The Seed Collaborative
A decentralized network of straw panel manufacturers transforming how we build
Around the world, people are grappling with the urgent challenges of climate change, housing shortages, and energy insecurity. In response, a new kind of construction movement is taking shape—one rooted in local resilience, climate justice, and regenerative practices.
Welcome to the Seed Collaborative: a growing network of regional manufacturers building high-performance straw-structural insulated panels and reimagining what it means to build for people, for communities, and for the planet.
Why we’re here
The Seed Collaborative is grounded in a bold, hopeful idea: that homes can do more than minimize harm—they can help heal. Straw panels are a key tool in this work, storing carbon, reducing fossil fuel dependence, and supporting healthier, more just communities.
Through collaboration—not competition—we’re scaling these solutions across the country.
The Roots -
New Frameworks and the Seed Program
The Seed Collaborative was born from our worker-owned cooperative in Vermont leading the charge in climate-responsive, equitable building. Out of that work came the Seed Program—an incubator to grow place-based straw panel manufacturing in regions across the U.S.
Meet the founding 2024 Cohort
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Founded by five independent folks with a common interest: straw bale construction. Building Integrity became a new entity to be out of a desire to build better for the future.
Check them out on their website!
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Building Integrity is currently located in Columbia, MO.
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“The Seed Collaborative was the catalyst for five midwestern straw bale enthusiasts to start a business together [Building Integrity]. From our diverse backgrounds in architecture, engineering, agriculture, wellness, and community organizing, we saw the potential of building with bio-based materials, but knew stacking bales on-site was not a scalable solution nor an easy business model. The Seed Collaborative offered a way of building with straw that could reach more people and reduced the risk of starting a new business by connecting us to a network of folks working together for our collective success.” - Adrienne Stolwyk
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Born from an existing design/build company, Rare Forms transitioned into straw-panel manufacturing out of a desire to make carbon-storing buildings more accessible.
Check them out on their website!
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Rare Forms is currently located in Easthampton, MA.
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“To me, the Seed Program is about building more than just homes — it’s about building a community movement. It’s a way to connect practitioners who are committed to local, bio-based and regenerative construction, and to share resources so we don’t all have to reinvent the wheel. Its a collective that can push back against the isolating, competitive norms of our industry and instead foster a sense of shared purpose and mutual aid.” - Greg Bossie
With the 2025 Cohort coming online soon…
Arvada, Colorado
Baltimore, Maryland/ Washington DC area
Bellingham, Washington
Join the Movement
Whether you’re a builder, architect, policymaker, or someone curious about the future of construction—we want to hear from you.
Reach out to New Frameworks or any member of the Seed Collaborative to learn more, connect, or get involved.
Let’s grow this future together.
