Natural Building Basics Cob Workshop

This action-packed, hands-on/feet-on workshop is for adults and youth ages 12 and up accompanied by parents who intend to build their own cob home! Test your grit during 10 days at Cob Hill Natural Building School, as Cat Taylor teaches the techniques and skills you will need to get from the foundation to the roofing system. We will learn about various building styles: cob; bale cob; palletable cob. We will also cover many other natural building concepts like: site placement and preparation; dig a rubble trench; stack a stone stem wall; tamp subfloors; set windows; build up our walls and of course cob, cob, cob!

Hands on experience covering

• soil testing

• foundations

  • dig a rubble trench

  • pier and beam

• stack a stone stem wall (dry stacking)

• cob building

• bale cob

• palletable cob

• timber framing

• windows and doors

• roof designs

• living roofs

• roof sheathing

• tree felling

• log peeling

• log milling (saw mill)

• Shou Sugi Ban(Japanese art of waterproofing wood)

• class time

  • site selection

  • home design

  • passive solar

  • earthen plasters

  • straw bale

  • LSC – light straw clay insulation

  • basic electric

  • basic plumbing

  • facts and myths in natural building

  • common mistakes in natural building

  • choosing build style

  • project planning

  • budgeting

  • acquiring materials

  • purchasing property and permits

  • correct placement of building

  • water catchment

  • composting toilets

Primitive tent camping sites are available near the build including access to hot showers, plus 3 plant-based meals a day are included in your tuition! You will need to bring your own camping gear. (See FAQ section of naturalbuildingorg.com) Prospective attendees, please be advised that we are unable to accommodate guests, unregistered children under 12 or pets on site for the duration of the workshop; however, there are nearby lodging options available for them including Daingerfield State Park, as well as two boarding options within 30 minutes of Cob Hill.