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SUMMARY:The Complete Builder’s Programme\, the Fast Cob Way!
DESCRIPTION:This Programme will not only give you ALL the skills you need to build your home\, it will allow you to start – and finish – your own building this year! \nAfter 19 years of providing effective\, proven Natural Building skills (i.e.\, Fast Cob\, the Fastest Build on Earth!) to all of our participants\, it’s time to up the ante. \nWe’ve been tinkering with the deeper aspects of how to learn all the skills you need to get building NOW\, and we’re very proud to announce our newest offering: The Complete Fast Cob Builder’s Programme! \nFor the past 5 years\, we’ve known that learning how to finish Fast Cob buildings first\, makes it even easier to learn how to build them faster…everyone who has taken this path has readily agreed. \nBut there have been a couple of aspects of building that we haven’t taught because it just wasn’t easy (and therefore not safe) to do so.  That just changed. \nOur new Advanced Fast Cob workshop adds those pieces in to give you the COMPLETE package to start building THIS YEAR! \nNot only will we show you how to put a roof on a Fast Cob building\, we’ll show you how to build a stacked rock foundation\, which will empower you to go home and literally start building. \nThe best part of this new programme is that we also make all of this learning affordable\, by offering deep discounts to those that really want to get building this year.  This is due to our desire to help make more effective Natural Builders in this crazy\, insane world. \nHere are the dates of our 2026 Fast Cob Workshops; all 3 are included in the Complete Fast Cob Builder’s Programme: \n\nMay 14-May 18 – Focus on Finishing; Thursday to Monday\nJune 25-29 – All the Basics of Building from Thursday to Monday\nSeptember 3-7 – Roofs & Foundations for Fast Cobbers from Thursday to Monday\n\nThursdays and Mondays are travel days with a Welcome Dinner and Farewell Breakfast included. \nBy registering for all of our workshops together\, we are offering you a huge discount: $900!  Our workshops are always focused entirely on learning – your learning – and this is the ultimate package\, which includes all 3 workshops\, all (hot\, organic) meals and camping facilities\, as well as all of the building and training materials that you’ll need for each workshop.  Please note that all of our fees are in Canadian dollars; if your currency is US or Euro\, our fees are significantly less (30-50% less!). \nPlease see our website for all the details: https://cob.lasqueti.ca/workshops.  Our goal is to get more Fast Cobbers into the world so that every other technique becomes obsolete and our earth’s resources are fully respected and used as wisely as possible.
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/the-complete-builders-programme-the-fast-cob-way/
LOCATION:Lasqueti Island\, 1 Beautiful Bicycle Lane\, Lasqueti Island\, BC\, V0R 2J0\, Canada
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SUMMARY:5-Week Full Build For ALL Levels: A Complete Cob Cottage at Sitio do Valverde in Coruche\, Portugal
DESCRIPTION:Yeehah!!!! We invite you with a Big Open Heart to join CruzinCobGlobal in our 22nd year of teaching the world the ins and outs of building a beautiful functional art piece to live in\, in style and comfort!  Your Soul\, Heart\, Body and Mind will be filled with peaceful bliss as you live in a community of new friends\, eat delicious local healthful cuisine\, and have many meaningful exchanges and moments while working\, building\, dancing\, breathing\, eating\, sharing and sitting in Council Circle once a week! You will have weekend adventures alone or with others discovering the surroundings.  With lectures three times a week and daily hands-on demonstrations and building\, you will accomplish more learning in these 5 weeks\, about cob\, you and life\, than you probably ever have.  It’s all part of the experience. Bottom line is that your life will change for good in so many great ways\, just from learning how to build an ecological\, safe\, locally-resourced\, economical and heart\, hand and feet-loved home with a group of passionate folks from all over. \nOnly an hour from Lisbon and in the heart of nature and rivers and villages and great hikes\, our workshop is hosted by local creator\, ecological entrepreneur and natural builder Nuno Figueira (also hosting “Cob Outdoor Kitchen Workshop”).  Take both workshops at Sitio do Valverde in 2026 (only 2 weeks apart) for a reduced fee and book your summer up with the CCG Full Cobber Training:  all you need to continue building and eventually start teaching and/or creating a cob business!  The world needs more Cobbers!  Designed for success\, our globally-renowned workshops will take you from zero experience to a newly confident\, fit\, happy and fulfilled cob builder.  Whether you are all in from the get-go\, or need support in leaving a life that is not you and taking the jump\, we are here for you and are happy to chat. \n  \nOUR HOST\n  \n\n \nOur Host Nuno! \n\nBom Dia! My name is Nuno Figueira and I was born in the southern Portuguese town of Faro and have lived in Lisbon for the last 20 years. My background has always been in theater and technical and visual experimentation using images and video-mapping in the visual and performing arts\, helping transform mine and others’ visions and perceptions towards a new way of seeing. Parallel to this profession\, I have been developing a new path in natural building or\, in Portuguese\, “bioconstrução”\, which has also been integrated into my theater-based work. \nSitio Valverde is 6000 m2 of very special sanctuary land\, located one hour northeast of Lisbon near the town of Coruche.  