Spontaneous Bender Build

Reader Contribution by Eric Puro And Michael Beck
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During autumn/winter of 2012, members of the recently launched non-profit, thePOOSH.org, toured the UK in promotion of natural and sustainable DIY building. One of the more spontaneous and fulfilling build projects we started and finished as a team of six was a living bender, constructed in eight hours from materials sourced within walking distance of Over the Moon Festival 2012 in Brighton, UK.

Here is yet another possible building project presented to you which requires no formal training, very little money, and techniques/methods that anyone can use. This blog intends to inspire you to take on a natural building project like this one. Don´t have fear if this is your first time working with these techniques and materials — this was our first effort building a bender!

A bender is one of the most simple yet effective natural structures, commonly constructed out of poles of hazel, willow or any other wood that is flexible enough to provide the woven domed shape that gives this structure its integrity. Poles are sourced locally (oftentimes, ideal wood for bender building grows near rivers), sharpened at one end and staked into the ground.

Once the skeleton frame begins to take form, long thin poles can be woven through the roof, providing an aesthetically-pleasing living roof. In fact, benders can continue living for years after construction if watered and provided ample sunlight. How remarkable a concept; a simple structure that provides shelter, a wind barrier, warmth if insulated with blankets, wool or any other natural insulating material and on top of all this, provides humans with delicious oxygen!

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