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DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260523T080000
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UID:10109-1779523200-1779548400@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:Workshop Series: Building a Community Tool Library – Cob Walls & Bottle Art
DESCRIPTION:Tool Lending Library Build – Cob Walls and Bottle Art\n📅 May 23 | 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM\n📍 Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District (RCRCD)\, Riverside\, California \nJoin us for a hands-on workshop as we continue developing the Tool Lending Library. \nNo prior experience is necessary. All skill levels are welcome. Wear work clothes you don’t mind getting dusty or muddy\, and bring gloves\, sun protection\, and water. \nUse the provided link to make a donation that fits your education budget. This will also register you for the event. You will then receive an email with instructions. \nCome ready to collaborate\, refine\, and help complete a space that will serve the community for years to come. \n\nDiHG Eco-Prise\, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to regenerative design\, permaculture education\, and community resilience. Through hands-on workshops\, demonstration projects\, and collaborative builds\, we help communities develop practical skills in natural building\, food production\, water stewardship\, and cooperative systems. Our work focuses on creating long-term ecological health\, local self-reliance\, and shared infrastructure that supports people and planet.
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/workshop-series-building-a-community-tool-library-interior-fixtures/
LOCATION:RCRCD\, 4500 Glenwood Drive\, Riverside\, CA\, 92501\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cobworkshops.org/wp-content/uploads/Jan-Group-3.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Susan%20Krings":MAILTO:dihgeco@gmail.com
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260531T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260705T140000
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CREATED:20260124T204635Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260124T204635Z
UID:10069-1780228800-1783260000@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:California Complete Cob Bungalow in Santa Cruz\, California!
DESCRIPTION:OUR GRACIOUS HOST\n  \n  \n \nNovember 2025 Site & Host Visit! \n\n  \nHi there! My name is Jacob. Originally from Western New York\, I grew up fishing\, hunting and helping my parents around our 20-acre homestead. My family raised us close to nature\, and we believed strongly in conservation of natural resources\, including woodlands\, wetlands\, and wildlife. Later in life\, protecting these resources is written into the laws I have applied to certified organic farms over the last 18 years of my career. When I moved to California for the AmeriCorps program\, I was lucky enough to work for a tribal health organization in Sacramento\, serving rural Native health clinics all throughout the state. Afterwards\, I spent two years canvassing for environmental and social justice campaigns before studying water policy and natural resource conservation\, along with Native American studies and tri \n  \n \nWelcome to 5 weeks in Paradise! \n\n  \nbal water rights. I have been lucky enough to purchase and care for an off-grid property bordering California’s oldest State Park\, Big Basin\, which is where my own homesteading journey began. \n  \n \nThe View from Sunrise to Sunset \n\n  \nCommunity is nothing without people. This workshop is a grand effort to reseed the land with people to regenerate real community. This very special place has been through a lot. Being logged almost 100 years ago\, the Big Basin area more recently experienced an 80\,000 acre megafire. Five years later\, the larger community of people (all off grid)\, as well as the plants\, animals\, and insects are regenerating and resilient. However\, out of the seven homes that were thriving on this specific mountain\, only one has been rebuilt after the fire. This makes our effort to build a natural\, fire resistant\, and healing home space more important now more than ever. I have been able to create a strong foothold\, and planted a small orchard\, but now it is time to create a space to help bring people back to the land. I am infinitely grateful to all those who choose to come learn\, share\, and dance this dream into reality. \nJune on the Central Coast of California is a sublime season to work in. Sunny\, but cool\, with temps not much higher tha \n  \n \nGoin’ in!!! \n\n  \nn 80 F\, and not lower than 50F at night. Locals dress in layers. Sweaters or jackets in the morning\, make way for shirts and shorts at midday and back to jackets or hoodies in the evening. The sun is strong here\, so sun-ware and protection are important considerations. \nThe building site is a scenic\, 20 min (15 mph) drive from the beach on a bumpy dirt road. There is a small pool onsite and creek swimming spots to cool down on the weekends\, along with plenty of beauty as we regularly gaze at 360 degrees and ocean