Warning: this is not a photography post, but it’s pretty cool anyways!

When I was a child, I loved Legos. I didn’t really follow the directions when I got them, rather, I felt more compelled to create something on my own. Fortunately, I do read directions now, but there was something very satisfactory as a little kid when I could put something together on my own.

I had lunch today with Wyman and Sylinda Meinzer to discuss the final bluelines on the Working Dogs of Texas book we will have out in fall. Larry Williamson, of EarthCo Megablock, and good friend of the Meinzers, was there as well, and I found what he does super interesting. His group produces blocks of compressed earth for construction of a variety of buildings, using a patented way of actually producing the blocks. The idea of using compressed earth for construction materials is not necessarily new, but using a block system is fairly recent (sorta like Legos, but you should go to their site to see how it’s really done).

Williamson and his team, along with collaborators from Texas Tech University and other entities recently finished up one project near Lubbock, and they will be moving across the state of Texas to work on other projects, including sites in Amarillo and McAllen (pretty much the extremes for you non-Texans). Moving you say? Yes, because the manufacturing process is completely portable! They will be constructing buildings that range from houses to reception centers for large residential areas.

The construction that EarthCo Megablock allows for super efficient spaces, and it is quite a “green” approach to sustainability, and I’m excited to see where it goes! Check them out on the Web for more information!