[Cob] Cob video avail...Spring 05

[Marlin]

Here's a prerelease blurb about a new video/DVD if people are interested. It features stuff that we did here in Madison and also a documentary of the filmakers trip to NM....

If interested in carrying/buying/selling contact me off the list and I'll get the filmaker in touch with you....never too many videos that are well done about community and natural/cob building!

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Natural and Green Building DVD
Available in Spring 2005

Earth Walls: natural building and sustainability
By Tona Williams, Bigbite Productions (http://www.bigbite.org)
Total running time: 40 minutes

Earth Walls
Cob and Straw Bale Construction in Wisconsin
This documentary explores a segment of the natural building movement in Wisconsin.  Organizers, entrepreneurs, and community volunteers at two construction projects talk about the how-to of natural building, the politics behind it, and the ultimate goals of their activities.  In Madison, WI, organizers from the non-profit organization Outta The Box, rally volunteers at a local food co-op to build a cob wall (made from clay, sand, and straw) and, they hope, to build community in the process.  Taking a contrasting approach, a commercial construction company called Acorn Enterprises builds a home in the rural Dodgeville, WI area that is insulated with straw bales.  They hope that, by demonstrating the viability of their technique, they can eventually change building codes so that projects like this can be constructed in cities.

Produced and Directed by Tona Williams
Featuring: Randy Gates, Marlin Nissen, Martin Jelenc, James Polk, and many others
More information: http://www.outtathebox.org; http://www.acornent.com/
Running time: 27 minutes

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Living Sculpture
The Taos Earthships
This film explores the beauty and functionality of homes called Earthships near Taos, New Mexico.  Tours of completed homes and a construction site illustrate how cast-off tires, bottles and cans can be mixed with earth and cement to create exceptional dwellings.  An exploration of elements such as building materials, design, solar panels and passive solar heating, wind turbines, biodiesel, and reuse of rainwater demonstrate what it can mean to live "off the grid."

Directed by Tona Williams
Produced by Carey Mullett and Tona Williams
Featuring: Jen Boatright and Joan Dobson
More information: http://www.earthship.com; http://www.newmex.com/dobsonhouse
Running time: 10 minutes

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Taos Pueblo Adobe Village
Taos pueblo is the oldest continually inhabited community in the United States, and it is made out of adobe.  The Tewa Indians and their ancestors have made the village their home for over 1000 years.  This montage documents the beauty and functionality of the structures.  They are living proof of the long-term practicality of earthen construction.

More information: http://www.taospueblo.com
Running time: 3 minutes

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Filmmaker bio:
Tona Williams is a sociologist and filmmaker in Madison, WI.  These films are part of a series of documentaries she is creating about the natural building and sustainability movements in the Midwestern United States and the rest of the world.  She also makes films with the Madison chapter of the international filmmaking group called Kino (http://www.wis-kino.com).