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One Day Cob House
June 12, 2020 ∞ 7:00 pm - June 14, 2020 ∞ 7:00 pm
$150
One-Day Cob House Build
See video from 2014’s event here
When: June 12-14, 2020
Where: Rosewater Ranch, Long Valley, 30 minutes northwest of Reno, Nevada.
Cost: $150 includes meals, instruction, camping spot
Instructors: Kyle Isacksen, Kathleen O’Brien and Katy Chandler
Host: Nathan Rosenbloom, Loping Coyote Farms, Rosewater Ranch
Registration: PayPal (registration button on website) or checks accepted.
After you register we’ll send you a follow-up email with more details.
Please email Kyle if you have any questions.
40 participant limit.
Checks to “Be the Change Project” 2055 McCloud Avenue, Reno, NV 89512
About the Workshop
The “One Day Cob House” event is an amazing, uplifting, and unique natural building experience. It’s a focused and jam-packed workshop that combines elements of a community barn raising with tried and true natural building techniques taught by talented instructors.
Cordwood cob is a technique that uses cordwood like bricks and cob like mortar and allows one to build much higher in a day compared to using just cob. A layer of cob by itself can be built about a foot high per day before needing to set and dry some; by using cordwood-cob and with enough hands we can make a full-height building. The wood, clay, and sand for this build are all locally sourced.
Rosewater Ranch is a budding community on 140 acres backing up to National Forest in the eastern foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains outside of Reno, NV. On the ranch Permaculture practices abound, goats, chickens, & turkeys roam, and there’s lots to absorb while there. The cabin we build will be round-ish, measure ~120 interior square feet, have a loft and green roof. It will be used as a studio and guest quarters.
Participants will learn:
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Basics of a rubble trench foundation (the trench and earthbags will be done ahead of the workshop)
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How to mix cob
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How to set doors and window frames
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How to plumb and trim walls
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How to build with cordwood and cob
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How to attach a roof and make a simple green roof
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How to make and apply a light straw-clay plaster base coat
If you’ve been interested in learning about natural building, have some experience and want to improve, or maybe don’t have the time and money to dedicate to a full, longer workshop, this might be a great option for you. You’ll leave with a basic understanding of what it takes to put a complete cabin together and can expect to enjoy your time in a beautiful setting with lots of great people and food.
Daily Flow:
Friday
12:00 – arrival and camping set up, light lunch
Hands-on instruction in cordwood cob basics including mixing cob. We’ll also discuss how to build a rubble trench and earthbag stemwall and a tamped earth floor
7:00 – Dinner and fun
Saturday
6:00 – breakfast
6:45 – begin building
12:00 – lunch
5:00 – raise the roof!
7:00 – dinner and celebration
Sunday
8:00 – breakfast
9:00 – debrief and Q and A
10:00 – light straw clay plaster
1:00 – lunch
Afternoon departure
One Day, Part 2
Plastering and Earthen Floor Workshop
July 17-19, we’ll plaster the cabin’s walls and put in a finished earthen floor during a two-day workshop. Participants in the “One Day” are invited back for that weekend at a discounted rate of $40 (includes camping and meals).
Contact Kyle for more details.
