Building with Hempcrete: Lessons from Narara Ecovillage for Future Owner-Builders
When you set out to build your own home, there are thousands of decisions to make. And for some, one of the most transformative is choosing natural materials. At the Narara Ecovillage on the NSW Central Coast, a group of pioneering owner-builders have shown what’s possible when you combine community, creativity, and hempcrete.
Jeremy has footage from four participant interviews filmed in their homes at Narara Ecovillage but needs support with contributions.
Jeremy chatted with Megan Wallace and her panel from Narara Ecovillage. This article distills their experience into key lessons for anyone considering a hempcrete build.
1. Start with Community
Before construction even began, the Eco Village founders asked an important question: What is a sustainable home? From that starting point, natural materials such as straw, earth, and hemp came to the fore.
- Lesson: Surround yourself with others on the same journey. Community provides knowledge, labour, and moral support. Many hempcrete homes at Narara were built with volunteers who came for a weekend, learned, and contributed.
2. Learn by Doing
Several residents at Narara had no building background. Some trained through owner-builder workshops, while others learned by volunteering on other hemp builds.
- Lesson: Don’t be afraid of the learning curve. Hempcrete is accessible, and basic skills like mixing and tamping can be learned in minutes. More technical tasks (formwork, carpentry, electricals) require skilled trades, but you can play a hands-on role in most of the process.
3. Build the Right Team
Owner-builders at Narara stressed the importance of having a supportive crew:
- A builder or carpenter willing to experiment with natural materials.
- Designers familiar with passive solar principles.
- Tradespeople who see themselves as problem-solvers, not obstacles.
One resident reflected:
“Tradies are problem solvers. You just want someone who’s willing to work with beautiful new materials and old materials.”
- Lesson: Find professionals who are curious and open. The right builder will treat hempcrete as an opportunity, not a burden.
4. Expect Challenges and Solutions
Like any build, hempcrete projects bring hurdles:
- Labour: Keeping volunteers organised can be tricky. A few skilled people are needed on the mixer and formwork, while others tamp the walls.
- Curves & Creativity: Round walls and decorative features take more time but deliver huge rewards. One owner-builder nearly cut a curved feature to save money, today, it’s their favourite part of the home.
- Curing: Hempcrete needs time to set, but most Narara builds reported it didn’t significantly slow progress if schedules were managed well.
5. Consider Performance & Comfort
The residents all agreed: hempcrete delivers.
- Thermal comfort: Warm in winter, cool in summer, often without mechanical heating or cooling.
- Sound absorption: Still, quiet homes, even with high ceilings.
- Air quality: Breathable walls that don’t trap moisture.
One owner-builder proudly noted:
“I have an 8.8-star house. There’s no air conditioning. Just a small wood stove, and we’ve never needed more.”
- Lesson: Hempcrete is not only sustainable but performs better than conventional construction in many cases.
6. Make It Yours
From recycled timber doors to artistic hempcrete feature walls, these homes celebrate individuality. Interior designers and neighbours contributed creative touches that turned standard rooms into unique spaces.
- Lesson: Include at least one feature that brings you joy every day. As one carpenter advised:
“You won’t remember the cost. It’ll be the beauty you remember.”
7. Think Long-Term & Scalable
While Narara’s homes used the traditional cast-in-situ method, residents see the industry moving toward panels, blocks, and kit systems. These could make hemp homes faster to build and more accessible at scale.
Partnerships with universities are already testing structural systems and fire ratings to support this shift.
- Lesson: Owner-builders today are part of a bigger movement. Your project adds to the collective knowledge that will make hemp building more mainstream.
8. Experience Before You Commit
Finally, the community invites curious people to experience hempcrete for themselves. Open days, Sustainable House Day tours, and even short-term stays allow future owner-builders to see, feel, and breathe what a hemp home offers.
- Lesson: Visit a hempcrete home before you build. The calm, quiet atmosphere is something you need to feel in person.
Final Thoughts
Building with hempcrete as an owner-builder is not the easiest path, but it is one of the most rewarding. From affordability and performance to beauty and community, the residents of Narara Ecovillage have shown that natural materials don’t just make houses, they make homes.
If you’re dreaming of a hemp home:
- Get involved in workshops or volunteer on a build.
- Connect with communities and networks already doing it.
- Build a team that believes in problem-solving with natural materials.
And most importantly—design a home that brings you joy for decades to come.
If you’d like to learn more about hemp building or connect with others on the same journey surf this site and connect on our socials.
Disclaimer
HBD do not warrant the quality or experience of anyone listed on this directory.
We have relied on the information provided by the business and its representatives.
This site is not intended to provide and does not constitute building advice, or other professional advice.
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