Vineyard cottage: Off-grid eco stay built with regenerative materials

This off-grid eco cottage built with natural materials showcases a farm-to-wall approach to regenerative living in South Africa.

A cottage born from the land

Back in 2007, landscape designer Alex Chouler embarked on a journey toward self-sufficiency, driven by a deep commitment to sustainability and a desire to live more in tune with nature. It all started with the search for a piece of land where he could grow food naturally, but that was just the beginning. His vision extended beyond farming; it was about rethinking how he lived, including the way homes were built and developed into an ethos of using materials from the farm to build.

The seeds for this journey were planted much earlier. Growing up in an eco-conscious household, Alex was always mindful of resources—using water and electricity carefully, recycling, and making thoughtful choices about food, clothing, and transport. As a teenager visiting McGregor, he was struck by the beauty and organic feel of a straw bale house; the sculpted earthen walls and smooth plaster surfaces gave the space a warmth that conventional homes simply didn’t have. 

When it came to building a guest cottage at the Goodluck Homestead in Stanford, Alex knew he wanted to use natural building techniques but wasn’t sure which method would be best for his setting. That’s where the Natural Building Collective course made all the difference. It gave him a clear understanding of how clay, sand, and straw work together to form strong, sustainable structures. It’s also where he first discovered the Light Earth technique, which turned out to be perfect for the Vineyard Cottage.

From farm to walls

One of the most compelling aspects of Vineyard Cottage is its use of materials sourced from the farm. The structural timber was harvested from sugar gum trees a few hundred metres away. The clay and sand for the walls came straight from the property, and the foundation’s rockwork was sourced from neighbouring farms. But perhaps the most unexpected material choice led to a new addition on the farmstead – cows.

“Cow dung plaster allowed us to convince ourselves of the necessity to get cows, and the process of collecting the fresh cow dung, fermenting it and the alchemy of mixing with clay and sand and seeing the result was truly mind-blowing and very rewarding – seeing all the fibres in the finished plaster walls knowing that they have been through the rumen of a cow – after having used a noisy but very effective mechanical chipper for chopping the straw for the scratch coat of plaster this was a quiet meditative process, also knowing that this is an age old ingredient used in traditional buildings.”

The fermented cow dung, mixed with sieved sand and clay, formed the final plaster coat on the walls. This traditional technique enhances durability while maintaining breathability. “Of course, the cows have become part of the farm in their own right, but initially, we needed them for their dung,” Alex says.

Light clay earth: A regenerative solution

The walls of Vineyard Cottage were built using the Light Earth technique, a method Alex first encountered through the Natural Building Collective. “It was and still is a revelation,” he says. “Compared to other natural building methods, it is relatively simple and less time-consuming.”

Thirteen round straw bales, sourced from neighbouring farms, were mixed with a clay slip and packed into timber-framed shutter forms. After a six-week drying period, the walls were coated in a 15mm scratch coat of sand, clay, and chopped straw, followed by the final 5mm cow dung plaster layer. The result is breathable, insulating walls that keep the cottage warm in winter and cool in summer, eliminating the need for artificial climate control. Alex says, “The deep covered patio and north west facing aspect provide shade in summer as well as protection from the south easter and in winter allow the low sun to warm up the cottage.”

Off-grid comfort 

While Vineyard Cottage embraces traditional building techniques, it also integrates modern off-grid solutions. Solar panels provide electricity, and pure spring-fed water flows from the taps. The wood-fired hot tub offers a luxurious experience while using a renewable, local heat source.

In designing the layout, Alex prioritised natural light, ventilation, and a seamless indoor-outdoor flow with an interior size of 66 sqm and covered patio of 42 sqm. With guests in mind, it was important that the cottage felt comfortable and cosy, spacious and flowing regardless of the season.

“As it was my first build I wanted to keep it very simple and cost effective as possible… My love of natural light and airflow meant I used lots of windows and glass doors for maximum effect of sunlight and ambient light as well as to maximise the views making the outside landscape an integral part of the cottage.”  

Upcycled and locally crafted interiors

The interior of Vineyard Cottage showcases craftsmanship and thoughtful reuse. The kitchen counters, cupboards, and bathroom vanity were custom-built on-site using locally milled sugar gum timber by a skilled local carpenter, Luke Boschoff.

