Learn the basics behind mixing and building with cob. We will spend most of the time getting muddy at our cob mixing site, learning how to make an appropriate mix out of the most local materials.

Workshop Schedule
7:00pm to 8:30pm Friday
9:00am to 4:00pm Saturday (lunch provided)

This post was submitted by Elizabeth Edmiston.

Familiarize yourself with the concepts behind a rubble trench foundation. On Friday night, you will see a photo presentation documenting the digging of the foundation trench. Over the weekend, experience hands-on work as we do flow-testing on the trench, lay gravel, install drain-pipe, and ready the foundation for the masonry stemwall that will be built on top of it.

Additional presentations will cover design of drainage systems, and a look at additional types of drainage/foundation systems other than the rubble trench. There will also be an option to spend an hour or two working with cob on the Hand-Sculpted Whimisical Walls.

Workshop will include both information sessions and hands-on sessions on our current project: Building Sacred Space (a small building for spiritual work and meditation).

Weekend Workshop Schedule
7:00pm to 8:30pm Friday
9:00am to 4:00pm Satuday (lunch provided)
9:00am to 3:30pm Sunday (lunch provided)

This post was submitted by Elizabeth Edmiston.

Arguably the most important part of a structure is its foundation. For a material like cob, the foundation is especially important because there is no going back to fix it once tons and tons of material is sitting on top of it – it must be done right the first time.Our Friday night presentation will cover the design of our masonry stemwall.

Over the weekend, students will get hands-on work laying a combination of stone, concrete block, and urbanite in mortar. Additional presentations will cover the pros and cons of a dry-stacked stone foundation, and a slideshow of other types of foundations.

There will also be an option to spend an hour or two working with cob on the Hand-Sculpted Whimisical Walls.

Workshop will include both information sessions and hands-on sessions on our current project: Building Sacred Space (a small building for spiritual work and meditation).

Weekend Workshop Schedule
7:00pm to 8:30pm Friday
9:00am to 4:00pm Satuday (lunch provided)
9:00am to 3:30pm Sunday (lunch provided)

This post was submitted by Elizabeth Edmiston.

Learn the basics behind mixing and building with cob. We will spend most of the weekend getting muddy at our cob mixing site, learning how to make an appropriate mix out of the most local materials.

We will be applying the first cob to the structure, and so will be talking about how to make a structurally sound transition between the stemwall and the cob wall. Presentations will cover all of what has happened on the cottage up to this point (excavation, drainage trench, foundation wall, etc…).

Workshop will include both information sessions and hands-on sessions on our current project: Building Sacred Space (a small building for spiritual work and meditation).

Weekend Workshop Schedule
7:00pm to 8:30pm Friday
9:00am to 4:00pm Satuday (lunch provided)
9:00am to 3:30pm Sunday (lunch provided)

This post was submitted by Elizabeth Edmiston.

Come learn about natural building and earthen wall finishes in this 3-day hands-on workshop. We will turn the earth beneath our feet into healthy, beautiful, loveable surfaces. The course will cover harvesting local materials, processing raw materials for various types of plasters, and applying a three-part system including scratch coat, finish coat and pigmented clay paints or aliz. Time permitting, we will also cover basic artistic finishing techniques including burnishing, texture/relief and carving. Please bring good work clothes and boots and rain gear and prepare for all to get muddy. Let’s get plastered!

This post was submitted by Aprovecho Research Center.

Come live and work in our rural intentional community and join us in constructing our new Community House. Areas will include framing, natural wall systems, base coat and finish plasters, living roofs and finish carpentry. Visit www.emeraldearth.org or contact community@emeraldearth.org.

This post was submitted by Emerald Earth.

- We will build a lime mortared foundation suitable for a cob structure.
- You will learn everything you need to know to build a lime mortar foundation for a building, including site selection, drainage, using lime, choosing materials, and utility access.
- We suggest out of town participants arrive Tuesday evening to set up camp. Local folks are encouraged to camp too. We will begin promptly at 9:00 Wednesday morning.
- Meals will be provided starting with supper on Tues. evening, three meals and a snack on Weds. thru Sat., and breakfast on Sun. morning. Please advise us of special diet needs.

- We will build a cob building as the second part of the workshop.
- You will learn everything you need to know to build with cob for a small building, including site selection, drainage, choosing materials, utility access, designing the threshold for a door, setting a window and door, and anchoring rafters in cob.
- We will start each day with breakfast, and begin building at 9:00. We will break for lunch at 12:00, and a snack will be provided in the afternoon at 3:00. Work will end at 5:30 to allow time for showers before supper at 6:30.
- Tours of local, sustainable and green building sites will be held some evenings.
- Plan to stay over Saturday evening for a special celebration

This post was submitted by Diane Jennings.

6 days of cob building with the goal to complete the walls for the new cob bathhouse. A high energy workshop offering real skills toward building your own cob building. Learn how to evaluate materials, basics of designing for cob, mixing techniques, wall building, arches, sculpting and fastening doors, windows and roofs.

This post was submitted by Elke Cole.

The Natural Building Skillbuilder 2010 is a 9 week internship program at O.U.R.Ecovillage.
Participate in our learning community and learn natural building techniques.
Please read more on our website:

http://ourecovillage.org/our-activities/education-2/natural-building-skillbuilder/

This post was submitted by Elke Cole.

Hey guys, David here with New Jura Natural Building. I am pleased to announce our first cob workshop of the new year!!!

In collaboration with Dan Phillips and The Phoenix Commotion, we will be holding a cob oven workshop March 28th in Huntsville Texas at the world famous Bone House.

Earthen ovens are simple, low-cost and fun to build. Ideal for baking bread and pizza, earthen ovens are beautiful as well as functional, making wonderful additions to any home garden or patio.

We will get started at 10am and go through some preliminary cob philosophy as well as some history.

At around 1pm we will break for lunch, I will be serving a delicious vegetarian meal, something simple and light to keep you full of energy and not bogged down.

A handmade salad and some grains and legumes.
You are more than welcome to bring your own lunches or to go grab a lunch.

We will resume the cob oven at around 2ish.

In this workshop you will learn how to build a cob oven and then fire it when finished.

Dress to get dirty, wear shoes that you don’t mind getting trashed.

The price for this event is $100 per participating adult, the deadline for registering is March 21st. We are taking registration fees by PayPal -

Please visit this page and use the PaylPal button there:
http://phoenixcommotion.com/events.html#cob_workshop

We will have some fun activities for any children that attend such as making adobe blocks and cob sculptures.

Peace to all and hope to see you there!!

Contact:
David Reed – David@offgridhomesteading.com
Kristie/Phoenix Commotion – pravatar@rocketmail.com – 936-661-3446

This post was submitted by David Reed.