There we hold a variety of workshops and promote connection with Nature.  Situated in a quiet rural zone surrounded by green\, it is an ideal environment to relax and disconnect from urban life.  We offer diverse activities including natural building\, walks\, yoga and meditation.  We offer accommodations in a typical “ribatejana” house as well as space for camping and caravans. \n  \n\n \nThe Sanctuary Land \n\nSitio do Valverde is more than a space.  We also want to create a farm school for personal\, social and ecological growth and development with practical and theoretical classes\, like natural building techniques with Earth\, bamboo and straw\, as well as regenerative design.  We attract communities who value collaborative learning and integration with Nature and want to enrich their lives and those of their neighbors with new sustainable building systems and a greater respect for the Earth and Life. \n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n  \nLOCATION\n  \nJust a 20-minute walk from Sitio Valverde\, the Sorraia River is the natural heart of the town offering birdwatching\, aquatic activities\, picnics\, walks\, and relaxation.  Nature is everywhere in the Coruche region and the landscape vistas are endless.  Here far from Lisbon\, people come for the fresh air\, the peace and the serenity.  One can also appreciate the land from above by taking a hot-air balloon ride and then on the weekends visiting the mountains\, parks and “barragens” in the surrounding areas.  Of course the Lisbon area usually has many cultural and music events happening every weekend as well. \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n\nTHE PROJECT\n  \n  \n \nThe final stretch: pouring the finish floor in Belgium\, 2025 \n\n  \nWorkshop students will be building the first COB structure on the Land and we are honored Nuno has chosen COB to represent the start of his project\, to be built in an intimate\, sacred and soulful way and created\, as always\, with 12-15 pairs of loving and passionate muddy hands and feet.  Starting with the “boots”\, symbol for the stone foundation\, to the “hat”\, our indestructible\, gorgeous trademark reciprocal green roof\, we will cover EVERYTHING important in between!  You will leave blissed out\, confident\, transformed\, inspired\, motivated\, excited\, and ready for more.  Be prepared for a total life makeover\, and renewed strength and empowerment to fearlessly lead a life TRUE to yourself!  We see this in every workshop year after year.  It’s called “Cob Therapy” and it happens organically whether you intend it or not:) \n  \n \nPRIDE!!! The beautiful oculus watching over the sacred space!Belgium\, 2025 \n\n  \nWe will be building a 14m2/154ft2 round building (final size is always dependent on class number but this is usually the outcome). The breathtaking reciprocal roof structure we build in all of our workshops is the strongest roof there is\, due to its interlocking spiral structure\, which holds itself up with no outward pressure on the monolithic round wall of the building. In addition\, it mirrors the horizontal social structure favored in indigenous societies\, who meet under these types of roofs for council circles\, as we will do weekly throughout the 5 weeks\, to support all the inner and outer work happening. \nStudents in this Advanced Cobber Certification training will\, as always\, learn all the steps to building a complete Cob Building from scratch.  In week 1\, we dig the foundation trench and fill it with landscape-wrapped drainage rock/gravel followed by a sturdy 30cm-wide aesthetic natural stone stemwall to support the cob wall and roof. \n  \n \nDay 1: The foundation begins… trench\, landscape cloth\, drainage rock and first layer of stone! Breaking in those new muscles in Costa Rica\, 2025 \n\n  \nWe finish the week off by pouring the first layer of adobe/cob floor on a layer of insulation underlain by a gravel drainage base and wrap up with the door(s) installation.  In weeks 2 & 3\, we build the monolithic cob wall\, layer by layer\, with all its detailed insertions (windows\, shelves\, electrical housing\, hooks\, niches\, bottles\, desk/counter\, anchors and roof connectors)\, and finish week 3 off with 2 days of relaxed sculpting.  In week 4 we plaster our beautifully-decorated and solid wall with an earthen/fermented manure scratch coat mix.  On Friday we build and install the Reciprocal Roof primary rafter structure and in week 5 we complete the structure and sheathing to support the impermeable Green Roof covering.  On the final days we will finish the top of the wall as well as the second finish floor coat\, ready for Graduation and the Celebration on Saturday evening.  Sunday morning is our Closing Circle followed by our final Lunch together and before the afternoon public Open House\, when the final project is revealed to the outside world! \n  \n \nWairimu beaming with pride and gratitude in Kenya\, 2025 \n\n  \nWe encourage non-White and multiracial students who are curious or already interested and passionate about earthen construction to come learn the art and technique of cob building with CCG.  We want a workshop that feels comfortable for non-white students\, and aim for a healthy balance of races\, cultures and languages.  CCG has taught in many countries of the world and our mission is to create access to everyone interested\, especially the local people\, so we can create international cob building families where all students grow and learn on a personal and interpersonal level.  We aim to create intercultural and interhuman bonding experiences through our Cob building workshops to heal the world one Cob house at a time.  