Other key interior features include:

• A restored Victorian bath for a touch of old-world charm.
• Malawi cane furniture, carpets, and lampshades, sourced from local artisans.
• Nguni and bontebok hides from a neighbouring farm, reinforcing the connection to the land.

The windows and doors were also chosen with sustainability in mind. The double-glazed units from Swartland’s “ready-to-fit” range were an expensive but necessary investment, ensuring heat retention and complementing the insulating properties of the natural walls.

The challenges and rewards of regenerative building

Like any project, building Vineyard Cottage came with its challenges. Protecting drying walls from driving rain was a battle, with plastic sheeting often torn apart by the wind. There were also compromises – Alex would have preferred an adobe floor and a green roof, but practicalities dictated the use of a pigmented screed floor and a conventional corrugated roof instead.

“Testing different clay-to-sand ratios, seeing the natural pigments take form in the plaster – it was all incredibly satisfying,” Alex shares. Unfortuately, the white clay from the site mixed with grey sand wasn’t very attractive for the plaster, so red clay was dug out from another pit next door and used as the pigment for the final plaster layer. For Alex, the most meaningful moments are when people comment on the beauty of finishes created by the natural plaster and exposed wood, and the tangible joy they get out of the experience of staying there. Despite the initial hurdles, the rewards far outweigh the setbacks.

A living, breathing space rooted in nature

Vineyard Cottage is more than just a place to stay. Located on top of the hillside overlooking vineyards, farmlands with views of the Kleinriver Mountains and Walker Bay in the distance, it is an invitation to slow down, reconnect with nature, and experience the beauty of a home built with intention. Guests can wander through the organic vegetable gardens, swim in the spring-fed dams, or simply soak in the landscape from the wood-fired hot tub.

And, whether they realise it or not, they are enveloped by walls that tell a story of land and the delicate balance between sustainability and comfort.

For those inspired to explore regenerative building, Alex offers this advice:

“Do as much research as you can, but don’t get bogged down in the details. Get hands-on experience, attend a course, and most importantly – just start.”

Coming full circle: Regeneration in action

From the beginning, Vineyard Cottage was conceived as an extension of Goodluck Homestead’s regenerative ethos. It is a space where guests can not only appreciate the beauty of natural materials but also experience first-hand how a building can be part of a living, breathing ecosystem. The process of constructing the cottage mirrored the same principles of renewal and sustainability that define the farm itself.

In an era where mainstream construction disconnects us from nature, Vineyard Cottage stands as a testament to what is possible when we build with care, patience, and respect for the land. Whether through the soft touch of cow dung plaster or the warmth of locally harvested timber, the cottage embodies the essence of regenerative living—creating not just shelter, but a meaningful relationship between people and place.

Visit Vineyard Cottage

Experience Vineyard Cottage firsthand and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Goodluck Homestead.

Key Technical Aspects of the Build

Structural Timber: Sugar gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx), harvested locally within a few hundred meters, treated with Boron solution.

Foundation & Flooring:

• 600mm x 500mm deep concrete footings to support posts.
• 100mm concrete slab for interior and exterior flooring.
• Custom-made steel brackets bolted posts to the concrete surface.
• 35mm pigmented screed floor laid before final plaster layer.

Wall Construction:

• White clay from footings used for wall construction.
• Conventional stud wall timber framing with reclaimed and new CCA-treated timber.
• Studs fixed to the gum structure and raised 500mm above the slab.
• Rock stem wall built to 500mm using locally sourced rocks, and the mortar stabilised with 5% cement and 5% lime.
• Infill walls constructed using Light Earth packed into shutter ply forms.
• 13 round straw bales sourced from neighboring farms.

Roof & Ceiling:

• Conventional corrugated metal roofing.
• Reed ceiling installed for insulation and aesthetics.

Plastering:

• First coat (15mm): Sharp sand, finely sieved clay, and chopped straw, mixed cob-style.
• Second coat (5mm): Fermented cow dung, sieved sand, and clay.
• Optional final polished coat not applied due to time constraints.

Sealing & Finishes:

• Exterior: Two coats of breathable ProNature ‘Rock’ sealer.
• Interior: Two coats of linseed oil for added durability.

Interior Woodwork:

• Milled sugar gum for cabinetry sourced from a local sawmill.
• Custom-made kitchen counters, cupboards, bathroom vanity, bed, and bedside tables crafted by a local carpenter.

Photo credits 

All photos are shared with permission from Alex Chouler and Goodluck Homestead.