views. Wi-Fi is here\, as well \n  \n \nThe super-friendly welcome crew: Juniper & Georgina \n\n  \nas solar power for devices. An hour’s drive away is the artsy\, surf town of Santa Cruz\, CA\, where there are many live music venues & events year-round\, natural food stores\, and more yoga studios than you can shake a stick at. San Francisco is a 1.5-hour drive\, and there are world class beaches and surf breaks along the whole coast to explore. We do have two sweet sister dogs that will be excited to greet everyone. I have a “condo-kennel” they sleep or relax in\, but they are generally around and may want to help us dig! Juniper and Georgina can be excitable\, but they are friendly and will settle in. \nCamp sites will have views\, and I have no doubt you will be excited to call this place home for five weeks. Come join us on Mt. Shelby for an unforgettable experience of beauty\, work\, and community! Thank you and blessings. \n  \n  \n\n\nLOCATION\nOne of the most breathtaking and magical cob workshop sites hands down!  Just a 20-minute drive north from Santa Cruz\, California\, you will not want to leave on the weekends\, well\, maybe to go to the Pacific Ocean!  Root Rock Farm in the Big Basin State Park area will be our home for 5 weeks\, close and far from civilization.  Many people will be driving in and some will be flying in.  As Jacob said above\, the California coastal weather can change quickly and usually has a constant pattern of foggy cool ams and pms as the ocean air drifts over the cool ocean and onto the land and back onto the ocean\, while the middle of the day is hot and dry.  Just take a look at the photos….they say everything! \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\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\n\n\n\nTHE PROJECT\n  \n  \n \nLovely Belgium 2025 Full Build Workshop Cottage & the newly- certified Advanced Cobbers relishing in their success! \n\n  \nWorkshop students will be building the first COB structure on the Land and we are honored Jacob\, our Host\, 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 \nBelgium 2025 Reciprocal Roof Structure installed on Day 20 \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.  We 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 \n  \n \nSensual terracotta-hued local plaster from the workshop site to finish off the walls\, Belgium 2025 \n\n  \nsculpting.  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 \nSolid COB friendships come with the territory…. \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 \nThe COB bonds start the moment everyone comes together on Opening afternoon\, and the masks fall and you can just be YOU! Costa Rica\, 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 \n2025 Costa Rica CCG students hard at work bonding the cob layers with cobbers’ thumbs as the wall rises 30cm each day! \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 \nCosta Rica students trying out their new reciprocal roof for the weekly Council Circle\, 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. \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\, Niches\, Bottles\, Electrical Housing & Plumbing preparation)\, Floor\, Plaster & Roof. \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 \nApproaching the end of the wall is always a moment of high energy\, Costa Rica\, 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 \nEverybody on the roof to tighten the first 20 washers & nuts on the threaded rods holding the primary roof rafters together 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 \nThe collaborative effort in our intensive trainings makes the work so much easier\, especially during the wall build! Kenya\, 2025 \n\n  \n \nThe fulfilling joy of figuring out how to build a stone foundation! 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 creative 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\, \n  \n \nSetting up and deconstructing the roof on the ground a few times to build the confidence of building it on the wall! Kenya\, 2025 \n\n  \nand 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 North 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). \n  \n \nWoohooo!!!! Kenya\, 2025 \n\n  \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!!! \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  \n\nMEALS & ACCOMMODATIONS\n \nOur amazing workshop cooks chosen by each Host are responsible for the daily joy of rewards for the sweat and effort!!! Belgium\, 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. \nCamping with your own tent or hammock and bedding or and in your vehicle are free. If you want to rent an indoor space at a neighbor’s nearby\, that may be a possibility we can look into. \n  \nCOB INSTRUCTOR\nCLAUDINE “COB QUEEN” DÉSIRÉE\n\n \nNevada City COB\, 2019 \n\n  \nBorn and raised on the 22nd floor of a skyscraper in NYC to two Jewish European immigrants from France and Romania via Morocco\, I carried my Manhattan/European roots with me to California and beyond. I studied Geography\, International Relations/Development and International Environmental Policy in the academic world in California\, France\, and Switzerland before and while