So please follow your Heart & Soul\, listen to the Call\, and embark on a life-changing adventure in 2026! \n  \nDETAILED WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION\n  \n  \n \nReady to get muddy in Kenya\, 2025! \n\n  \nThe 35-day Advanced Cob Building Workshop consists of 25 days (Monday through Friday) of learning & construction for 4 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the afternoon with theoretical instruction (lectures with graphics) on most Monday\, Wednesday and Friday afternoons to complement the hands-on experience.  Students arrive on Saturday before dinner and Sunday by 12pm and settle in. The two meals offered on Saturday (dinner) and Sunday (brunch) are optional and an additional fee of 10€ each.  The Workshop begins at 4pm and ends on a Sunday\, 5 weeks later\, after the morning Closing Circle & Brunch\, around 2pm. Students can arrive a day before (Saturday) to acclimate and settle in (please let us know) but will need to cover their own food
 needs\, or pay the extra meal fees . The Opening Circle begins promptly at 4pm\, followed by a Host Site Orientation at 5:30pm\, Dinner at 6:30pm and an Introduction to the Project by the Instructors at 7:30pm.  We require that students arrive Saturday before dark or Sunday by 12pm AT THE LATEST!!! We need to begin ALL TOGETHER\, as the most important information for the success and smooth-running of the workshop and the well-being of the students will happen on Sunday between 4pm and 8:30pm.  It is very inconvenient for students\, Host\, Instructors and the group\, when someone arrives late and misses any of the opening sessions. \n  \n \nLecture time in Puerto Rico\, 2025 \n\n  \nPlease be punctual because Monday morning at 9 am we begin digging the trench for our Cob Building and students need to be prepared and ready to go!!!! \nFollowing Breakfast from 7:30-8:15am\, the morning learning/building session begins at 8:30 am and lasts until 1pm with a 20-minute snack pause at 11am. Lunch break is from 1pm to 2:30pm\, which includes a rest time before the 3-hour afternoon session begins\, from 2:30pm-5:30pm. Mondays\, Wednesdays and Fridays there is a 60-minute lecture at 2:30pm\, followed by construction time. Tuesdays and Thursdays students begin building again right after the rest time. After class in the afternoon there is a 90-minute break before dinner (served from 7pm to 8pm)\, in which students are encouraged to stretch\, do some type of relaxation/movement practice\, go swimming\, walking and just relax. \n  \n \nThe final Graduation Circle in Kenya\, 2025 \n\n  \nThere is sometimes a work trade student officially or informally leading yoga and movement practice in the mornings or afternoons (depending on student preference). There will also be 3-4 evenings throughout the workshop after dinner for showing slides\, videos and having Course-related discussions. Other evenings except Tuesdays are mostly free and sometimes students offer informal courses in their specialties and passions. Tuesdays are reserved for our weekly Council Circle\, where we do a deeper sharing and listening to attend to the inner worlds of our students\, staff & Host(s) during this intense experience. \n  \n \nAnother beaming happy fully-trained Cobber in Kenya\, who is assisting in Tasmania this year! \n\n  \nOn weekends students are free to explore the area\, rest onsite\, and even continue building\, subject to Instructor approval.  All weekend meals are provided by students who are welcome to use the kitchen.  Host and/or other students can carpool into town for weekend food provisions. \nThe 35-day Course will offer practical learning by building a complete 14m2 curvilinear building from foundation to roof\, as 
described in the “Project” section. Those who complete the 35-day Workshop will receive an Advanced Cobber Certificate of Completion for Foundation\, Cob Walls (which includes Door\, Windows\, Shelves\, Art\, Electrical Housing & Plumbing preparation)\, Floor\, Plaster & Roof. \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nDAILY SCHEDULE\nThe daily schedule (subject to slight modifications due to climate/time of year) will be: \n7:30-8:15 Breakfast\n8:30-1:00 Class\n1:00-2:30 Lunch\n2:30-5:30 Class (Lecture on MWF)\n5:30-7:00 Rest/Yoga\n7:00-8:00 Dinner\n8:00-9:00 Council Circle (Tues) & Slides/Videos/Discussion (Thurs)\nStudents are expected to be on time and participate in all sessions and required activities as the goal of building a full construction depends on the whole group working together! \nCOURSE CONTENTS\nStudents will learn every phase of building a cob building from foundation through the reciprocal roof in hands-on building and lectures/theory. In addition to the lectures\,
 slideshows and videos will be shown to support and enhance their understanding of cob materials\, cob building\, design\, geography\, budgeting\, business options and legal issues. \nOur hands-on practice will include: \ndigging foundation trench \npouring gravel and inserting drainage pipe (if applicable) \nbuilding foundation stemwall \nanalyzing soils and materials \nmaking test bricks \ndeciding on correct mixture \ndeciding on best location \nmaking cob w/ partner and solo
 building with cob \npreparing and inserting the door \npreparing and inserting fixed and opening windows \npreparing and inserting shelves \ninserting bottle windows\, glass and other objects \ninserting electrical housing and outlet/switch boxes (when applicable)* \ninsert PVC pipe for plumbing in walls (when applicable)* \nsculpting \npreparing and applying earthen plaster (1 coat) \npouring an earthen floor (2 coats) \npreparing walls for roof connection \nbuilding reciprocal roof frame \nputting on roof sheathing and other elements \ninstalling impermeable liner and green roof components \nmaking small-scale cob designs of future projects (time permitting) \n  \nIn addition to Cob Building practices\, the Course material 
