Megan Wallace from the Narara Ecovillage recently ran a panel featuring Michael Lancaster on the Hemp Building Podcast. It centred around hempcrete and natural and sustainable building, featuring three guests: architect William Eastlake from Integrated Biotecture Design, builder Michael Lancaster of Moorhouse Constructions, and owner-builder Geoff Cameron. The discussion explored early experiences with hemp and other natural building materials, and provided listeners with a behind-the-scenes look at the journey of building a hemp house.
Megan recalls meeting Michael years before their project at the Ecovillage: “I met Michael at an owner-builder course that was put on here at the village,” she says, reflecting on how connections in the local building community often lead to lasting collaborations. Michael himself shared how his interest in natural building began: “I was volunteering for a local permaculture group. One of the areas I focus on is natural building, and that’s what first drew my attention.”
He described how an early encounter with a Sydney-based architect sparked his curiosity about hemp as a building material: natural, versatile, and compatible with conventional construction methods. “You can still come up with some pretty nice details and get away from keeping everything square and straight. That’s really what drew me to it,” he explains.
Michael’s hands-on experience began when helping on another build at the Ecovillage. “We were putting hemp in the walls, and Will was working alongside me. I mentioned that I was getting ready to start the design, and Will said that was his profession and his skill,” he recalls. That first opportunity to work with hemp proved invaluable. “Being a relatively new material, there weren’t many chances to get experience in designing or building with hemp. I jumped at the chance to work on a house built out of hemp. It’s a great building material, and I had a fantastic time on that workshop.”
The panel also explored practical aspects of building with hemp, from learning the craft to equipment and techniques. Michael noted the importance of hands-on experience: “You can do the course, but there’s nothing like going through a full house build. You can only learn so much from the course.” He discussed the tools he uses, including a paddle mixer and form ply for formwork, demonstrating how simplicity can still achieve high-quality results in hemp construction.
Through the conversation, listeners gained insight not only into the technical side of hemp building but also into the collaborative and learning-driven environment at the Narara Ecovillage. Michael Lancaster’s experience shows that with curiosity, practical experience, and collaboration, natural building is both accessible and rewarding.