Welcome to the BEN Story

When, as a young man, I first learned how to craft a natural home I was forever changed. I gained the sure foothold on life of someone who had found their heart’s calling….my way to make the world a better place.

Over the following decades I built homes; and with each home, I taught workshops to aspiring builders, home-owners-to be, explorers, and the curious. My goal has always been to wake up and empower the innate builder that lives in all of us. Along with my life partner and architect, Paula, we designed and built EcoNests in 17 States, 4 Canadian Provinces and as far afield as Argentina, Costa Rica and Scandinavia.

Finally, in my late 60’s, I felt it was time for me to slow the pace, leaving the heavy lifting of larger projects to the next generation of EcoNest Affiliates. After trying on retirement, I realized that I still had a deep passion for building builders; and budding builders were still eager to learn in my workshop settings.

This is when the BEN was born. As a byproduct of teaching the EcoNest process we have created a new product! The Backyard EcoNest (BEN for short) is an affordable, prefabricated nest of less than 400 sq. ft. No permit is necessary in most places. It is available to sponsors who have a backyard, a need for a little more space, and a desire to steward a special, handcrafted sanctuary of beauty and tranquility.

….and when the sponsor is ready the students will come! Typically, the students and sponsor will spend the first week with Robert in the shop crafting the timber frame and the second week the team travels to the site to erect the timber frame on its new foundation. To date our sponsors have found many interesting uses for a BEN: meditation space, writing room, office, sauna, massage room, guest room, garden pavilion…the possibilities are endless. What would you like to build with us?