also includes: \nlegal cob construction practices & the international cob code (Appendix AU in the IRC) \ncost analysis \ncreating a cob business (building/teaching) \nassisting\, building and teaching with CruzinCobGlobal \n*While the insertion of electrical housing and one or more outlet/switch boxes and PVC pipes to hold plumbing are always included in the workshops\, the simplicity or complexity depends on the host’s design and preferences. There will be no electrical wiring or plumbing pipes installed during workshop. That is beyond the focus of this course and requires professional experience and certification/licensing. \nREQUIREMENTS & IMPORTANT INFORMATION\nStudents will need to come prepared for demanding physical work from Day 1. \nThis includes bringing: \nWork clothes appropriate for the country and climate we are in \nWork boots or other closed-toe shoes (for foundation and roof) \nFlip-flops or Crocs (for cobbing/plaster days) \nRubber dishwashing gloves (for lime mortar) \nWork Gloves (for stone work) \nTool Belt \nTape Measure \nBox Cutter
/Straight Edge \nWood Hand Saw with medium teeth (cheap)* \nLevel (2ft)* \nHammer* \nJapanese plastering trowel(s) (order online) \nBasic pointed steel mortar/plastering trowel \nEar Plugs (roof week) \nSafety Glasses \nWood Chisel* \n4”-6” Diameter Round Plastic Container Lids (for plastering) \nGood Moisturizer
 for Hands & Feet \nHat \nSunglasses \nWater Bottle \nNotebook/Pen/Camera \nCarpenter Pencil & Sharpener \nSample of your Soil (optional) \nAny other power tools like skillsaw\, grinder with metal blade\, cordless drill\, chop saw\, extra hammers\, trowels\, saws\, levels…will be very welcome if you have them and are driving in.  Some students fly in with only carry-on luggage and can’t bring some of these tools. \n*These tools will be very helpful to bring if you can\, to minimize sharing and waiting\, but if you can’t the Host will provide them. \n  \n ***PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT INFO!***\n \n  \n \nKenya workshop students beautifying the sculpted bottle design before plastering\, 2025 \n\n  \nEveryone is essential to the completion of the build!  These workshops are designed for people that want to learn how to build a complete structure from start to finish in a professional manner and amount of time. They are very intensive and\, while we make time for yoga\, stretching\, dancing\, music\, relaxing….all students are expected to be present and participating in all building and lecture learning hours unless absolutely incapable due to illness or have some other significant/emergency reason. This is because we design the size of the building
 and organize the structure of the workshop in accordance with the number of students and when people are absent\, it impacts the whole group and the other students have to work harder and it disturbs the integrity of the group. It takes the whole village to see the building through from start to finish!  In addition\, Instructors set up building work according to students’ strengths and learning needs.  In short\, if you don’t feel that you will be able to bepresent every day for every session\, please re-think your readiness for our Advanced Training.  We attract serious and highly-motivated students so if that’s you\, you will be surrounded by others with the same desire to learn and build!  Everyone has a role every day all day! \n  \n \nDay 4: Foundation complete in Kenya\, 2025 \n\n  \nWe need and depend on everyone’s full participation in each day of the workshop.  This is a total group effort on all levels:  physically\, mentally\, emotionally and energetically. If someone is physically absent from the site and lectures due to illness or other urgency for more than one full day\, they will need to make up the days missed in a subsequent workshop to receive the Certificate (only paying food costs).  If physically injured or ill (and capable)\, it is requested students still be present at the site and for lecture and other required evening activities\, so as to not miss out on information and keep learning by observation\, and thus still qualify for the Certificate. \n  \n \nTime for the window prepping and an appreciated break from cobbing in Kenya\, 2025 \n\n  \nThe workshop intensity changes from week 1 to week 5 with the focus of the week. The first foundation week breaks people in with the work of moving\, lifting\, rolling and placing rocks and is a new and demanding physical and mental experience for most students. It also includes 
the first layers and coat of cob floor. The second week and part of the third week of cob-making and building are similar to the rock foundation week in physical demand\, but are more flowing\, multi-faceted and cardiovascular in movement. On Thursday & Friday of week 3\, the workshop takes a turn and slows down and the body can rest as students connect with their \n  \n \nProud Puerto Rico workshop student after alot of focus and determination! Pays off! 2025 \n\n  \ncreative source now to design sculptures and beautify the walls around niches\, shelves\, windows\, etc.  This is a very special rewarding experience and time of the workshop\, decorating the walls with personal meaning as expressed by each unique student.  Usually there is an overarching theme decided on by the Host(s).  Plastering follows sculpting and is another enjoyable more lightweight physical experience\, that lends itself to talking and sharing at the wall in a meditative rhythm as the students have bonded and shared deeply through a variety of experiences for a month. On day 5 of week 4\, after the wall has been plastered\, the roof begins.  This part is the beginning of a change of pace from the earthen building work to carpentry skills\, power tools\, measuring\, sawing\, drilling\, hammering\, screwing\, trimming\, etc. But now the workshop is in its final stretch and there is a boost of energy to wrap up the roof\, close the top of the wall\, and tend to finishing touches….the grand finale! \nFor students wanting a more mellow slow-paced cob experience\, along with time for personal exploration and experimentation following their own rhythm\, these workshops are not for you! However\, you can find a more suitable workshop online with other organizations that offer a
