Kleiwerks is...
What we are
What we do
Why we do it
What´s next
How we started

What we are
Empowering communities through natural building & whole-systems solutions
Kleiwerks International is a global network of innovative development experts that promotes ecological and social resilience through local leadership development, education, advocacy, and hands-on projects. Our specialty is indigenous, affordable, regenerative building and whole-systems appropriate technologies. 

Our programs are values-driven, community centric, multi level collaborations that focus on lasting solutions. Our work serves local community needs -both the human and ecological- while fostering a sense of place, human dignity and hope. 

Founded in 1998, Kleiwerks International is a 501(c)3 non-profit that is part of a worldwide movement reviving and refining the art and joy of natural building and sustainable living.

What we do
Kleiwerks International specializes in natural building, whole systems appropriate technologies, and ecological design. Our programs support local leadership, eduacation, hands-on projects, and advocacy. 

    Programs started in:
-> Shelter: Adobe; cob; wattle and daub; bamboo; compressed earth blocks; slipstraw; strawbale; recycled rubble; natural finishes; living roods; passive solar design

    Programs expanded to include:
-> Water: Rainwater harvesting; natural filtration; open pond water catchment systems; aquaculture & aquaponics; bio-swales; stormwater & wastewater management.  
-> Food: Permaculture; bio-intensive & bio-dynamic food production; forest gardens; mushroom cultivation; aquaculture & aquaponic fish production; container, roof top & vertical gardens

    Programs will include:
Energy and Land Use: Bio-methane digesters; micro-ethanol production; biochar; bio-remediation; myco-restoration; vermiculture; soil production; erosion control; renewable energy systems

What we've done
Kleiwerks International works in a variety of ways to ensure that best practices in natural building and appropriate technologies reach the masses. Our programs led to the creation of activist centers, permaculture sites, orphanages, schools and whole villages, as well as:

Leadership
Launched the earthen building movements in Thailand and Argentina, benefitting hundreds of thousands of lives. Graduates have started 20+ thriving natural building businesses. Many more of have gone on to teach others.

Hands-on projects
Directly built 40 demonstration projects, including the 1st earthen village in Thailand, the 1st modern earthen buildings in Patagonia, Argentina, as well as in the Southeastern United States. 

Education
Taught 8,000+ participants from 34 countries in Southeast Asia, South America, and the United States, including 220 hands-on natural building programs; start-to-finish workshops; Permaculture certification courses; sustainability leadership trainings; public presentations; sponsorship of related events and affiliate support to people from over 30 countries. Our events vary from 1-day to 6-months.

Advocacy
Brought the programs and tools to Thailand that popularized earthen building. Municipalities in Argentina are working to create guidelines to ensure that the natural buildings that are being built are fully accepted. We are currently working in Haiti to create governmental guidelines that will support natural building and appropriate technologies in rural, peri-urban, and urban areas.

Why we do it
The current building crisis
Today’s standard building practices are neither accessible nor affordable for the majority of the world’s population. They are also not sustainable for the living systems of the planet. Current construction methods account for:
::40% of the debris dumped in landfills
::40% of the entire world’s energy usage
::40% of goods entering the global market
::18% of all the world’s fresh water usage
::10% of global carbon dioxide emissions
::30 years of debt for average home-owners

A viable alternative
Fortunately, natural building offers solutions to the above problems. Natural building refers to a number of durable and time-tested construction methods using local clays, sand, straw, stone, bamboo and other abundant and recycled materials. Because natural building is easy to learn, it empowers people to reclaim their dignity and basic human right to healthy, affordable, ecologically-sound and beautiful shelter. Coupled with appropriate technologies -permaculture, whole-systems design and renewable energy- natural building provides accessible long-term solutions to today’s building crisis--solutions that will last for generations.

For more details on natural building click here.

What's next
Kleiwerks International has been invited to work in over 30 countries. We have a website that receives half a million hits per year. We have developed extensive programs and educational tools including videos, photographs and working templates. We are part of a vast worldwide network that is dedicated to this work. We ask our selves: What are our next steps? How can we be as effective with our work as possible?

Our next steps include:
1) Fundraising! Up until 2006, our accomplishments have been based on thousands of dedicated volunteer hours -and- no external funding. We are at a point where it is time to establish a base of financial support so we can continue to be effective and far-reaching in our work. To find out how you can make a contribution click here.

2) Increasing our core staff so that we can handle more projects and programs and be effective in responding to incoming requests.

3) Developing Trainings for Trainers and Activists- advanced programs that are geared towards experienced individuals and organizations who have shown their ability to effectively share these practices with many others. Click here for details on Training for Trainers and Activists.

4) Establishing North American hubs and headquarters that will serve as ongoing demonstration, training and living centers.

5) Producing educational material including videos, photographs and manuals that highlight sustainable solutions from around the world, serving as ongoing tools for education and social change.

6) Continuing to be an active part of the larger natural building and sustainability movement through participating in, and presenting at events; strategizing and think-tanking with our colleagues; sharing our educational templates with other organizations; facilitating the translation of realted books into different languages (already in the works); etc.

How we started
Kleiwerks International started with one person living their heart´s calling. After being turned on to earthen building during a week-long workshop with the Cob Cottage Company in 1997, Janell Kapoor taught her first series of workshops in Asheville, NC in 1998. From there, the process continued organically with more regional workshops and projects, and a growing network of friends and collaborators. In 2001, Kleiwerks was invited to teach in Thailand.

Following a very successful series of educational programs and projects, invitations to collaborate with communities in other countries grew to upwards of 30. This is when Kleiwerks International really went international. This is also when it became clear that we needed to grow as an organization. We branched out, forming on-the-ground affiliations in six countries, and diversifying our program base.

Kleiwerks International continues to evolve. We are currently launching our next phase of growth: building a stronger organizational container; raising funds for core staff; establishing our main headquarters and office base; re-defining how we can best accomplish our mission of sparking social transformation and empowering communities through whole-systems solutions.

To find out where we´re heading click here.

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Stay tuned for updates and new workshop information.