Climate Activist and Sustainable Architect's Dream Home

Recently I had the honor of interviewing homeowner Becky Cavanagh and architect Gayle Borst of Stewardship Inc., while filming and touring this beautiful, tranquil, healthy, sustainable home outside of Austin, Texas. The Compressed Earth Block main house and Straw Bale guest house they created together is a peaceful oasis that Becky and her family get to enjoy every single day. When you step into this home, you feel the peace, calmness, and tranquility that has been created by a very talented architect whose passion is to protect our health, our environment, and our planet, using local natural building products. Yes, natural elements literally scooped out of the ground and modeled into blocks created the main house while local straw bales created the envelope for the guest house.

The main house, built of Compressed Earth Block (CEB), is designed to last. Major storms have traveled through the area since this home was built, and there has been no damage. The architect expects the house to stand for over 500 years. The Earth Block creator for this home, Jim Hallock, might quip that he guarantees his CEB homes for the first 1000 years, and to come get him in 900 years if he is wrong 😊. Interior and exterior walls are beautifully and skillfully plastered. The main ingredients for both the main home and the guest house on this oasis are clay, sand, and straw, with local and reclaimed wood used for floors, cabinets, and stunning lintels.

The property hosts a rainwater catchment system for domestic and landscape water. It has a food garden, solar, and a highly efficient mini-split AC system for a mission of net-zero energy for the property. The build goals for the homes were to use materials that do not off-gas, materials that do not put toxic chemicals into the air that the homeowner’s breath, all while reducing the effects of climate change.

The vision of the homeowner, a Climate Activist, and a dedicated sustainable architect created this sanctuary for healthy living. The outstanding craftsmanship, natural products, and architecture make this an exceptional home.