 shorter period\, focused on building a garden wall\, a bench\, a compost toilet or some other smaller scale project. \nStudents are required to read “The Hand-Sculpted House” and “Essential Cob Construction” (see website Resources page) before the workshop begins\, and any other books they find or are listed on our Resources page\, ideally on plastering and reciprocal roof building.  We ask that you watch the many videos on our our “International Cob Workshop” playlist on Claudine’s YouTube channel\, the new educational YouTube series “Building a Mud Home” by Cooper Green\, posted by Natural Buildings and created from our \n  \n \nCCG Instructor Tom Van Well demonstrates carpentry tool use at the start of Roof Week in Puerto Rico\, 2025 \n\n  \nNorth Carolina workshop footage\, and the ones posted on CruzinCobGlobal’s website under Gallery\, to get an idea of what is expected. Also it is a great idea to watch as many other videos on cob and reciprocal roofs as you can to come mentally prepared. Please bring your book(s). \nStudents must tend to their own personal needs\, drink alot of water\, rest when needed and exert themselves at a steady pace. Students who cannot do the strenuous physical work should let us know when registering\, so we can make sure the workshop is a good fit. If approved before the workshop begins\, we will aim to adjust appropriately. There is alot to do to support making and building with cob\, while respecting your physical limitations!!! \n  \n \nCreative eco-friendly shade headpiece in Puerto Rico\, 2025 \n\n  \nFinally\, please bring a watch or use your phone to be prompt and ready for each part of the Course\, including mealtimes. Please make sure you share your dietary restrictions/allergies with CCG in your registration form. Note that very demanding dietary needs will not be
 able to be met (vegan & non-gluten ok) and those students may be recommended not to participate\, unless they are willing to meet their special needs on their own\, which will not include kitchen access on weekdays. Please discuss with Claudine at time of desire to register. Also please bring your essential snacks and foods\, pillow and whatever you NEED to be comfortable and happy. Feel free to also bring playlists\, speaker\, slides\, videos\,
movies and books to share\, as well as a sample of your soil to test. \nWe look forward to opening you to a whole new world of experience\, skill\, growth and transformation as you bond with your new COB family for life! \n  \n  \n  \nMEALS & ACCOMMODATIONS\n  \n \nSnacktime includes tropical smoothies when you are in Puerto Rico\, 2025 \n\n  \nWe will serve three meals a day from Monday through Friday including the Welcome and Celebration Dinners and Farewell Brunch.  On weekends students will be on their own for food and may use the onsite kitchen.  Meals will be  vegetarian and locally-based as much as possible\, including farm produce and eggs! Carnivores & pescatarians & omnivores will\, if desired\, be offered non-vegetarian options of meals a few times a week and/or supplemented with canned fish\, dried meats\, cold cuts. They are also welcome to buy or bring their own supplements. \nWe will attend to vegan and gluten-free diets if needed\, but any other restrictions & allergies that require extensive preparation needs\, will probably not be able to be honored\, and kitchen will only be accessible on weekends for students. \n  \n \nThe House \n\n  \nCamping with your own tent or hammock and bedding is free and our host Nuno will rent out 5 beds (2 bunk beds and 3 individual beds) in a large room in the house for 5€/night or 175€ for the 5 weeks from Sunday to Sunday. There is also a private bedroom for 1 or 2 people with one queen bed for 15€/night or 525€ for the 5 weeks.  There will also be 2 tipis set up for 1-2 people with beds and bedding for 5€/ night per person.  People who arrive early and/or or leave after Sunday please pay the adjusted amount with the nightly rate of 5€ or 15€.  Inside accommodations will be included in you workshop payment. \n  \n  \n  \n  \nCOB INSTRUCTOR\n\n\nTOM VAN WELL\nHi there! I’m Tom — born and raised in the only not-flat part of the Netherlands\, the deep south. Around the age of 20 I began spending most of my time outside the country\, and before long I was living abroad full-time. Since 2020\, Portugal has become my home base. \nLiving on permaculture farms here brought me into contact with Natural Building\, and it was love at first sight. I devoured every bit of information I could find. The Hand-Sculpted House completely captivated me\, and before I knew it\, my feet were on a blue tarp and I was mixing my first batch of cob in a CruzinCobGlobal workshop in the Azores and then Tennessee in 2023. \nFollowing my curiosity has taken me on a journey I never could have predicted: COB builds\, timber framing\, conventional construction\, and deep dives into plastering. Through private builds\, apprenticeships\, and workshops across Portugal\, the Azores\, Tennessee\, Puerto Rico\, Switzerland\, and now Japan\, I’ve been lucky to learn and work alongside passionate natural builders and true masters of their craft. \n\n  \n\n\n\n \nRoof Mania Acrobatics in Puerto Rico\, 2025! \n\nThat’s why I’m genuinely excited to be leading not one but TWO CruzinCobGlobal workshops in Portugal in 2026\, the Outdoor Kitchen and the Full Build.  