Straw & Cob is an educational network for affordable living: we combine community + construction literacy + energy efficient design + natural materials.* Cob mixes together like mud and dries stronger than concrete.Cob is made of sand, clay and straw and has been used for centuries. Cob is a thermal mass that keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.* Straw Bale Is Natural InsulationIn the Pacific Northwest, straw bale acts as a natural insulation material to enhance the passive solar design of a cob house. * Housing is expensive! Energy is expensive!Over the course of your 30-year mortgage, you will likely spend twice as much on your energy bills for house and car as you will on your initial mortgage price.* Pieces Of A DreamDo you have a concept, a design or maybe some traditional construction experience? Have you purchased land or started community conversations? Chances are good that you need help to achieve your dream.* What We DoStraw & Cob connects land owners with willing students in order to increase the local skill level and achieve constructed natural homes. Choose from our energy efficient designs in order to reduce or eliminate utility bills. Some designs allow your home to produce enough energy to power an electric car! How cool is that?* Public ToursTo see clean and affordable living up close, take a tour of our completed homes as they are finished!* Why Choose Straw & Cob?We are local. We have energy efficient designs. We build homes, ovens and benches as a product of our classes. Certificate students walk away with the ability to build their own home, teach or build for other people. Best of all, students and land owners connect with each other to grow the local natural building community.