Kate Weigel

Originally from Maine (Wabanaki Confederacy land), Kate has diverse experience in education, affordable housing, the arts, and green building.

In 2019 she moved to Moab, UT, to delve deeply into the world of sustainable construction. There, she worked foundation-to-finish on two affordable earthen strawbale homes as part of the International Living Futures Institute’s “Living Building Challenge,” a highly regenerative building certification. She spent the following two years teaching homeowners with low incomes how to build their own homes cooperatively through the USDA’s Mutual Self-Help Program.

Kate first entered the world of building through volunteer service in affordable housing. Her experience during Bike and Build in 2011, where she bicycled from Maine to Santa Barbara, California, with a group of 34 others, is a source of great inspiration for her. The trip raised money and awareness for affordable housing causes while stopping to build houses in different cities along the way. She later spent a year as an AmeriCorps construction crew lead for Habitat For Humanity MidOhio in Columbus. She particularly enjoyed helping lead the Women Build home there, which was built 70 percent by women volunteers.

Kate is deeply dedicated to service and craftsmanship. With a solid background in carpentry and a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art focusing on sculpture, Kate has a keen eye for detail, beauty, and quality. She is committed to education, community building, and advocacy. Kate is a Passive House Certified Tradesperson and also holds a Permaculture Design Certificate from the Boulder Permaculture Guild. She is currently serving a 2 year term on the board of the Colorado Green Building Guild.

In her free time, Kate enjoys volunteering, rock climbing, packrafting, cross-country skiing, and cycling. You can often find her listening to an audiobook and taking a walk with her cat, Peaks.

I start every morning with…
with an herbal tea.

I end every day…
with gratitude.

How do you help protect the environment on a day-to-day basis?
I protect the environment by composting food waste, buying secondhand and local first, and Leaving No Trace.

What’s your favorite hangout spot in Boulder?
Trident Bookstore and Cafe

Quote you live by?

“may my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living
whatever they sing is better than to know”

e e cummings