I love Portugal—its food\, the people\,  the mountains\, and the sea. Getting to know and building with Portuguese clay soil and local materials while creating timeless structures in different zones\, has been my main passion. \n  \n \nTom teaching in Puerto Rico\, 2025 \n\n  \nSítio do Valverde\, my friend Nuno’s place\, is the perfect workshop site: peaceful\, enjoyable and comfortable weeks focused on the build\, and ideally located for weekend adventures to Lisbon\, the ocean\, rivers and mountains. Nuno is already an amazing Host and his place is stunning.  I speak Portuguese fluently\, so anyone who is less comfortable with English\,  can count on me for translations at any moment. \nLooking forward to another unforgettable life-changing CCG workshop!!! \nSee you in the mud — vaaaamos! \n\n\n  \nCOB ASSISTANT\nLAURA GARCIA\nHola!  I’m Laura\, a Colombian architect who was fortunate to live among communities who created buildings rooted in their landscapes. Early on in my life\, I became curious about indigenous architectural practices and the respectful\, interconnected relationship they have with their environment. \nDuring my studies\, I lived and learned with the Embera people in the Pacific jungle\, observing how they build wooden stilt houses with thatched roofs using local materials. I also studied the Kogui in the Sierras Nevadas of northern Colombia\, who have round earthen houses supporting communal ways of living. Alongside this\, I explored rural construction techniques like bahareque (wattle and daub)\, adobe\, and tapia pisada (rammed earth)\, and took heritage courses focused on adobe constructions introduced by the Spanish during the colonial period. \n  \n \nHappy sculptor-plasterer in Puerto Rico\, 2025 \n\n  \nLater on\, during my 8 years of professional experience I moved away from these natural practices while working on single family residential public housing and commercial projects in Texas. Although I was able to introduce sustainability initiatives not typically included in these projects\, it felt insufficient and disconnected from the land. I knew I wanted to return to more grounded and ecologically-friendly building practices in my architectural work.  I continued taking courses in natural building\, including bamboo (guadua) construction techniques in Colombia\, where I helped built a roof structure at an Ecofarm. \n  \n \nPouring the adobe floor scratch coat in Puerto Rico\, 2025 \n\n  \nIn early 2025\, I discovered CruzinCobGlobal and my deep connection to COB and its communal way of building while taking their 5-week Full Build Workshop in Naguábo\, Puerto Rico. Soon after\, I quit my job and fully committed to natural building. I traveled to Turkey to deepen my knowledge of natural plastering and worked on a farm building straw bale bungalows with earthen plasters.  My other passions are hiking\, camping\, time in nature and yoga\, for which I just received a Teacher Training Certificate in India. \nI’m excited to continue my learning journey and begin to teach with the CruzinCobGlobal team in Portugal this summer assisting Tom Van Well\, who was one of my Instructors in Puerto Rico.  I am looking forward to expanding my passion into this new chapter of my life and meeting you all in Coruche! \n  \nTRANSPORTATION\n  \nStudents will get to Coruche from Lisbon by bus or carpooling with each other or using BlaBlaCar\, a popular European carpooling service. \n  \nREGISTRATION & PAYMENT\n  \nVery Early Bird Rate: 2200€\, paid in full by February 5th\, 2026 \nEarly Bird Rate: 2300€\, paid in full by April 5th\, 2026 \nStandard Rate: 2400€\, paid in full by June 5th\, 2026 \nWe are offering 4 work trade positions which give you a 250€ discount for working one hour each weekday from 6:30am to 7:30am either on the site prepping materials and other work as guided by the Instructors or preparing & putting away breakfast. Two persons for each service.  These are the first options to go. Depending on when you pay in full\, the discount is taken off the appropriate amount. \nPayment in USD (convert to current exchange rate) can be made using Zelle\, Paypal and  Venmo to claudinedesiree@gmail.com. Europeans and other international students can pay in Euros using the Wise app/website using same email.  You can also use this link for a free transfer up to 500€:  https://wise.com/invite/ihpc/claudined \nPlease contact claudine@cruzincobglobal.org or Whatsapp +1(831) 212-7225 to register and ask any questions. \nTo hold your spot (there are 12 for new students and 3 for returning students)\, you can make a 50% deposit.  The balance owed depends on the date of payment in full. Final payment deadline is June 5th\, 2026. \n  \nCANCELLATION POLICY\n  \nStudents who have paid and cancel by April 5th\, 2026 can get a full refund minus a 5% administrative/inconvenience fee on the amount they have paid. \nStudents who have paid and cancel by May 5th\, 2026 will receive a credit for a future workshop within two years minus a 10% administrative/inconvenience fee. \nStudents who have paid and cancel after May 5th\, 2026 will not receive a refund or credit unless they have proof of an emergency situation or other reason out of their control\, in which case they will receive a credit for two years minus the 10% admin fee. \n  \nSEE YOU IN THE MUD!
