Off-Grid Living with Hempcrete in Hartley Vale
How we built a carbon-conscious home that’s warm in winter, cool in summer, and completely off-grid.
At Belubula Hemp Homes, we’re proud to share a behind-the-scenes look at one of our most meaningful builds to date — a fully off-grid hempcrete shed home located right here in Hartley Vale, NSW. This project showcases how hempcrete can deliver not just high-performance insulation, but an entire way of building that is regenerative, low-carbon, and beautifully suited to the Australian climate.
This home was designed by sustainable architect Dick Clarke of Envirotecture, with hempcrete construction carried out by our team, led by founder and licensed builder James Isaacs. It’s featured in a new episode of the Hempcrete in Australia series Season 3 by Jeremy from Environmentarian, which you can watch below:
Why Hempcrete?
James has been building with hemp for over 15 years. What started with a farmhouse rebuild near Orange has grown into a lifelong commitment to low-carbon construction. Hempcrete’s thermal properties make it an excellent choice for both warm and cool climates. It regulates temperature naturally, which means more comfort year-round — and significantly lower energy needs.
“It provides a very well-insulated home — cooler in summer, warmer in winter. There are a lot of benefits, and for me, hemp just ticked all the boxes.”
— James Isaacs, Builder
Designed for Performance and Sustainability
This particular build is more than just a home — it’s a working example of how passive solar design, off-grid systems, and renewable materials can come together to create a truly resilient property.
Here are a few key features:
- Off-grid from day one: This property has no connection to town water, sewer, or grid power. What began as a necessity quickly became an advantage — no utility bills and far less environmental impact.
- Solar + storage: The cost of a standalone solar system was far less than connecting to the grid. It powers the entire home, including two electric vehicles.
- Water from the land: A gravity-fed water system supplies the home, with tanks positioned higher up the hill.
- Cast in situ walls: All hempcrete on this site was built using cast in situ techniques. It’s our preferred method, giving us better control over quality and insulation performance.
- Minimal carbon footprint: From the material choices to the site layout, everything has been considered to reduce impact and maximise self-reliance.
Hempcrete in Hartley Vale Gallery
Collaboration with Envirotecture
This home is one of several we’ve built in partnership with Dick Clarke of Envirotecture, a leader in sustainable residential design. Dick understands the particular needs of hempcrete structures — from wall thickness to thermal mass — and works closely with builders like us to deliver homes that feel good to live in and do good for the planet.
Living with Hempcrete in Hartley Vale
The building also doubles as storage for the Hartley Vale Good Garlic Company, a regenerative agricultural project run by Michelle Isaacs. Thanks to hempcrete’s excellent humidity regulation, it’s the ideal environment for storing organically grown Australian garlic — proof that hemp can serve a wide range of uses beyond housing.
Our Work
At Belubula Hemp Homes, we’ve built or supplied hempcrete to more than 15 homes across NSW and beyond. Sometimes we take on the full build, and sometimes we’re brought in to complete just the hempcrete component. Either way, we’re always happy to share what we know and support others who are building with hemp.
Want to know more about building with hempcrete?
We’re based in Hartley Vale but travel across Australia to work on builds and advise on sustainable design. Whether you’re planning a new home, a shed conversion, or an off-grid retreat — we’d love to hear from you.
Contact us to start the conversation.
Special thanks to Hemp Building Directory — our go-to resource for everything hemp building in Australia, and the primary sponsor of the Hempcrete in Australia series.