raising Viva\, Joia and Xica\, my three stellar sons\, currently established all over the U.S. and honing their unique journeys… and all cob lovers of course!!!! My eldest Son Viva has become a Master Cobber in his own right\, specializing in Fire & Cob\, meaning beautifully-sculpted heaters\, cookstoves\, and ovens\, as well as stand-alone Cob Art. \n  \n \nWith Tennessee 2026 Workshop Host River looking for the perfect clay soil for the Cob mix! \n\n  \nMy academic pursuits soon gave way to the obligatory West Coast Yoga/Meditation/Massage path and thus the work of a Spiritually Awakened life was initiated. My academic interests were also complemented with hands-on learning in every aspect of Sustainable Living skills\, which I then put into action in our 5000 square foot homestead in downtown Santa Cruz\, near the beach\, with cob buildings\, permaculture\, a compost toilet\, chickens\, fruit trees and the lowest utility bill in SC! When my youngest son turned 18 in 2014\, and I turned 50\, my next Dream was manifested with the sale of our Mini-Urban Ecovillage in Santa Cruz to fuel a solo Global Ecovillage and Cob Teaching Bike Tour for the next five years through 15 countries in Africa\, South America\, the US and Europe\, in which I taught over 30 workshops\, most of them 4-5-week full builds. \n  \n \nAzorean Cob-Loving Cat \n\n  \nIn January of 2019 I bought 5 hectares in the Alentejo region of Portugal\, planning on manifesting a Cob Ecovillage there.  However the isolation and dependence on a vehicle\, as well as the extreme winter/summer climates and drought conditions led me back to the Azores Islands\, that had caught my Heart the first time I stepped out of the plane and smelled/felt the air.  I had been brought to the Azores by an astrocartography reading in which my Venus and Neptune lines were strongly activated there.  My Neptune line runs right through São Miguel and one kilometer from the Quinta da Vida Beleza Ecovillage Farm \n\n \nSunrise behind the Majestic Azorean Cob Villa at the Quinta Da Vida Beleza\, 2025 \n\n  \n\n\nthat I created from scratch between January 2020 and 2023\, with the help of many workshop students\, teachers\, volunteers\, friends and my sons.  It is the present culmination of my 20+ years of Cob Life!  It is a fearlessly manifested Vision.  It is my comfort as I wake up every morning on the 2nd floor of my Cob Home and look out at the Atlantic Ocean to see if it looks good for an early morning swim.  The Azorean moist pleasant breezes that are always a perfect temperature wrap me in LOVE\, nurturing my Soul and Spirit every day.  The village I envisioned became a reality in a mere 3 years\, and is now highly enjoyed by campers\, bungalow guests\, volunteers\, family\, friends\, students\, cats\, chickens and many other living beings visible and invisible.  It is the first if its kind in the Azores and a unique phenomenon on the Planet.  You can find it on GoogleMaps and visit the website\, and come visit us for a dose of Natural before it is sold and transferred to the next fortunate caretaker. \n  \n \nBeautiful outdoor cob kitchen built by students led by Brazililan CCG Instructor Paula Carneira\, 2023 \n\n  \nOur last additions are my beloved and magnificent 2-story personal Compost Toilet with ocean view and an Outdoor Rocket Stove Kitchen.  My unending love of travel\, speaking in other languages and cultural immersion will always continue\, and I envision having beautiful cob houses to come to in all of my favorite places\, which I am continuing to discover. I am so grateful for the strong support of the Universe confirming this path every day. \n\n  \n \nMy first international cob workshop in the Canaries in 2015…been a full 11 years on the road and 22 years of spreading the COB word! \n\n  \nLearning to build cob houses has been an unexpected gift in so many ways.  The joy I see on people’s faces at my workshops when they roll up their pants for the first time and stick their toes in the cool soft mud\, the laughter and heart-to-heart conversations ignited while mixing and building with a partner\, the meditative concentration of working on a sculpture\, the satisfaction of stepping back and seeing your beautiful trimmed wall section\, the excitement at embedding bottles and sculpting an art window\, the bliss of relaxing with good food and a cold beer after a full day’s building in community\, and the gratitude of leaving confident in starting a dream project….are why I do this work.  Over and over again\, all over the world\, cob building creates childlike joy\, love\, community\, and empowerment.  It has shown itself to be much more than a building technique.  It is a remedy for a better Life on Earth.  It creates Happy People living in Happy Houses. May the legacy of CruzinCobGlobal continue to heal the World one workshop at a time\, one new cobber and one more cob house at a time. Aho. \n  \nTRANSPORTATION\n  \nStudents will get to Santa Cruz by car and rideshare/carpooling\, bus or train/plane to San Jose. The San Jose Airport (SJC) is the easiest\, though SFO is only an hour away.  We will setup a Whatsapp thread once we are a month out for students to organize carpooling. \n\nREGISTRATION & PAYMENT\n  \nVery Early Bird Rate: $2600\, paid in full by February 1st\, 2026 \nEarly Bird Rate: $2700\, paid in full by April 1st\, 2026 \nStandard Rate: $2800\, paid in full by May 1st\, 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 at the current conversion rate 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 May 1st\, 2026. \n\nCANCELLATION POLICY\n  \nStudents who have paid and cancel by March 1st\, 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 April 1st\, 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 April 1st\, 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!\n 