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/5-week-full-build-for-all-levels-a-complete-cob-cottage-at-sitio-do-valverde-in-coruche-portugal/
LOCATION:Sitio do Valverde\, Coruche\, Portugal
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cobworkshops.org/wp-content/uploads/CorucheCOB2026.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="CruzinCobGlobal":MAILTO:claudine@cruzincobglobal.org
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260718T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260725T120000
DTSTAMP:20260415T112601
CREATED:20251221T094246Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251221T094819Z
UID:10037-1784376000-1784980800@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:Natural Building Techniques
DESCRIPTION:This action-packed\, hands-on/feet-on workshop is for adults and youth ages 12+ accompanied by parents who intend to build their own cob home! Test your grit during this introduction to natural building at Cob Hill Natural Building School\, as Cat Taylor and Danny Holmes teach the techniques and skills to get you started. 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; foundation requirements; windows; walls\, roofing and of course cob\, cob\, cob! \nHands on experience covering\nsoil testing\nfoundations dig a rubble trench pier and beam\nstack a stone stem wall (dry stacking)\ncob building\nbale cob\npalletable cob\ntimber framing\nwindows and doors\nroof designs\nliving roofs\nroof sheathing\ntree felling\nlog peeling\nlog milling (saw mill)\nShou Sugi Ban(Japanese art of waterproofing wood) \nCamping sites are available near the build including access to restrooms\, 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.\n$1165 tuition includes a $200 non-refundable deposit to secure your spot. Only if NaturalBuildingOrg has to cancel the workshop for some unforeseen reason will this deposit be refundable. Save $100 automatically if your registration includes two or more people. Active duty military personnel and honorably discharged veterans with valid ID or DD214 may select the appropriate tuition tier to receive 20% off\, and eligible Cob Hill Lifetime of Learning (L.o.L.)
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/natural-building-techniques/
LOCATION:Cob hill natural building school\, hughes springs\, TX\, 75656\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cobworkshops.org/wp-content/uploads/naturalbuilding.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Cobhill%20Natural%20Building%20School":MAILTO:cobhill.naturalbuildingschool@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260720
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260725
DTSTAMP:20260415T112601
CREATED:20251026T150645Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251026T150744Z
UID:10003-1784505600-1784937599@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:Intro to Cob and Straw Workshop – East Tennessee
DESCRIPTION:Dates: July 20 – July 24\, 2026 (YES. We are still having the workshop as scheduled.)\n \nLocation: Greeneville\, Tennessee\n \nCome and join us in beautiful eastern Tennessee for our next Introduction to Cob and Straw Workshop! We will be constructing both a cob building and a straw-clay building. This workshop is perfect for beginners and experts alike! You will get the expert knowledge to build with cob and straw! Either for small-scale structures or large-scale projects like homes and buildings. \n \nThis workshop is a great experience to learn how to build with cob and straw\, and to get a broad learning overview of natural building techniques. You will get a solid foundation in natural building fundamentals. You will learn the advantages of high thermal mass cob versus high insulation straw materials. We will be constructing the walls on a new cob structure and a straw-clay building\, mixing and applying lime plaster\, and studying Natural Building together each day. You will also get to see living examples on-site of a completed cob building and straw-clay building. These are excellent examples that you can learn a lot from! After this workshop\, you will have the basic experience and confidence to design and build your own cob and straw constructions or buildings. \n \nHands-On Work Topics: \n– How to make cob (learn how to make cob with the tarp method and with machinery) \n– How to build cob walls using traditional hand-sculpting and using innovative slipforms (learn all the great advantages of building cob walls with forms) \n– How to make straw-clay (also known as light-straw-clay) and hempcrete! \n– How to build highly insulating straw-clay and hempcrete walls (learn how to frame and pack the walls) \n– Selecting and testing soils for cob and straw-clay (learn several ways to test your soil composition) \n– Lime Plaster Finishing (learn how to mix and apply lime plaster finishes to your walls) \n– Create your own Dorodango – polished earth sphere! A fun project that you can take home with you. \n– Creating window and door frames in cob walls (learn how to install frames into cob walls) \n  \nClassroom and Discussion Topics: \n– Site selection and design (includes Passive Solar design principles) \n– Materials and tools (covers traditional and modern cob building toolset and materials) \n– Building Solid Foundations (learn all about constructing proper building foundations) \n– Building codes and how to successfully get building permits for cob homes and straw homes. \n– Best practices for building a healthy\, non-toxic home. \n– Basic Electrical and Plumbing integration for cob homes and straw homes \n– Installing windows and doors \n– Roofing and Bond Beams. Proper roof ventilation practices! \n– Natural plasters and finishes (Vapor Permeable / “Breathable” finishes) \n– Overview of all Natural Building materials\, and how to hybridize them! \n \nThis workshop is a unique experience for people to learn about building cob homes and light-straw-clay homes\, and to get an overview of Natural Building. Not only are there plenty of hands-on