The word cob comes from an Old English root meaning "a lump or rounded mass". It's a traditional building technique using hand formed lumps of earth mixed with sand and straw.

Cob is easy to learn and inexpensive to build. It dries to a hardness similar to lean concrete and is used like adobe to create self supporting, load bearing walls.

Cob has been used for centuries throughout Western Europe, even in rainy and windy climates, as far north as the latitude of Alaska. This ancient technology doesn't contribute to deforestation, pollution or mining, nor depend on manufactured materials or power tools.

Cob is nontoxic and completely recyclable, which is important in this era of environmental degradation, dwindling natural resources and chemical contaminants.

In quarterly publication since 1993, The Last Straw is the subscriber-supported, reader-written journal of straw-bale construction and natural building, providing up-to-date information on techniques, projects, related issues, etc.

Typically running 36 packed pages of stories, photos, and illustrations, each issue has a feature focus, such as Strawbale Resources; Wall Systems; Codes, Research and Testing; Designing Natural Buildings; and more.

Nestled in the beautiful Oregon Cascade Mountains, Breitenbush Hot Springs is a retreat and conference center you will want to return to over and over.

Whether you go for the healing waters of their sauna and hot tubs, a Personal Retreat, to take a Workshop, to enjoy one of their Daily Well Being Programs, or simply to experience the peace of one of the last areas of Old Growth Forest, you will be amazed to discover how good you can feel in this quiet and beautiful setting.

Leave your troubles at the gate and go to relax.

Gina Salá is a vocalist and composer whose love for the human voice has taken her to stages, studios, living rooms, and huts throughout much of the world. She performs traditional and original songs in 16 languages.

Salá also offers classes and workshops utilizing eastern and western techniques and cross-cultural repertoire that help youth and adults free their unique voices and find the joy, courage, power and creativity within.

Chloë Goodchild's singing voice expresses the spiritual longing of our time through and beyond the boundaries of culture or creed. She has collaborated with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and The Way of Peace Project Ireland, Eve Ensler of The Vagina Monologues, UK composer John Tavener, USA film composer Angelo Badalamenti, and leading world, pop, jazz musicians.

Chloë works internationally, leading voice workshops and trainings, performing and recording.

For 20 years Chloë has focused on the naked voice, the sound of the true Self. Her inspirational way of effortless singing has enabled thousands of people, beginners and professionals alike, to express their naked voice. Chloë's work integrates Eastern and Western perspectives into a unified awareness through the healing power of sound.

The Work of Byron Katie is an experiential process consisting of inquiry that is easy to learn and simple to utilize. It helps to pinpoint solutions and to see problems from an entirely new perspective.

The Work shows us how to take a look at the thoughts and beliefs that keep us from living and knowing true freedom.