Workshops

COB ROOF WORKSHOP

[ August 16, 2013 to August 18, 2013. ] Learn how to frame a cob roof both using the walls as a support and also putting in extra support beams. We’ll be using round timbers and milled timbers on an oval cottage with Cob cottage Company instructors Dave and Fernanda. Come and either commute or camp!

Introduction to Natural Plasters

[ June 28, 2013 to June 30, 2013. ]

INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL PLASTERS

Description: Learn the basics of how to select and prepare clay soils, sands, and natural fibers to make beautiful, long-lasting earthen plasters. Learn the feel and characteristics of a well-prepared plaster, how to prep a wall to receive it, and how to apply it. Emphasis will be placed on exterior plasters, with [...]

Earthen Plasters Workshop

[ July 6, 2013 to July 21, 2013. ] This is a 4 day workshop divided into 2 weekends July 6-7 & July 20-21. During this workshop we will mix and apply different layers of earthen plasters to earthen walls and drywall, incorporating bas relief and tile work. We will work with finish plaster and lime on an outdoor courtyard. Lunch provided Saturday/Sunday. Camping [...]

Cowichan Cob Oven Project

[ June 3, 2013 to June 28, 2013. ]

Come out and join us in this exciting community arts based cob building project. Opportunities to build with cob, learn to create art tiles and sculpting with cob.

Cob Oven Building Workshop

[ July 12, 2013 to July 14, 2013. ]

We will be building a wood-fired cob oven over the weekend of July 12-14. Participants will leave with hands on experience and the know-how to build their own back yard oven. The instructor, Shawn, has taken a basic cob oven design and added and inset doorway and chimney, to keep smoke and heat out of [...]

The Cob Hat: Roofing Techniques for your Cottage

[ August 15, 2013 to August 18, 2013. ]

“The Cob Hat: Roof techniques for your cottage
We will be hosting a workshop, framing a roof on a cob cottage in Royal Oaks, CA. It will be a gable roof with a southern hip. We will use round wood and milled lumber, at the same time we will be playing with fitting the wood onto [...]

Cob Gazebo with Oven in Soquel, CA (Santa Cruz area)

[ May 17, 2013; 12:00 am; ]

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Enjoy this 3-day weekend workshop in which you will learn all about cob and how to build a cob oven encircled by a round bench with built in roof. Learn how cob ovens work. No experience needed, just a willingness to get muddy and have fun! Family friendly. Youth 12-18 are half price [...]

COB COTTAGE CO: Build a Fireproof Cob Cottage in Yosemite

[ September 27, 2013 to October 5, 2013. ] Join the Cob Cottage Company at Raw Roots Farm nestled in the foothills of Yosemite
California’s dynamic glacial valleys for the most comprehensive cob
course available in North America. This Fall David Gonzales
& Pedro Pizaro, seasoned Cob Cottage Instructors are back from
Mexico where they just completed a small cob home for a couple living in
Xalapa, Veracruz in [...]

9-Day Natural Building Extravaganza

[ May 18, 2013; ]

The Natural Building Extravaganza offers a comprehensive smorgasbord of hands-on workshops, classes, slideshows, field trips and special projects. Participants will learn how to create beautiful, affordable, natural dwellings using local clay, sand, straw, bamboo, and other abundant and salvaged materials.

Hands-on projects
• Oh, the glorious art of mixing and making with mud, quickly!
• Wall systems: Cob, [...]

Complete Cob Construction in Oregon

[ July 19, 2013 12:00 am to July 28, 2013 12:00 am. ]

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This is one of the most comprehensive cob courses available in North America. We’ll take the ground out from under your feet and turn it into a versatile medium to sculpt a whole small multi-purpose building. The instructor, Bernhard Masterson, has a background in education and has been building and teaching natural building [...]

Cob Oven Building Workshop

[ June 30, 2013 to July 1, 2013. ]
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We invite you to join us on the Canada Day long weekend for a 3-day cob oven building workshop in James Bay in Victoria! In this hands-on intensive you will learn everything you need to know to build your own backyard wood-burning cob oven from scratch, perfect for baking gourmet artisanal pizzas and bread [...]

Adobe play castle and Straw Clay Chicken Coop

[ July 6, 2013 to July 7, 2013. July 20, 2013 to July 21, 2013. ] Join us in Talent, Oregon for 4 days of fun in the mud as we construct a Children’s Adobe Play Castle and refurbish a Chicken Coop with Light Straw Clay. This is the perfect opportunity for anyone looking to increase their knowledge of Natural Building as we take participants through the steps of using the [...]

Complete Cob, Southern OR

[ June 22, 2013 to July 6, 2013. ]

This workshop intensive will include all aspects of cob building, and some wood working skills. Focus is on efficiency and community. Camping and great meals included. We will be on a secluded ranch property, near a great swimming hole. Contact email or phone for more info.

One Day Introduction to Cob Building (Two)

[ July 27, 2013; ]

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Play in the mud and get connected with earth! A daylong hands-on workshop (9 am to 5 pm) that covers; the history of cob, its advantages, materials involved, mixing methods, how to site structures, build foundations, and analyze and build correct drainage, types of tools, earthen floor techniques and various plaster finishes. A [...]

The Regenerative Home: Finishes and Systems

[ June 10, 2013 to June 18, 2013. ]

Join us for this detailed hands on workshop about using earthen plasters, applying and sealing ferrocement roofs, plus we will outline all the major systems to be used in the Regenerative Home. Learn about passive solar alignment, passive annual heat storage, a small active solar array, grey and black water systems, and growing food in [...]