Lime Foundation
Building Cob Walls
Sculptural Cob
Natural Plaster
Slip Straw

Lime Foundation -
Learn how to build an earth friendly, natural stone and lime mortared foundation, and ‘learn by doing’ as we build a foundation.
– Prep Stones
– Slake Lime
– Make Lime Mortar
– Shape Stone
– Lay Stone

Building Cob Walls -
During this part of the workshop we will learn how to build cob walls, including setting a window, setting a door, build and set anchors in cob for the roof, and ‘learn by doing’ as we:

- Choose materials and mix cob
- Build in ventilation and set windows
- Build lintels over doors & place anchors in wall

Sculptural Cob -
During this part of the workshop we will learn how to sculpt and trim, as well as use cob to build furniture, including building a couch, a bench for a breakfast nook, & ‘learn by doing’ as we:

- Mix corbel cob and cantilever furniture seats
- Create sculptures in the walls
- Build window sills

Natural Plaster -
Working with natural plasters is perhaps the most rewarding aspect of creating an earthen structure; the dessert after the main course of building with cob. We will explore and compare a variety of recipes, and will be working with natural mineral pigments to create various colors & effects.

$369 -  EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
(30 days in advance)

$579 After Discount Period

Register Today »

This post was submitted by Diane Jennings.

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 skill development for their personal project. Participants will get first-hand experience with every aspect of building a natural home, from the foundation to the roof. Learning how to build a natural home is one of the best investments you can make: once you know how to design, build and shape your own living space, you can save many thousands of dollars in living costs.

This program will be almost exclusively “hands-on” learning. Learning to build is like learning to play a musical instrument: It is hard to learn without another experienced person guiding you and, the more you do it the better you get. The apprenticeship program for 2011 offers 7 weeks of building, problem solving, designing and discussing all aspects of natural building, allowing you to take the time to develop new skills under the guidance of experienced natural builders.

This year we’re pleased to be collaborating with Lydia Doleman of Flying Hammer Productions (www.theflyinghammer.com). Lydia has been building with mud and bales for more than 12 years, and has a vast portfolio of beautiful natural buildings she’s built in Portland. Lydia and James will each teach approximately half of the apprenticeship.

Throughout the course we’ll be working on the different elements of building a small (about 200 sq. ft.) cob and straw-bale cabin from the ground up. Demonstrations and instruction will be given as needed to explain building techniques and design choices. Participants should expect full and exciting days.

The course will take place at Full Bloom Farm, a developing intentional community and large organic farm in a beautiful, secluded valley in Southern Oregon. It is also the home of Rise Up Bakery, which provides delicious fresh bread from their wood-fired oven to businesses and residents in the area. The farm has 280 acres of meadow and forest, 2 creeks and a swimming pond.

For more information or to apply to the program, please read the full workshop description!

This post was submitted by House Alive.

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.