Natural building career?

Hey everyone,

    I am interested in becoming a natural building teacher/professional, and wanted to know if any of you had any info/anecdotes/advice on that process.

    My whole life growing up I was never really passionate about anything, which has always been a concern of mine and a real source of stress in my late high school years when I was supposed to decide what i'm going to do for the rest of my life(no pressure or anything lol). Really the thing I enjoyed the most was reading books like Swiss Family Robinson, Hatchet, My Side of the Mountain, etc. Books about returning to a natural way of living. I have never been able to muster much enthusiasm or drive to commit 50+ hours a week to some job, it always just seemed like a waste to me, what good does it do in the big picture? I believe we are not meant to live like that.

Since discovering natural building I have been absorbing every little scrap of info I can,every book I can get at the library,every video I can find on youtube, here on permies, groups on facebook, I am crazy about this stuff! This is really the only career I can see myself feeling passionate and productive about. So I really want to see what it would take to make it a career!

My wife has recently decided to pursue a career in nutrition, and it just feels right as rain, me helping make responsible and healthy homes and her helping people fill them with responsible and healthy food!

My biggest concerns right now are education costs to become a natural building teacher and job security once i am qualified to be a natural building teacher. If anyone has any opinions or info on this subject, I would love to hear from you! Thank you for taking your precious time to read this, I really appreciate it. Have a great day!!

Jake, it is great that you have found something to make your lifes work. I am almost 60 and still haven't found it!

In your research have you come across any companies/ intentional communities/ individuals, who might hire you as an apprentice or work some sort of a work trade deal?  I think I would reach out to some of the folks who are leading the pack in this field and ask them if thay have any openings.

You know I think thats the next thing I will do. My wife and I live in Massachusetts right now, but are planning on moving to North Carolina within the next 5 years. I know there are more natural building groups and communities there, just didn't know if there was some kind of certificate that is required nationwide to teach. You know, something that not only teaches principles and techniques of building, but other things that teachers might need to know such as how to run and operate a natural building school.

Thank you for your response!