From Dust to Renewal: A Farewell to Our UCR Palm Desert Project
In the world of natural building, we often talk about creating something timeless — durable, sustainable, and beautiful structures that stand as a testament to what is possible when human creativity meets Earth’s raw materials. So when we received the notice to dismantle our beloved natural building project at UCR Palm Desert, it was difficult to come to terms with.
This project was not just a structure; it was a living, breathing representation of hope, collaboration, and learning. Over the course of six workshops, we taught 72 people who came from all over California and as far as New Jersey. Together, we shaped earthen walls, built with our hands and hearts, and created something real and tangible from the soil beneath our feet. It was more than a building; it was a community coming together to imagine and co-create a more sustainable future.
And yet, as it goes in life, not everything we build gets to stay. The land was not guaranteed for the long-term, and I wrestled deeply with the decision to move forward with the project knowing this reality. Part of me wanted to wait—to hold out for the perfect place where our work could endure for generations. But waiting meant losing something greater: the opportunity to teach now. The chance for students to experience hands-on, real-world natural building education would have been lost if I had waited for conditions to be perfect. So we built anyway.
And now, as we face dismantling this cherished project, I choose to see this as another opportunity—a chance to reverse engineer the building process, document the durability of cob structures, and highlight the ephemeral beauty of these natural forms. While this structure may be temporary, the lessons it imparted are enduring. The skills, inspiration, and confidence gained by the students who worked on this project are carried forward into their lives and their communities.
Perhaps they will build something permanent. Perhaps you will. What we created together will not disappear when the structure comes down. Instead, it rises like a phoenix, its energy transformed. For those who participated, this project will live on in the earth they shaped, the connections they made, and the knowledge they gained. The next structure they build may endure for generations because of what they learned here.
Tearing down something that holds so much of our time, energy, and hope is not easy. It is a sad moment, but it is also cathartic. It reminds us that natural building is not just about permanence—it is about resilience. It is about working in harmony with the natural world, knowing that everything has its cycle. And sometimes, letting go makes space for something new, something even more impactful.
As I look forward, I see endless opportunities to teach more people, to reach new communities, and to make a meaningful difference in lives. We will continue to champion non-toxic, low-cost, sustainable structures that leave no carbon footprint. We will keep building—not just structures but also a movement toward resilience, creativity, and hope.
To those who put their hands and hearts into this project, thank you. Thank you for being part of this temporary but transformative creation. Though the building may come down, what we built together will never be lost. It is carried forward, rising from the ashes, and inspiring new beginnings. Let’s take these lessons, this energy, and this hope, and let it guide us into our next chapter. After all, sometimes we must let go to grow.
With gratitude and resilience,
Susan Krings