We are thrilled to announce the first edition in the new Yestermorrow Design/Build Library series in partnership with Chelsea Green Publishing. The Natural Building Companion: A Comprehensive Guide to Integrative Design and Construction, written by Yestermorrow faculty members Ace McArleton and Jacob Deva Racusin, released May 1, 2012 and is now available through Chelsea Green and at local bookstores. This essential reference book walks readers step-by-step through the design, planning, and construction of natural buildings. It’s a great resource for professionals making the transition from conventional building, homeowners embarking on their own construction projects, and green builders who want comprehensive guidance on natural building options.  

Unique to The Natural Building Companion is its focus on natural building in the Northeast and on building science and thermal engineering—topics not often covered in books about natural building. This book bridges the gap between high-performance building and more traditional, locally focused approaches to design and construction. The package also includes an instructional DVD, filmed on location in Yestermorrow classes, demonstrating many of the techniques and strategies detailed in the book.

Yestermorrow instructor Marc Rosenbaum writes: "'What is a high-performance building?' Racusin and McArleton answer that question by taking a values-based approach that integrates social and ecological good with health, resource efficiency, and durability. Fusing the knowledge of the building-science community with the wisdom and experience of the best natural building practitioners, The Natural Building Companion provides plenty of detailed, how-to information to help readers create structures and communities that are, as the authors put it, 'worthy of our highest aspirations.'"

Order your copy today through Chelsea Green or Yestermorrow.