One of the most intriguing parts of Ironwood Farm is the sustainable building. Chris’s home is strawbale with an adobe finish on the walls and adobe flooring, just to name a few of its great features. Adobe is amazing resilient, water-resistant (in dry climates) and in most cases, more affordable. It’s made of sand, clay and an aggregate (such as fine gravel or straw) to hold it together. He was able to obtain most of the materials right from his own land (while at the same time creating a hole for a pond).
It’s something you can read about all day but until you see it yourself – and better yet, do it yourself – it’s hard to get a grasp on it. Thankfully, Chris has been more than obliging to introduce us to everything he can; over the weekend, we helped with an adobe floor in his workshop, filling cracks and oiling it with raw linseed oil. It was an amazing – and exfoliating 
– experience. We’re looking forward to more next weekend.
If you’re in the Albuquerque area, and interested in learning more about the adobe flooring or enjoying a tour of his home, he’s holding a workshop (we’ll be there!)…
Adobe Floor Installation
(Albuquerque, NM)
Saturday, March 27th 10am to 3pm
Hands-on experience in prepping, mixing, applying, leveling and finishing
Including a tour of the other sustainable housing features
Cost: $35, including a homegrown lunch (discounts for students)*
Contact Chris at (505) 363-0074 or ironwoodfarm@comcast.com
(*I’m receiving NO compensation for advertising this. Unless you count more experience and great food. 
)
I'm Tara Wagner, life coach and creator of the Digging Deep process, where I coach women out of survival mode to recreate their lives and families.
Well, then, you’ll have to help build a cob bread oven for me when you get here. I’ll need some expert advice!
that would be so much fun miranda! count us in!
I spent some time in Venezuela in 1995 making adobe bricks for a small village outside of Caracas. Very amazing experience. I wish that this material was more widely used in the US- So fantastic that you are getting to work with it- I would love to learn how to make adobe floors- but I am a state away. Next time-
I love following your adventures- All the best.
Oh how I would love to be near Albuquerque! I have this vision of creating our own home in a sustainable manner, but for now it will have to wait. One day, off grid! One day…
another inspiring post!!! i’m having so much fun following along with your adventures (and learning so much!!)
~erin