Earthville Stories
Reflections on Summer of Sustainability 2025
Reflections on Earthville Institute’s second summer-long residential program exploring sustainable and compassionate living, and our fourth annual Touching Earth workshop.
Reflections on Summer of Sustainability 2024
Reflections on Earthville Institute’s first summer-long residential program exploring sustainable and compassionate living, and our third annual Touching Earth workshop.
Inner Nature & Outer Nature: Inseparably One
Mark Moore’s editorial reposted from Tergar International’s blog and newsletter, published to accompany Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche’s video on “compassion for the planet” that was released at the same time.
Earthing: A Film Based on the Works of Didi Contractor
In honor of International Women’s Day (March 8), the Council of Architecture in India released a new documentary film (directed by Gurvinder Singh) on the life and work of Didi Contractor, the cofounder of Earthville’s Internship in Vernacular Eco-Architecture in partnership with Dharmalaya Institute.
Leadership Training in the Himalayas
We have some big news to share with you about the future of our Himalayan sister campus, Dharmalaya Institute, and the headline is that you’re invited to be a part of it!
Reflections on Touching Earth 2023
Following up on the success of last-year’s 27-day Natural Building and Inner Exploration Workshop Series, we opened the doors again this year to make the ongoing construction of our Colorado eco-campus available as a learning opportunity for anyone wishing to explore earthen building and our relationship with nature.
Straw-bale Buildings Rising!
We’re delighted to report that our 27-day Natural Building and Inner Exploration Workshop Series has wrapped up with results that surpassed even our lofty aspirations. Over the month, around 100 people joined us from across the US and beyond for learning, building, reflecting, and connecting.
Traditional Timber Framing
In preparation for Earthville Institute’s inaugural 27-day Natural Building and Inner Exploration Workshop Series in 2022, Earthville’s cofounders set out on a mission to add traditional mortise-and-tenon timber framing to their natural building repertoire, embarking on a grand adventure with Robert Laporte of EcoNest.
Didi Contractor Receives India’s Highest Award
On International Women’s Day of 2019, Didi Contractor, was presented with the Nari Shakti Puraskar, India’s highest civilian honour recognising women who have made great contributions to India. The award was presented by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind.
Bringing a Vision to Life: Dharmalaya Institute
Reflecting on the birth of Dharmalaya Institute (Earthville’s Himalayan sister school), from the early design conversations between Earthville founder Mark Moore and award-winning eco-architect Didi Contractor, and the epic volunteer-driven adventure to bring Didi’s inspiring designs to life.
Didi Contractor Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award
Didi Contractor, co-founding Professor Emeritus of the Internship in Vernacular Eco-Architecture at Dharmalaya Institute, was honoured with WADe Asia’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in natural building in the Himalayas.
New Film on Didi Contractor Debuts at DIFF
After years in the making, a new feature-length documentary film entitled “Didi Contractor: Marrying the Earth to the Building” premiered at the 2016 Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF).
Tales of Human-Scale Education
In this article, visionary educator Arnie Langberg shares three stories from his days as Principal in two alternative schools in Denver, Colorado. These tales illustrate the critical roles that human connections play in creating effective learning communities.