Healthy Communities:
Indigenous Hemplime Housing: White Earth Reservation, MN
White Earth Reservation, Minnesota June 2021 - Ongoing
Drawing from our community-based collaborative projects, we are working with local women and Honor the Earth organization to develop new housing on the White Earth Reservation in Northern Minnesota.
Together, we intend to build homes that celebrate the long lives of the women, enhance their current work, and make places of sanctuary on their own land for generations to come. Beholden to no one, the nation will chart its own future through innovation: hemp and local lime, new construction systems and methods, training programs, and job creation with local labor. Through this process we will create models of housing for the future: healthy homes for all people.
“We were told that we would come to a point in our lives as Anishinaabe people, where we would be faced with a path with a fork in it...In the Time of the Seventh Fire, which is the time that we are in now, we are told that we would have a choice between two paths: one path they said would be well worn, but it would be scorched, and the other path would not be well-worn, and it would be green. It would be our choice upon which path to embark. I'm pretty sure that this moment in time is now, where we must take the initiative and have the courage to make that green path.” Winona LaDuke, "Material Health : Design Frontiers"
The Living Area opens to the Dining space and the Kitchen made of plywood cabinetry free of added formaldehyde.
Reviewing the design in White Earth, MN
One of the Kids' rooms with custom plywood bunkbeds and a view out to the forest.
The second Kids' Room with ample storage space and room to play and create artwork.
The three bedroom floorplan nestled among trees on the White Earth Reservation.
The Building Wall Section - pre-fabricated hemp bale insulation and local timber framing is protected by a multilayer weather barrier to withstand Minnesota's winter climate.
Researchers Meryl Smith, Eric Hu, Angela Zeit, and Co-Director Alison Mears are designing healthy homes for local women on the White Earth Reservation in Northern Minnesota. This ongoing project is beginning with a newly constructed home for an Elder and her six grandchildren, designed to provide security and respite for the family for generations to come. Once completed, the house will provide an example of a new form of sustainable residential construction.
HML created a range of preliminary architectural designs to be reviewed by future residents, and with input from the family, we were able to realize a final design for their home. The home will be situated on forested land purchased from the reservation, with views out to a pond. It will have walls constructed of locally sourced lumber, hemp bale insulation, and a wooden rainscreen on the exterior. The interior too is designed with healthier finish materials: walls in lime plaster and mineral paints, millwork and cabinetry made of plywood with no added formaldehyde, and healthy floor finishes. The design provides space for the family to cook meals together, gather around the fireplace, as well as space for the children to play both inside and outside and make artwork with their grandmother.
On site with Winona LaDuke
Winona LaDuke’s Farm
The building site for a newly constructed healthy home
The existing Snellman Store will be renovated using hemp and lime
Visiting a local lumber mill
In June of 2021, HML’s co-directors Alison Mears and Jonsara Ruth visited White Earth in Northern Minnesota. They spoke with Winona LaDuke about hemp production, visited a local lumber mill, met the women who are in need of housing, and learned more about the specific needs of families and the general needs of the community. From their visits we learned of the multiple opportunities to invigorate local industries; from the manufacturing of industrial hemp for various uses, to the production of wall hung solar panels that are made locally.
Along with design drawings for the home, HML will create a manual that illustrates techniques to support the local team during construction. The construction of this prototypical home will provide on-site training for builders to learn novel techniques that can be used on future projects. We are also working with Honor the Earth to create and present one of the lessons on Hemp Building for the Inaugural Tribal Hemp class in collaboration with Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute.
Indigenous Hemplime Housing: White Earth Reservation, MN
6 products
About Our Collections
The goal of our collections is to help promote transparency in the material ingredients of building products by fostering knowledge and awareness of products and materials for which life-cycle information is available, and that have environmentally, economically, and socially preferable life-cycle impacts.
Keep an eye out for the following symbols:
A Healthier Affordable Building Product
Products with the designation of "Healthier & Affordable" were specified and installed in at least one of our Case Studies of healthier affordable housing.
Available at the Donghia healthier Materials Library
The Donghia healthier Materials Library library is open to Parsons student and faculty. Learn more about access and opening hours here.
Low Embodied Carbon
“Embodied Carbon” is the total amount of carbon emitted during the process of making a material. *HML refers to a manufacturer's EPD to determine whether a product's A1-A3 carbon emissions falls within HML's threshold for Low Embodied Carbon.
New Product
This product has been added to the collection within the past six months.
Product in Development
Products with this designation identify they are currently scaling or only available in markets outside of the building industry. they could be experimental or in use in capsule collections.