lessons to learn from\, but we will also have ample discussion and informal classroom time. Most cob workshops and strawbale workshops don’t cover this many topics. But here\, you will learn all the core lessons needed to start building from this one workshop! \nPlus – there will be many hours of discussions about building cob homes and natural building throughout the workshop. Its a great way to get your questions answered and brainstorm your building ideas! \n \nThe workshop will be held at a private property in Greeneville\, Tennessee. \nEach day will begin at 9:00 AM\, and the days will include hands-on building\, classroom sessions\, discussions\, and learning activities related to cob\, straw\, and natural building topics. We will break for lunch between 12:00 to 1:00 PM\, and we will complete each day at around 4:00 PM. They will be full-packed days! Worth your every penny! \nTeacher \n \nThe workshop will be taught by Alex Sumerall\, an east coast Earth Building Mason who has a focus on creating earthen structures that are healthy\, aesthetically pleasing\, and functional for modern life. He is the owner of This Cob House\, which is dedicated to teaching people about cob and earthen building techniques. Alex has been practicing earthen building since 2011. He graduated from the Aprovecho School of Natural Building in 2013 in Cottage Grove\, Oregon\, and continues to teach\, present\, consult\, and construct. \n  \nAlpaca Farm Tour! \nAs an added bonus to the workshop\, we also offer a free alpaca farm tour at my neighbor’s Two Roots Farm. They have over 50 friendly alpacas\, alpaca infrastructure\, and a gift shop! We usually go on this tour Wednesday after class. \n \nListen to the great things that our workshop participants are saying! \n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n“The cob workshop was a life-changing experience. I learned a lot about natural building\, not only from Alex’s instruction\, experience and demonstrations\, but from interacting with people from different backgrounds who were a great source of collective knowledge. The hands-on experience was priceless!” \n\n\nTony Romo\, Texas \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n“The Cob Building Workshop was a great investment of my time! It was well organized\, extremely inspiring\, and FUN! Alex was able to explain construction basics to neophytes like me\, yet he could also answer the complex questions asked by the more experienced workshop attendees. I can’t wait until the next workshop!” \n\n\nMarybeth Babos\, Tennessee \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n“We thoroughly enjoyed and benefited tremendously from our Building With Cob workshop experience with you. Workshops that are fun\, informative and full of practical application and guidance through hands-on experiential learning like this are a real joy. \nAs an instructor we found you to be knowledgeable\, well organized and flexible addressing the needs and questions that came up.  We appreciated your careful considered responses to every one of the many and varied questions our group threw your way.  And the pace and mix of lecture and activity was just right for us. \nThank you Alex for a workshop that did all you said it would do\, and more!” \n\n\nWes Shattuck\, New Hampshire \n\n\n\n\n \nLodging \nThere are two options for lodging: free camping on site\, or making reservations at one of the local hotels or AirBnBs. Hotels are available in the neighboring towns of Greeneville\, Newport\, Parrottsville\, and Hot Springs. \nNearby is the Briggs Brother’s Ranch in Parrottsville\, TN (highly recommended)\, and the Hot Springs Resort in Hot Springs\, North Caolina. \nCampers will have access to a private portable toilet and a private outdoor shower. The outdoor shower features a beautiful rammed earth wall and timber framed enclosure. \nThe workshop location has running water available\, and an electrical hookup to charge phones and small devices. \n \nFood \nMeals will not be included in this workshop so participants will need to provide their own food and drinks. There are several local restaurants and grocery stores nearby the workshop site. We even have an amazing corner-store within a walkable distance from the workshop site! \nEach student is responsible for their own meal preparation. An hour for lunch is provided\, allowing adequate time for food\, a quick nap\, or trip into town. There is no official kitchen on site yet. Coolers are welcome and encouraged! \nRecreation & Surroundings \nGreeneville is located near the edge of the Appalachian Mountains in eastern Tennessee. It is a beautiful area\, and there are many scenic places to visit nearby. You can also travel to places like Gatlinburg\, TN or Asheville\, NC within a one hour driving time from the workshop site. \nFamily & Group 10% Discounts \nAsk about the 10% discount. We encourage group & family activities because it enhances learning among your support group. Email me at alex@thiscobhouse.com for custom group/family invoice. \nTeens accompanying a parent/guardian are half price. Children under 13 accompanying a parent/guardian are free. \nChildren/young people of any age are welcome to join in and learn. Please be aware that some areas are under construction\, as is the purpose of this workshop\, but it is generally child-safe. \nPlease email me to register with the group/family discount. For normal registration\, please sign up below.\n \nIf you have any other questions about the workshop\, please feel free to email me at alex@thiscobhouse.com \nPrice: $499 \nClick Here to Register
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/intro-to-cob-and-straw-workshop-east-tennessee-10/
LOCATION:This Cob House\, Greeneville\, TN\, 37743\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cobworkshops.org/wp-content/uploads/intro-to-cob-and-straw-workshop-2024-10.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Alex%20Sumerall":MAILTO:alex@thiscobhouse.com
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR