Everything Cob

About one third of the world’s population still uses some form of earthen construction for their houses, and for good reason: earthen materials are inexpensive, locally available, inflammable, comfortable in all but extreme cold climates, non-toxic, not susceptible to bugs and mold, and can provide solid, beautifully sculpted structures.

Cob is a method of earthen construction that mixes sand, straw and clay with water to sculpt monolithic, organically shaped walls. As the walls dry out, they become very strong. These same basic materials can also be used to create beautiful plasters, clay paints, floors, ceilings, insulation, and more. This workshop will help you to really understand how the materials work and how to apply them toward building a small cabin, trying some natural renovation, or working on an art project.

During this workshop you will learn how to:
* Identify the right materials and where to find them
* Mix materials in an efficient way
* Build strong walls on solid foundations
* Integrate windows, doors, plumbing and wiring
* Create built-in shelving, niches and sculptural/artistic details
* Finish structures with earthen plasters and floors

Bonus feature:

A very common “First project” that students want to build after the workshop is an earthen bread/pizza oven. We will build one from scratch during this workshop so that you can feel confident doing the same in your back yard when you get home!

This workshop is very hands-on! You should count on building with earth for most of the week. By the end of the workshop, you will have had lots of practice in many earthen construction techniques. We limit our class size to 14 people to ensure that everyone receives individual attention, so register now and reserve your spot!

House Alive is a leader in combining natural building with appropriate technology. Our teachers live in natural structures themselves and we love to teach and build! Visit our general workshop information page if you would like to know more, or feel free to contact us if you have any questions about our programs.

This post was submitted by Coenraad Rogmans.