Available in the EU
Products with this designation are currently available only in the European Union and identified as being an exemplary healthy option in the respective product group.
Ingredient Disclosures
There are several ways of evaluating a material’s health that we include with product information. Disclosures are reports by manufacturers about product ingredients, impacts, or other attributes.
Key Disclosures include:
Health Product Declaration (HPD)
A voluntary technical specification for reporting information on product contents and associated health information, intended to be the health-analogue to Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
Declare Label
Declare is a transparency platform and product database that answers three questions:
1. Where does a product come from?
2. What is it made of?
3. Where does it go at the end of its life?
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
A standardized format for communicating the environmental effects associated with a product’s raw materials extraction, energy use, chemical makeup, waste generation, and emissions to air, soil, and water.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
A reporting format that provides basic information about a material’s chemical ingredients, the potential safety hazards to installers, and recommended practices for installation.
USDA Certified Biobased Product Label
Managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the goal of the BioPreferred Program is to increase the purchase and use of biobased products.
Other
| Manufacturer | Product | Ingredient Disclosures |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia Forest Products | PureBond Hardwood Plywood |
PureBond Hardwood PlywoodUsed in Healthier Affordable HousingAvailable At the Donghia Materials LibraryColumbia Forest Product's PureBond hardwood plywood is formaldehyde-free, and is instead made with a soy-based binder. This North American-made product is also cost-competitive with standard plywood products, making it a fantastic healthier alternative. It contains 95% Biobased Content and has been awarded the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label in the BioPreferred® Program. CategoryDimensional Surface, PlywoodManufacturerColumbia Forest Products
Material composition*Wood Dust 95.65%, Other components below the reportable levels, (the specific chemical identity and/or percentage of composition has been held withheld as a trade secret) <1% *as reported by the manufacturer AVAILABLE SIZING2’x 4’, 2’x 8’, 4’x 8’, 4’x 10’ Panels - available in standard thickness COLORSVariety of wood species CERTIFICATIONS & DISCLOSURES
Health Product Declaration (HPD)
Declare Label
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
USDA Certified Biobased Product Label
Other
FSC Certification
Rainforest Alliance Certification
Contributes to LEED credits
USDA Certified Biobased Product Label
Additional DocumentsLast UpdatedFebruary 14, 2024 |
| Columbia Forest Products | PureBond Classic Core® Plywood |
PureBond Classic Core® PlywoodUsed in Healthier Affordable HousingAvailable At the Donghia Materials LibraryClassic Core® is a combination core panel construction where cross bands of thin MDF are utilized in place of veneer cross bands. Classic Core® can be manufactured with bonded crossbands which do not contain added formaldehyde. PureBond Classic Core® may contribute to LEED® 2009 credit IEQ 4.4 and conforms to CARB II exempt emission requirements called for in LEED V4. It contains 95% Biobased Content and has been awarded the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label in the BioPreferred® Program. CategoryDimensional Surface, PlywoodManufacturerColumbia Forest Products
Material composition*Veneer: Wood; Decorative veneer: Wood; adhesive: Polyvinyl Acetate; Water; Defatted Soy Flour; Magnesium oxide (MgO); Hexanedioic acid, polymer with N-(2-aminoethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine and (chloromethyl)oxirane; Monopotassium Phosphate; Glycerin; Corn Starch; Borax; Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) *as reported by the manufacturer AVAILABLE SIZING4’x 8’, 4’x 10’ Panels - 1/2”, 5/8”, 3/4”, 1” and 1-1/4” thickness COLORSVariety of wood species CERTIFICATIONS & DISCLOSURES
Health Product Declaration (HPD)
Declare Label
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
USDA Certified Biobased Product Label
Other
FSC Certification
Rainforest Alliance Certification
Contributes to LEED credits
USDA Certified Biobased Product Label
Additional DocumentsLast UpdatedJanuary 29, 2025 |
| Daltile | Keystones |
KeystonesUsed in Healthier Affordable HousingAvailable At the Donghia Materials LibraryDaltile’s Keystones Collection is a colorbody porcelain mosaic line, suitable for indoor and outdoor use on floors, walls, as well countertops. A multitude of patterns allow for many expressive, aesthetic choices. The majority of these tiles are produced in Gettysburg, PA making this best suited for projects in the Northeastern United States. CategoryTile, PorcelainManufacturerDaltile
