Archive for January, 2011

[ July 17, 2011 to July 27, 2011. ] This work shop will cover building a code approved load bearing Bale-cob cottage. as well as an outdoor cob shower and garden wall. Workshop will also cover composting, and composting toilets, greywater systems, solar electricity and more. Tuition includes camping and all meals.

Please visit our website for more details.

[ June 18, 2011 to June 26, 2011. September 10, 2011 to September 18, 2011. ] This is the most comprehensive cob course available in North America. In the past 15 years, we’ve taught almost 200 major cob courses. In 9 intenstive days, we’ll cover in depth all aspects of cob and the many techniques of building with cob including arches, details, shelving, furniture and earthen floors. In this expanded version [...]

[ April 29, 2011 to May 4, 2011. ] In Russia, Scandinavia and much of Northern Europe houses are heated by huge upright brick stoves, often floor to ceiling, weighing several tons. Some incorporate a bread oven, some a cooking stove. Known as Russian Stoves, Finnish heaters etc., they can be faced with decorative tiles (kachelofn). From a single daily firing [...]

[ March 25, 2011 to March 27, 2011. ] A weekend course for those in love with fire. Learn how fire burns, what makes combustion efficient, how to build the ultimate in snug, energy-saving campfires, stoves, and fireplaces for cooking and comfort, all hand-made at almost no cost.
Rocket Mass Heaters by Ianto Evans and Leslie Jackson has made these incredibly clean-burning wood burners big [...]

[ May 19, 2011 to May 25, 2011. ] The Art & Craft of Natural Building
With Natural Builder, Designer and Author Michael G. Smith

May 19-25, 2011
Sandy Bar Ranch, Orleans, CA

This workshop will cover the principles of natural building design and construction and give participants hands-on experience in straw bale, earth bags, light straw clay (slipstraw), earthen floors, and earthen plasters. Sandy Bar Ranch has [...]

[ August 7, 2011 to August 13, 2011. ] August 7-13, 2011
Petrolia, CA
Instructor: Michael G. Smith

Learn to build your own energy-efficient natural home from inexpensive, healthy natural materials. In this hands-on workshop, we will be building a family home from cob (sculpted earth) and straw bales. We will also experiment with other natural wall systems including slipstraw or light straw clay and wattle and [...]

[ July 30, 2011 to July 31, 2011. ] Earth Plaster and Paint Weekend
Saturday, July 30-Sunday July 31. 9am-5pm. Arrive on Friday, 2 pm or later. Camping and meals included. Learn to make cob, plaster and paint from natural materials.
Cost: $100 per person, $75 if paid 14 days prior to the event. Discounts for families. Visit us on our website or on facebook [...]

[ May 21, 2011 to May 22, 2011. ] Intensive Cob Weekend – finishing up a half built cob cabin.
Friday, May 20, 1pm until Sunday, May 22 5pm. Arrive Thursday at 5pm or later. Camping and meals included. Learn the art of cob cabin construction! Discounts for families.
Cost: $125 per person, $100 if paid 14 days prior to event
Check us out on our [...]

[ June 12, 2011 to July 30, 2011. ] For the seventh straight year, House Alive! is offering an opportunity for people to get beyond the basics and experience an extended Natural Building apprenticeship. This popular, hands-on, intensive course is designed for people who want to use natural building skills in a professional context or who want to take extra time to work on [...]

[ January 15, 2011 to January 22, 2011. ] Dates: January 15th, 16th, + 22nd, 2011

We will use heaters to stay warm while building next to the warm house. Learn how to construct a special kind of cob oven that uses a rocket stove for a cleaner burn and faster heating time. In the process, learn how to mix and apply cob, earth plasters, [...]

[ January 30, 2011; ] Participants will design a house of their choice that uses earthen building techniques. With a combination of models, sketches, and drawings, this class will cover the basics of what you need to know to design a small earthen building and how to think like a builder. Discussions and sideshows will cover: passive solar, engineering calculations, [...]

[ January 31, 2011; ] Create durable, beautiful, inexpensive paints to enhance your home. Earthen paints are non-toxic, easy to apply, easy to maintain, and are planet friendly. A great way to cover up drywall. Half the cost of conventional paint. This hands-on class includes explanation of a variety earthen building methods.