A return to natural building: why we will all build with straw & clay (again)

Until relatively recently we all built our homes from local, unprocessed materials (i.e. stone, wood, straw, earth). Not only do modern buildings impose a burden on the environment- clearcutting, mining, manufacturing runoff into the air and water, etc- but many of the manufactured materials are making us sick. “Even the mainstream press carries frequent stories of cancers and respiratory problems linked to formaldehyde-based glues, plastics, paints, asbestos, and fiberglass, to name a few favorite culprits