Earth Merchant ️

10/07/2026

It’s official—the journey begins on October 17th! 🛠️🌾

We are bringing my forever home to life right on historic Route 66—making it the first (and hopefully not the last!) h**p home build along the Mother Road.

An incredible project like this doesn't happen without an extraordinary community. A massive thank you to everyone helping make this dream a reality:

• Nelson• South Bend Industrial H**p, Magik Minerals, Dion Lefebvre– 8th Fire Innovations • Magazine & Gaia Magazine – For the media love and coverage 📰 • Whitecap Masonry • Bryan Brown, Brown Bear Construction & the Amish Framing Crew – For the structural heavy lifting • Kenny Storie – For getting our foundation right with the concrete work • JB Farms – For hauling and transporting our new mixer and build materials • Bukham – For crucial minerals transportation support

🤝 WANT TO JOIN US AND GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY? We still have space for passionate volunteers who want to learn hands-on natural building techniques and be a part of Route 66 history starting October 17th!

📍 Location: Historic Route 66 Lebanon MO🗓️ Kickoff Date: October 17th 📩 How to join: Send a direct message or drop a comment below with the days you're available, and we’ll send you all the build site details and safety info!

To every single volunteer who has already stepped up to join us—your hands, time, and energy mean the world to me. We’re building something historic, sustainable, and built to last. Let’s get to work! 🏗️✨
**pBuilding **pcrete

09/23/2026

Build Natural. Play Outdoors: H**pcrete Workshop & Ozark Weekend Getaway!

Ready to build the future with sustainable, natural materials—and grab some fresh air while you're at it? Join us in the heart of the Missouri Ozarks for a hands-on H**pcrete Event that combines sustainable building, practical learning, and great company!

Whether you're a DIY enthusiast, a builder, or curious about eco-friendly natural building, you’ll get real, hands-on experience mixing and placing h**pcrete—learning how this breathable, fire-resistant, and high-performance material works.

Make a Weekend of It!
We’re hosting this event right next door to Bennett Spring State Park, one of Missouri's top outdoor spots. Bring your gear and extend your stay:

🎣 World-Class Trout Fishing: Cast a line in the crystal-clear, spring-fed stream stocked daily with trout.
🚣 Float & Explore: Paddle or kayak down the scenic Niangua River.
🏕️ Camp Under the Stars: Set up camp at nearby campgrounds under the Ozark canopy.
🥾 Trail Hiking: Trek miles of forest trails, bluffs, and unique natural limestone formations.
Learn a powerful green building technique by day, and kick back by the campfire or on the water by evening.
📍 Location: Near Bennett Spring / Lebanon, MO
📅 Date & Time: October 14th-17th
🎟️ Tickets/RSVP: (Spaces are limited for hands-on instruction!) PM for more info.

09/16/2026

Foundation ✅
Framing ✅
Plumbing ✅
Septic✅
Electric Next!

09/16/2026

Get ready, Route 66! We’re bringing sustainable, high-performance building right to the heart of Route 66, MO with a brand-new h**pcrete build.

H**pcrete is a natural, non-toxic insulation material made from h**p hurd and lime. It’s naturally mold-resistant, fireproof, highly energy-efficient, and actually pulls carbon out of the air as it cures. Perfect for handling the unpredictable Missouri weather while keeping energy bills low!

I’m excited to combine the classic Mother Road with forward-thinking agricultural materials. Drop a comment below if you’d like to see behind-the-scenes progress updates, construction photos, or details on how h**pcrete works! Or, you can join us in October in Lebanon Missouri!
**pstead **peducation **p **psteadMO

09/09/2026

You found out standard concrete produces 8% of global emissions... so you decided to build a house out of plants instead.

You can learn how to build a literal home from a plant. No Zoom required—just bring your hands

Yes, you can actually build a whole house out of h**p. And no, it won't burn down, rot, or attract pests—it’s petrified plant magic. 🤯

If you’re ready to move past theory and learn the actual science and muscle behind sustainable construction, this hands-on H**pcrete Building Workshop is where it happens. We’re mixing, packing, and building real structural walls from scratch.

What you’ll learn by doing:
* The Perfect Mix: Mastering the ratios of h**p hurd, lime, and water
* Formwork & Tamping: How to pack h**pcrete for maximum strength and insulation
* Zero-Carbon Building: Why this material actively pulls carbon out of the air while keeping homes warm
📍Route 66 H**p Heritage Workshop 🗓️ October 2026
🎟️ Tap the link in bio to secure your spot before registration closes.
👇I’m Interested! Let’s go!

Join us near Springfield, Missouri, for a hands-on exploration of the bridge between agriculture and construction. The Route 66 H**p Heritage Project build.

05/23/2026

There are moments in an industry when competition gives way to collaboration… when visionaries, builders, researchers, and innovators come together around something bigger than themselves. This is one of those moments.

We are honored to be partnering with Oregon State University and the Global H**p Innovation Center to create a first-of-its-kind h**pcrete demonstration structure — a living showcase of innovation, craftsmanship, and the future of regenerative building.

This project will bring together multiple h**pcrete installation methods, materials, and philosophies into one collaborative build environment. More than a structure, it will serve as a real-world cross section of where natural building is headed and what becomes possible when passionate people unite around a common purpose.

What makes this especially meaningful is the spirit behind it.

This isn’t just construction. It’s research. It’s education. It’s storytelling. It’s legacy work.

With a live installation and a full production crew documenting the process, we aim to capture not only the technical innovation happening in h**pcrete construction, but also the human side of this movement —

We are proud to stand alongside an extraordinary group of collaborators who continue pushing this industry forward:

State University
H**p Innovation Center (GHIC)
Merchant
Fire Innovations
H**pcrete
Atterberry
Waddell
Special appreciation to the researchers, educators, and advocates working tirelessly to bridge science, sustainability, and real-world application.

The future of building is not just stronger or more efficient. It is healthier, regenerative, community-driven, and deeply connected to the land and people it serves.

We’re grateful to be part of this moment. Stay Tuned!

**pcrete **pInnovationCenter

05/23/2026

There are moments in an industry when competition gives way to collaboration… when visionaries, builders, researchers, and innovators come together around something bigger than themselves. This is one of those moments.

We are honored to be partnering with Oregon State University and the Global H**p Innovation Center to create a first-of-its-kind h**pcrete demonstration structure — a living showcase of innovation, craftsmanship, and the future of regenerative building.

This project will bring together multiple h**pcrete installation methods, materials, and philosophies into one collaborative build environment. More than a structure, it will serve as a real-world cross section of where natural building is headed and what becomes possible when passionate people unite around a common purpose.

What makes this especially meaningful is the spirit behind it.

This isn’t just construction. It’s research. It’s education. It’s storytelling. It’s legacy work.

With a live installation and a full production crew documenting the process, we aim to capture not only the technical innovation happening in h**pcrete construction, but also the human side of this movement —

We are proud to stand alongside an extraordinary group of collaborators who continue pushing this industry forward:

Oregon State University
OSU Global H**p Innovation Center (GHIC)
Earth Merchant
Fire Innovations
Homeland H**pcrete
Atterberry
Jacob Waddell

Special appreciation to the researchers, educators, and advocates working tirelessly to bridge science, sustainability, and real-world application.

The future of building is not just stronger or more efficient. It is healthier, regenerative, community-driven, and deeply connected to the land and people it serves.

We’re grateful to be part of this moment. Stay Tuned!

**pcrete **pInnovationCenter