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/california-complete-cob-bungalow-in-santa-cruz-california/
LOCATION:Root n' Rock Farm\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobworkshops.org/wp-content/uploads/SantaCruzCOB2026.png
ORGANIZER;CN="CruzinCobGlobal":MAILTO:claudine@cruzincobglobal.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Lisbon:20260601T080000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Lisbon:20260704T170000
DTSTAMP:20260405T204512
CREATED:20260320T164452Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T174940Z
UID:10129-1780300800-1783184400@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:35-Day Advanced Cob Building Course\,Portugal
DESCRIPTION:Learn to build Your Own cob house\nFrom Earth. From Scratch. With Your Own Hands.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA 35-day immersive cob building workshop where you learn to create a complete\, beautiful\, affordable and ecological home from raw\, natural materials. \n\n\n\n  \nHands-on learning\, so you leave with a clear\, practical understading of sustainable\, low- impact construction and what it actually takes to build a house with earth. \n  \nwe work with a small group on a real project\, which means you are part of every step of the build. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this workshop\, we will build a 12 m² round cob house using natural and recycled materials\, shaped with care and intention. The structure will feature a reciprocal green roof\, giving it that cozy\, earth-integrated feeling—something between a small hobbit house and a living sculpture. Along the way\, everything will be explained in a practical\, so you not only help create this space but also gain the understanding and confidence to adapt these techniques to your own future building projects. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n  \n  \nLOCATION: \nMafra\, Portugal \non a beautiful farm close to the ocean and the enchanted surfertown Ericeira \nAccommodation: \nThe Forrest is a place where we live a species appropriate life. we value natural tendencies\, rawness and honesty. several species like horses\, cats\, dogs\, small wild animals and a couple of humans live closely together respecting each other’s needs so we can all thrive. nature is our teacher. \n  \nAccommodation is simple and close to nature\, with camping as the main option included in the workshop fee. On our beautiful farm\, home to various animals we offer outdoor showers\, compost toilets\, a shared outdoor area for meals and gatherings\, and a basic outdoor kitchen for weekend use. There is an option to upgrade to a caravan\, bring your own van or rent something closeby. \n  \nCOURSE DETAILS\n  \nDAILY RYTHM \n7:00-8:00 movement/yoga session \n8:00-8:45 Breakfast \n9:00-1:00 Hands-on building session \n1:00-2:30 Lunch \n2:30-5:30 Theory & Hands-on building Session \n5:30-7:00 Free time \n7:00-8:00 Dinner \n  \n\n\n\nweek 1\n\n\n\n\n\n\nfoundation\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBuilding a rock stemwall + the 1st coat of earthen floor. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nweek 2\, 3\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBuilding the house structure\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMaking cob\, building walls with cob\, inserting windows\, shelves and all the elements of the house. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nweek 4\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSculpting & earthen plaster\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCreate the details\, decorations\, earthen plaster and finishes \n\n\n\n\n\n\nweek 5\n\n\n\n\n\n\nClosing the Buidling\n\n\n\n\n\nReciprocal green roof & 2nd floor coat \n  \nCONTENT \n\n\n\n\n\n– Foundations & drainage systems \n– Building a natural rock stem wall \n– Soil analysis and understanding building materials \n– Making test bricks \n– Finding the correct cob ratio for different soil types \n– Choosing the best building location according to permaculture principles \n– Mixing and making cob \n– Building cob walls \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n– Integrating windows\, doors\, and shelves \n– Installing electrical wiring and plumbing within cob walls \n– Sculpting with cob \n– Preparing and applying earthen plasters \n– Pouring an earthen floor \n– Wall-to-roof connection techniques \n– Building a roof frame \n– Installing a green roof covering \n– other earthen building techniques \n\nworktrades available \nfor more info visit ecoarthomes.com
