In this seven day, hands-on workshop, you will learn the art and science of making and building with cob, a free form adobe building material used for centuries around the world. Using and understanding the simple materials of clay, sand and straw, we will mix our own cob, and then sculpt a beautiful serpentine garden wall and arched gateway with cedar shake roof. In this process, you will learn how cob can be used to build homes, courtyard walls, saunas and benches. We will also focus on the sculptural aspects of cob, creating bas-relief and carving niches. Outdoor class room time will include a discussion on the history of cob, its use in modern construction (including tractor mixing), sourcing materials, stone foundations, and earthen plasters. Come prepared to learn, create, make new friends, work hard and get dirty.

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This post was submitted by Rob Pollacek.

Central KY

Lime Foundation
Building Cob Walls
Solar/Geothermal A/C system
Rocket Stove Heating System

$319 includes registration,
camping & meals for six days.
$199 – 30 day advance price.

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
- Furniture Foundation

Building cob walls
During this part of the workshop we will learn how to build cob walls,
including setting a window, building a sleeping loft, setting beams and
rafters 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 for cabinets
- Set plate & joists for loft & Build anchors for roof
- Build loft floor & Attach beams & rafters

Solar/Geothermal A/C system
During this part of the workshop we will “learn by doing” as we install a
$500 Solar/Geothermal A/C system in a cob structure

Heating System – Rocket Stove & heat storage bench
During this part of the workshop we will learn how to make the most efficient mass wood fired heater you can imagine. And we’ll build the ‘battery’ to store the heat in too.

This post was submitted by Diane Jennings.

This hands-on workshop will provide students with basic skills for working with stone and masonry. Students will learn various methods of constructing stone walls and will be exposed to a variety of examples of stonework incorporated in residential design. Each student will have the opportunity to work firsthand with footings and dry-laid, masonry-laid and masonry-veneered stonewall work. There will also be discussion of paver installation and fundamental brick and block construction. Strong, healthy backs are required!

This post was submitted by Jose Galarza.

This five-day course will teach the art of building with natural stone and the intelligence and logic behind it. The goal is to build a series of sculptural elements culminating in an arched entryway. Class discussions will include the science behind an arch and engineering the wooden form for its support while under construction. Taking things outside, we’ll create the footings and talk about stone types and wall form and structure. The lay of the land and the interests of the class participants will define the design, including exactly what and where we will build. This course will take you beyond basic stone masonry and into the realm of stonework as an art form.

This post was submitted by Jose Galarza.

Learn traditional English stone masonry techniques. In the garden of an estate in the remote and magical English countryside, near a stone bridge reputed to be 3000 years old, and among hills with cairns, burial mounds, and sacred circles, this class will focus on building two complex, sloped retaining walls with double-faced walls atop them, in addition to a pair of staircases leading to the garden’s upper level. The work will be challenging, but with many hands very enjoyable. Daily hikes in the blustery and hilly English countryside will bring us to local masons and farmers to check out various stone walling styles and techniques, as well as to monolithic stone installations, gardens, and pubs and eateries. Accommodations are in a twelve-bedroom private home at the estate. Students will help in preparing food, as well as sharing meals with the owners and their guests, including famous artists, musicians and perhaps royal family or professors from London universities. We will live among the family as they come and go in their very English style. If you are looking to improve your existing walling skills, or learn some new techniques, we will push you past your current knowledge and limits to explore what you don’t know and what you may not yet have imagined. Strong backs and a strong work ethic are essential.

This post was submitted by Jose Galarza.