Greg Allen

Greg is the co-founder and lead instructor at the Mud Dauber School of Natural Building in North Carolina.

He apprenticed at the Cob Cottage Company (with Ianto Evans and Linda Smiley) in 2008, and left that experience feeling passionate about spreading the knowledge and joy of natural building to others. He began teaching workshops in central North Carolina in 2009, and then bought rural land and started a homestead with Danielle in 2014. This is when we officially began teaching under the Mud Dauber School name, and at our current campus.

Greg was born and raised in Syracuse, NY. Favorite childhood memories involve camping in the Adirondack Mountains, cross-country road trips with his family, drawing/designing tiny living spaces, building with Legos, and endlessly making art. He formally studied Industrial Design at Syracuse University. While there, he fell in love with the process of design, enjoyed pottery classes, and interned at a small organic farm. All of these things were formative in leading him to natural building.

In addition to instructing workshops, Greg has been involved in contract work in the Central NC area since 2010. He has had his NC General Contractor’s license since 2017. In addition to conventional work, he has built a handful of straw bale residences, many naturally-built backyard studio spaces, and a variety of other custom design/build projects. His work is featured at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, Sanctuary Farm, and at many local private residences. He also regularly presents on natural building at local libraries and events.