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/35-day-advanced-cob-building-courseportugal/
LOCATION:the forest\, Portugal\, Mafra\, Paul\, Portugal
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cobworkshops.org/wp-content/uploads/Dutch.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="ecoarthomes":MAILTO:lea.zdarsky@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260606
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260608
DTSTAMP:20260405T204512
CREATED:20260213T180212Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260213T180212Z
UID:10092-1780704000-1780876799@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:Cob Oven and Straw Insulation Workshops in New Hampshire
DESCRIPTION:Biolithic Builds is delighted to be coming to The Craft School at Mill Hollow Works this year for a series of natural building weekend workshops. \nInsulating with Straw: June 6th + June 7th \nA detailed introduction to straw-insulated wall systems\, appropriate for many climates including the cold Northeast. Students will receive both hands-on and classroom instruction over two days\, and practice by building a light straw-clay wall. \nCob Oven Workshop: June 13th + June 14th \nLearn to build an outdoor pizza oven using the soil under your feet! This hands-on class is a great introduction to mixing and sculpting with cob: one the most ancient\, versatile\, sustainable\, and fun building materials. Come ready to get muddy. \nMill Hollow Works is a heritage craft school is located in southern New Hampshire\, just three miles away from downtown Keene.
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/cob-oven-and-straw-insulation-workshops-in-new-hampshire/
LOCATION:The Craft School Mill Hollow Works\, 149 Hurricane Rd\, Keene\, NH\, 03431
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobworkshops.org/wp-content/uploads/Spring-Workshops-at-Mill-Hollow-Works.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260606
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260614
DTSTAMP:20260405T204512
CREATED:20260314T160528Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260314T160528Z
UID:10120-1780704000-1781395199@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:COB OVEN + BENCH | INTENSIVE | CORUCHE\, PORTUGAL
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a theoretical and hands-on workshop focusing on earthen building through the technique of cob. In this 7-day intensive workshop\, we will build a complete cob oven with a built-in cob bench and working table. \nIn this certified workshop\, you’ll learn how to analyze and stabilize clay-soil mixtures for earthen building\, exploring the principles of cob as a building technique. Through this hands-on experience\, you will build a full cob oven—from foundations to finish plasters—and a cob bench. \nThe aim is to equip students with the knowledge and tools to test and analyze clay soils\, and to understand each step involved in building a cob oven and a sculpted cob bench. We will have 70% hands-on practice and 30% theoretical learning\, diving into different natural building techniques\, everything about cob ovens\, stone-foundation principles\, the benefits of earthen building\, how to prepare and apply earthen plasters\, how to sculpt with cob\, and much more! \nOnce the workshop is completed\, you will have the skills to build your own cob oven\, and you will also be able to begin building your own earthen walls for your projects. \n  \nTHE PLACE\n\nNuno will host us at his project site in Coruche: Sitio Valverde. It is a 6000 square meter property in which Nuno is developing a project of a Farm School for personal\, social and ecological growth and development with practical and theoretical classes\, such as natural building and regenerative design\, and other kind of workshops and activities. \nThe place is located just an hour away from Lisbon\, near the village of Coruche\, set in a rural area with nature and quietness around. \n\n  \nCOURSE DETAILS\nWhat is a cob oven? \nIt is a traditional oven built with a mixture of clay\, sand\, straw\, and water. Its operation is based on the retention and gradual release of heat by its thick earthen walls. These ovens are known for their high heat-retention efficiency\, reaching very high temperatures\, where the heat cooks food through three physical mechanisms: radiation – heat from the fire and the hot walls toward the food\, convection – hot air circulating inside the oven\, and conduction – the direct transfer of heat from the hot surface to the food (the oven floor). \nThus\, these ovens are capable of gradually retaining heat for hours\, making them very practical and versatile for cooking different foods: from instant pizzas to stews\, meats\, vegetables\, and even—at the end\, using the residual heat—for fermenting yogurt\, dehydrating foods\, and proofing bread.Cob is a very inclusive\, organic\, and creative earth-building technique that allows us to shape walls freely\, working with curves very easily. In this way\, we can sculpt around the oven and its bench\, turning it into a collective work of art. \nThe 7-days intensive workshop will start the 6th of June with