (earthen floors, clay plasters) • Total: $58K with ZERO interest payments **Where The REAL Savings Come From:** ✓ Wall materials: $2K vs $10-15K for conventional lumber framing ✓ Interior finishes: $2K vs $9-12K for tile and drywall ✓ Contractor markup eliminated: Save $20-50K in management fees ✓ Labor costs eliminated: Save $60-80K by doing it yourself ✓ Interest payments eliminated: Save $278K over 30 years **30-Year Total Cost Comparison:** Conventional $200K house: $658K-748K (mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance) $58K Cob house: ~$109K (taxes, insurance, minimal maintenance) **Difference: $549K-639K stays in YOUR pocket** **Realistic Timeline & Savings Plan:** Year 1-2: Live cheap, save $1,500/month = $36K saved Year 2: Buy land ($15K) + build tiny 250 sq ft starter cottage ($12-15K) Year 2-4: Live rent-free in cottage while building main 800-1000 sq ft house

I wanted to share this great video! It documents the restoration of an old German "fachwerk" house. This is a building style I'll be doing myself on my upcoming barn and kitchen projects. If you watch this video, you'll see the many traditional uses of timber, clay, straw, and lime!