6-Day Cob + Straw Immersion
May 20, 2025 - May 25, 2025
$1,230
INSTRUCTORS: Greg + Danielle
STUDENT #: 15 students [maximum]
COST (meals included!):
–$1230 Early Bird Rate (register 30 days in advance)
– $1350 Regular Rate
– 5% discount for family + friends participating together!
– 10% discount for BIPOC participants
DESCRIPTION:
Our Immersion is our most popular course, and is designed to provide an understanding of four natural wall systems: cob, strawbale, slip-straw, and wattle & daub. Working with multiple wall systems will provide you with insight into which will fit into your own potential projects best. You will also get experience mixing and applying earthen plaster!
We emphasize hands-on learning, with most of each day spent on our work site. We will be building a sculptural cob garden wall on campus, which simulates the process of building a house while still allowing everyone to have enough space to work and learn. We’ll also be installing full strawbale walls in a pre-constructed wooden frame, plus demonstrating the slip-straw and wattle & daub wall techniques. On the final day, the group will apply clay plaster to some of these natural wall systems.
To supplement our hands-on work sessions, there will be time allotted for a local home tour, a tour of our natural cottages on campus, plus discussions/presentations on essential topics. We will also provide informational handouts to take home with you, and share digital presentation materials for your own future reference.
In addition to our scheduled learning time, there is a wonderful community aspect to our workshops. Three wholesome meals are provided each day, which are shared as a group in our community gathering space. Plenty of unscheduled, leisure time is available for relaxing.
Expect to leave the workshop with the confidence and knowledge to take on your own natural building project!
TOPICS COVERED:
HANDS-ON:
* mixing cob by foot
* mixing cob by machine, using a mortar mixer
* building with cob
* installing a complete straw bale wall section
* mixing and installing slip-straw
* mixing and applying clay plaster
* how to install windows in cob vs. strawbale
DISCUSSION:
* “Rubble Trench Foundations”
* “Simple Roofing Options”
* “Cob vs. Strawbale: pros and cons, + hybrid designs”
* CAMPUS TOUR! – We’ll tour campus buildings, as a general Q+A
* LOCAL HOME TOUR! we will visit a local strawbale home to talk with the owners