a welcome dinner and the workshop introduction. \nDuring the workshop\, you will learn how to build your own oven using clay soil and other natural materials – from the foundation to the finish plasters\, and also a cob bench. You will sculpt with cob to give your oven a beautiful shape\, making it a unique piece! You will also learn the principles of cob and stone foundations\, along with all the details of earthen and lime plasters\, applying everything directly to a real project. \nYou will get to truly feel the technique and take with you valuable theoretical and practical knowledge\, empowering you to experiment and build your own cob oven\, walls\, benches\, garden structures\, or even a small cob cabin! This is the perfect first dive into cob building\, with a project that you can start and complete in less than a week while gaining solid principles to continue exploring. \n  \n\n\nCONTENT\n\n\n\n\n\nUnderstanding clay and its properties\nHow to test and assess clay soil for building\nIntroduction to other natural building techniques\nBenefits of earth as a building material\nCob oven steps and how to design and build your own\nStone foundation principles\nEarthen plasters: how to test\, stabilize and apply fine plasters\nLime plasters and lime cycle\nSculpting with cob\n\nFeel free to ask questions throughout – we are here to help!
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/cob-oven-bench-intensive-coruche-portugal/
LOCATION:Sitio do Valverde\, Coruche\, Portugal
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cobworkshops.org/wp-content/uploads/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-13-at-20.54.39.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Tierramigo":MAILTO:tierramigo@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260620T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260621T170000
DTSTAMP:20260405T204512
CREATED:20260107T222502Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T222502Z
UID:10051-1781953200-1782061200@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:Earthen Oven Build (2 days) -- Montana
DESCRIPTION:Earthen Oven Build\n\n\nLearn to build an earthen oven good for cooking pizza\, bread\, and much more! Participants will get hands on experience all the steps needed to build a functional earthen oven. Cob ovens are inexpensive and beautiful wood fired ovens that anyone can build. These ovens can be used to bake bread\, cook pizzas\, and anything you could normally do in a conventional oven\, but with the fun of being outdoors.  \n​ \nParticipants will also receive a tour of four complete structures; a balecob home\, strawbale workshop\, balecob guest studio\, and pallet cob chicken coop. Included in the tour are 3 Rocket Mass Heaters (batch and J-style) for winter heat\,  earthen floors\, and many other natural elements for discussion. Learn how you can build a home for less than a year of rent and still be comfortable and warm.​ \n​ \nA first come first serve guest cottage (sleeps 2)  and pop up camper (sleeps 4) is available to rent on upon request on a first pay first serve basis. Camp sites are available at no cost. Please inquire ahead about availability for parking live in vehicles. Composting toilet and an outdoor shower are available for use.​ \n​ \nThose joining us are welcome to explore the 5 acre property\, forage\, swim in the ponds\, and walk to the frisbee golf course just down the road. \n​ \nWe love animals\, but unfortunately no pets are allowed. \n​ \nFood:  \n​ \nAn outdoor kitchen is available for community use with staples provided (rice\, bread\, sugar\, tea\, coffee\, etc.) as well as many greens from the garden.  \n​ \n​ \nDate: June 20-21\, 2026 \nStart Time: 11am \nCost: $290 \n5% discount for family + friends participating together \nMaximum 10 participants
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/earthen-oven-build-2-days-montana/
LOCATION:SpiritWood Natural Building\, Victor Montana\, Victor\, MT\, 59875\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobworkshops.org/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot-2026-01-07-152403.png
ORGANIZER;CN="SpiritWood%20Natural%20Building":MAILTO:spiritwoodnaturalbuilding@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260622
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260627
DTSTAMP:20260405T204512
CREATED:20251026T150259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251026T150411Z
UID:9999-1782086400-1782518399@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:Intro to Cob and Straw Workshop – East Tennessee
DESCRIPTION:Dates: June 22 – June 26\, 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-9/
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-2024-9.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Alex%20Sumerall":MAILTO:alex@thiscobhouse.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260625T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260629T110000
DTSTAMP:20260405T204512
CREATED:20260321T203615Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260322T010634Z
UID:10141-1782401400-1782730800@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:All the Basics of Building…the Fast Cob Way!
