Click the audio play button above to hear me talk about my natural building projects.
Natural Building
Simple shelters.
Jon Appleton
Thedensrangedfromsimplenestlikehidingplacesunder thefernsandbrackentoquitesophisticated,more permanentstructures.Strawbales,whenavailableonthe localfarm,madeexcellentbuildingblocks.Flexible hazelwoodframeworkscoveredwith“liberated”piecesof canvasortarpaulinmadethemostsatisfactorysemi-durable accommodation.Sometimeswethatchedwithrushes,flag leaves,brackenfrondsandleavesofallsorts.Mostofthese densincorporatedafireofsomesort.Smallandneat,smoke freeifpossibleandalllitwith“onlyonematch”asamatterof prideandasinstructedby“Lonecraft”thebookbyJohn Hargrave or “White Fox” as he was known.
Even little birds do it.
The picture above was taken in 1942 when my brother, sister and I won a fancy dress competition as a native American family. The bug has bitten!
American Indian Tipee
Idon’tmuchlikethe“nylonnightmares”thatseemtobethe normthesedays.It’shardtobeatcottoncanvasasweather protection when the rain and wind get up.
The Yurpee.
My octagonal camp pavilion, slackened off and drying out after rain before being packed down at the end of a camp.
Move your mouse pointer over the drawing below to see the full picture
This design was created to combine the benefits of dome and tipi construction
me and the “Yurpee” at Oak Dragon.
My hand built Sacred Space.
Oldfencepanelscutupforroofshingles,toppedwith reversedbeercansandaglasspyramid.Insidealittle chimeniainthebackcornerforwinterheat.Bench seats with sheepskins all round and plenty of candles.
Sacred Space Interior
FamilytraditionhasitthatIwasconceivedinaTipi,madeby myparents,underthe“oldyewtree”nearPolesdenLaceyin Surrey.Icertainlyspenttimeasababyandasasmallboyin varioushikingtentsliketheonesusedbytheKindredinthe 20’sand30’s.Asignificantmemoryformeisbeingwokenup onemistymorningtoseealittletipiinthegarden.Ithad smokecomingoutofthetopandlookedquitemagical.My fatherhadmadeitoutofpaperandusedthedriedstalksof the Golden Rod plants for the lodge poles. BeinganIndianwaspartofmydreamingandimaginationasa childandthebooksofErnestThompsonSeton,suchas“The BookofWoodcraftIndianLore”weremuchlovedtreasures.A lotofmytimeasapre-teenageboywasspentonWimbledon Common and “den” building was a significant part of our play.
Alloftheseearlyexperiencesandinfluenceshavestayedwith meandplayedapartinmyfascinationwithbothcamping andminimallivingspaces.Thedesignofthe“Yurpee”across betweenaYurtandaTeepeesprangfrommydesiretohave acomfortablelivingspaceonthe10daycampsI’vebeen attending in recent years.
A10'wideoctagonalmeditationandmeetingspace.Allmade withrecycledmaterials.Wallsof"Papercrete",mashedup Guardian newspaper 70%, sand 20% and cement 10%.
Click the audio play button above to hear how to contact me…
Natural Building
Simple shelters.
Click the audio play button above to hear me talk about my natural building projects.
Even little birds do it.
The picture above was taken in 1942 when my brother, sister and I won a fancy dress competition as a native American family. The bug has bitten!
The Yurpee.
My octagonal camp pavilion, slackened off and drying out after rain before being packed down at the end of a camp.
me and the “Yurpee” at Oak Dragon.
My hand built Sacred Space.
A10'wideoctagonalmeditationandmeetingspace.All madewithrecycledmaterials.Wallsof"Papercrete", mashedupGuardiannewspaper70%,sand20%and cement10%.Oldfencepanelscutupforroofshingles, toppedwithreversedbeercansandaglasspyramid. Insidealittlechimeniainthebackcornerforwinter heat.Benchseatswithsheepskinsallroundandplenty of candles.
Sacred Space Interior
FamilytraditionhasitthatIwasconceivedinaTipi, madebymyparents,underthe“oldyewtree”near PolesdenLaceyinSurrey.Icertainlyspenttimeasa babyandasasmallboyinvarioushikingtentslikethe onesusedbytheKindredinthe20’sand30’s.A significantmemoryformeisbeingwokenuponemisty morningtoseealittletipiinthegarden.Ithadsmoke comingoutofthetopandlookedquitemagical.My fatherhadmadeitoutofpaperandusedthedried stalks of the Golden Rod plants for the lodge poles. BeinganIndianwaspartofmydreamingand imaginationasachildandthebooksofErnest ThompsonSeton,suchas“TheBookofWoodcraft Indian Lore” were much loved treasures.Alotofmytimeasapre-teenageboywasspenton WimbledonCommonand“den”buildingwasa significantpartofourplay.Thedensrangedfrom simplenestlikehidingplacesunderthefernsand brackentoquitesophisticated,morepermanent structures.Strawbales,whenavailableonthelocal farm,madeexcellentbuildingblocks.Flexible hazelwoodframeworkscoveredwith“liberated”pieces ofcanvasortarpaulinmadethemostsatisfactory semi-durableaccommodation.Sometimeswethatched withrushes,flagleaves,brackenfrondsandleavesof allsorts.Mostofthesedensincorporatedafireof somesort.Smallandneat,smokefreeifpossibleand alllitwith“onlyonematch”asamatterofprideandas instructedby“Lonecraft”thebookbyJohnHargraveor “White Fox” as he was known.
Click the audio play button above to hear how to contact me…