3 hours ago Watch: In the Manawatu town of Foxton, on tranquil Foxton Beach, some locals are getting back to nature by learning how to make homes out of mud, straw and clay. Credits: The Project In the Manawatu town of Foxton, on tranquil Foxton Beach, some locals are getting back to nature by learning how to make homes out of mud, straw and clay. Nature building guru Blue Forsyth spent 30 years restoring historic gems in the South Island. "In parts of the country that didn't have the timber resource like central Otago and Canterbury, they turned to other means which is the earth and stone that were there," he told The Project on Thursday.