Story URL: http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=40927
Story Retrieval Date: 2/9/2010 7:58:26 PM CST
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Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan/Medill

A centuries-old green building technique enjoys a comeback at the Chicago Avenue Community Garden. Natural builder Miguel Elliott is constructing an oven and bench out of cob, a mixture of sand, clay and straw.


A granddaddy of green building comes to Chicago

by Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan
July 17, 2007


Green building isn't all about high-tech gadgets. As a new project at the Chicago Avenue Community Garden proves, a simple mixture of sand, straw, water and clay called cob may be one of the most sustainable materials out there. Natural builder Miguel Elliott demonstrates the power of cob as he sculpts an oven and bench out of the material -- a process involving impromptu drum concerts, dirty hands and plenty of cob squishing between the toes.