Material composition*Feldspar 40-60%, Kaolin clay 15-35%, Talc 0-6%, Nepheline Syenite 0-3%, Sand 0-2%, Zircon 0-1%, C.I. Pigment Black 27 0.5%, C.I. Pigment Blue 71 0.5%, C.I. Pigment Brown 33 0.5%, C.I. Pigment Green 26 0.5%, C.I. Pigment Red 108, C.I. Pigment Red 232 0.5%, C.I. Pigment Yellow 159 0.5%, Zinc Oxide 0.5%, Calcium Carbonate 0.2%, 1,2-Cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, 1-butyl 2-ester 0.01-0.03% *as reported by the manufacturer AVAILABLE SIZINGvarious mosaic patterns and sizes CERTIFICATIONS & DISCLOSURES
Health Product Declaration (HPD)
Declare Label
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
USDA Certified Biobased Product Label
Other
Last UpdatedJanuary 31, 2025 |
| Coldspring | Granite Countertop |
Granite CountertopUsed in Healthier Affordable HousingAvailable At the Donghia Materials LibraryColdspring Granite Countertops are made from 100% natural granite. Stone is one of the most durable materials that you can use for any application - when specified and detailed correctly, these countertops can last for hundreds of years. Their long life results in granite countertops’ very low embodied energy levels. Coldspring is also committed to sustainable manufacturing practices that maximize the utilization of resources while minimizing energy use. CategoryDimensional Surface, Solid StoneManufacturerColdspring
Material composition*Granite 100% *as reported by the manufacturer AVAILABLE SIZINGCustom Sizes - available in 3/4” thickness COLORSAvailable in a variety of granite types CERTIFICATIONS & DISCLOSURES
Health Product Declaration (HPD)
Declare Label
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
USDA Certified Biobased Product Label
Other
Declare | Red List Free
NSF/ANSI 51 Certification
Contributes to LEED credits
Additional DocumentsLast UpdatedFebruary 20, 2025 |
| Rubio Monocoat | Oil Plus 2C |
Oil Plus 2CAvailable At the Donghia Materials LibraryRubio Monocoat's Oil Finish is a healthy option for wood finishing. A single layer of this product will protect wood from water, heat, and daily wear and tear trough molecular binding with the wood fiber. It is great for use on hardwood flooring, wood furniture or any other wood product. This product creates a finish that is easy to maintain, and it is free of VOCs and solvents. *Note: This product is sold in two components. Component A is the oil finish and Component B is an accelerator, which speeds the drying process. Although it helps with convenience, we recommend the product to be used without the accelerator as it contains isocyanates, listed as asthmagens and potential carcinogens by OSHA CategorySealer / Surface, Oil_LinseedManufacturerRubio Monocoat
Material composition*Linseed Oil, Carnauba Wax, Beeswax, Plant Based Pigments *as reported by the manufacturer AVAILABLE SIZINGAvailable in 130 mL, 390mL, 1.3 L, and 3.5 L sizes COLORSAvailable in 40 colors CERTIFICATIONS & DISCLOSURES
Health Product Declaration (HPD)
Declare Label
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
USDA Certified Biobased Product Label
Other
GREENGUARD | Gold
Eurofins Gold Indoor Air Comfort
Additional DocumentsLast UpdatedMay 06, 2025 |
| Ottosson | Linseed Oil Paint |
Linseed Oil PaintAvailable At the Donghia Materials LibraryLinseed oil paint offers a healthy, durable alternative to acrylic products. Ottosson’s product is manufactured at their facility in Genarp, Sweden, which was established in the late 1980s. The technique used in making their paints, however, dates back to the 16th century. Cold-pressed raw linseed oil and natural pigments are ground in a triple-cylinder mixer, incorporating the pigments evenly into the linseed oil. The result is a linseed oil paint that creates a breathable, easy to maintain surface that doesn’t peel or bubble up. *NOTE: Ottosson Linseed Oil Paints contain zinc oxide, a natural fungicide. It adds hardness to the paint finish and is a necessary additive in several North American climates. Zinc requires a warning label due to potential aquatic toxicity under Swedish law. When disposed of responsibly and used as directed, it poses no threat to the health of humans or the environment (as reported by Earth and Flax https://www.earthandflax.com/) CategoryPaint / Biobased, Linseed OilManufacturerOttosson
Material composition*Boiled Linseed Oil 25-50%, Pigment 1-50%, Zinc Oxide 2.5-25%, Zirconium, dipropylene glycol iso-Bu alc. neodecanoate propionate cobalt complexes <0.01% *as reported by the manufacturer AVAILABLE SIZINGAvailable in 4 ounce, 1 Liter, and 3 Liter buckets COLORSAvailable in a wide range of colors CERTIFICATIONS & DISCLOSURES
Health Product Declaration (HPD)
Declare Label
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
USDA Certified Biobased Product Label
Other
Last UpdatedJuly 11, 2023 |
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