Mission
EBANZ primary mission is to promote the art and science of earth and natural building.
EBANZ is a network group for those interested in natural building methods such as Adobe, Cob, Rammed Earth, Poured Earth, Pressed Earth and Straw Bale construction.
Origins
The swallow depicted on the logo was building its nest with earth long before people started using this material. The logo was designed by graphic artist Ron de Rooy of Whangarei.
The Quarry Arts Centre (Northland Craft Trust “the Quarry”) was the birthplace of EBANZ. It has been a critical element in the modern earth building renaissance and features several earth buildings.
It was founded by Yvonne Rust who built a rammed earth house designed by Graeme North in the 1970’s. Yvonne insisted that those interested in earth building should work together so that there was a combined voice to “deal with councils”.
EBANZ was formed in the 1980’s under the leadership of Graeme North and Thijs Drupsteen. The first NZ Earthbuilding Conference was held in the Quarry in 1989, and was attended by earth building enthusiasts from all around NZ. The first EBANZ magazines were produced there, and even with membership spread throughout New Zealand, the Northland Craft Trust continues to act as our mailing address, a sentimental reminder of those early years.
Every year in the second week of January, The Northland Craft Trust runs its annual “Quarry Summer Do” – a 10 day festival of up to a dozen arts and crafts courses including earth building.