Detailed Overview of Lama Foundation, p.4

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On May 5, 1996 the Hondo Fire swept up the dry mountainside and destroyed 22 out of 29 buildings, leaving Lama Foundation with minimal facilities. Overnight, Lama was turned from a thickly-forested, high-alpine environment into a largely open area. The rebuilding has been lovingly undertaken with permaculture-based planning, and natural building designs and techniques. Permaculture and natural building are practices that complement Lama’s re-growth as a sustainable, service-oriented community school.

Rebuilding remains a major work priority even today. Each summer sees an expansion of food-producing land, and progress on several buildings. In fact, Lama Foundation has become a classroom for natural building and permaculture. The new Community Center and residences are built with straw bales, trees burned in the fire, mud and thousands of loving hands. Scrub oaks and wild flowers have covered most of burned land. Although the physical appearance of Lama is very different after the fire, many say that the “heart” or “feeling” of Lama Foundation remains unchanged over the years.