We left our last episode wondering about the costs of building a house with earth or clay materials. Turns out it's cheap! So if it's cheap? Have more people jumped on the opportunity to build this way and why hasn't it taken hold in urban settings?

To answer these questions, We follow up with Miguel Angel Perez an earthbuilder from Baja, and talk about the costs of earthbuilding and chat with Rachel Formanek, a New Yorker who moved from California to Baja to find better and affordable living conditions. Lastly, we sit down with Alex Ruiz, director of urban planning in Tecate, and ask for his take on the viability of earth building in city settings.

Photo Credits: Carlos Jaime and Cuahtémoc Herrera

About Season 6

Port of entry has a fresh new season for you with more rich stories of our border region.

This time around, we are spotlighting Shapers and Visionaries of borderlands. Stories of People who are impacting the region and in some cases the world with their work and research.

From urbanism to architecture to education and politics and to art and robotics!

Listen in and join us!

Social media and contact

From KPBS, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast

Instagram: www.instagram.com/portofentrypod

Support our show at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift.

If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected].

Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-500-3197 anytime with questions or comments about the show or email us at [email protected].

Credits

Hosts: Alan Lilienthal and Natalie González

Writer/Producer: Julio C. Ortiz Franco

Technical Producer/Sound Designer: Adrian Villalobos

Editor: Elma González Lima Brandão and Melissa Sandoval

Episodes translated by: Natalie González and Julio C. Ortíz Franco

Director of Audio Programming and Operations: Lisa Morrisette-Zapp

This program is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people