Michael G. Smith has a background in environmental engineering and social forestry. In 1993, he co-founded the Cob Cottage Company in Oregon, and the next year helped organize the first Natural Building Colloquium. He has taught hundreds of hands-on workshops ranging from a few hours to 2 months in length, concentrating on many aspects of natural building including cob, straw bale, straw-clay, earthen floors and plasters, passive solar design and the relationship between site ecology and regenerative buildings. He is the author or co-author of 4 books, including The Hand-Sculpted House and The Art of Natural Building. He consults with owner-builders on house and site design, natural materials and techniques. For the last 8 years he has lived at Emerald Earth Sanctuary, an intentional communty and learning center in Mendocino County, where he enjoys growing food and learning about chickens and acorns.