DESCRIPTION:We are continuing our 19 year tradition of hosting Fast Cob Natural Building Workshops…with our All-the-Basics-of-Building Fast Cob Workshop. \nEvery All-the-Basics-of-Building Fast Cob Workshop includes:\nNatural Building Design: working with nature to make long lasting\, beautiful structures;\nFast Cob: how to mix it and build with it\, including windows and doors…it is now at least 30x faster than “traditional” cob;\nFoundations: we’ll show you how we stack rocks to keep our buildings solid and safe;\nRoofs: we’ll show you various options and simple\, elegant designs (we are now offering a Roofing and Foundations Workshop for Fast Cobbers!);\nPlumbing and Electrical: you’ll see just how easy it is with Fast Cob! \nOur Workshops begin on a Thursday evening with a welcoming dinner and end with a Farewell breakfast on Monday before you depart on the 11 am ferry. \nFood\, Food\, and more Homemade Organic Food! \nEvery workshop day\, we start with a hot\, hearty breakfast (with a Q&A)\, after which we start learning.  In the morning\, two hands-on sessions sandwich a hearty snack break.  A hot\, hearty lunch (with another Q&A session)\,  to make sure we have the strength and stamina to absorb all the learning we can\, precede a longer afternoon session.  After an hour break to clean-up\, a hot gourmet dinner accompanies a daily recap on lessons learned and sets the stage for an evening discussion among ourselves or with an invited guest from the Community. \nPlease visit our workshop page for all the details and to fill in our online application.  Although not required\, this course is best taken after completing the Focus-on-Finishing workshop.  It is also part of our Complete Builder’s Programme. \nWe offer discounts to those who register in pairs or who take multiple workshops with us.  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!).
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/all-the-basics-of-buildingthe-fast-cob-way-4/
LOCATION:Lasqueti Island\, 1 Beautiful Bicycle Lane\, Lasqueti Island\, BC\, V0R 2J0\, Canada
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ORGANIZER;CN="Dave%20Olsen":MAILTO:cob@lasqueti.ca
GEO:49.4863406;-124.2758774
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Lasqueti Island 1 Beautiful Bicycle Lane Lasqueti Island BC V0R 2J0 Canada;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=1 Beautiful Bicycle Lane:geo:-124.2758774,49.4863406
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260703T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260706T170000
DTSTAMP:20260405T204512
CREATED:20240318T162558Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T222112Z
UID:9245-1783076400-1783357200@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:Cob Sauna Workshop (4-day) Montana
DESCRIPTION:4 Day Cob Sauna Workshop\n\n\nDuring this four day immersion workshop you will learn all about different natural building materials while helping to construct a small earthen sauna. \n​ \nParticipants will get hands on experience building using the pallet/cob technique popularized by Miguel Elliott founder of Living Earth Structures. Using a combination of pallets\, straw\, clay and lime we will build an earthen sauna. \n​ \nParticipants will also receive a tour of four complete structures; a balecob home\, strawbale workshop\, balecob guest studio\, and pallet cob chicken coop. Included in the tour are 3 Rocket Mass Heaters (batch and J-style) for winter heat\,  earthen floors\, and many other natural elements for discussion. Learn how you can build a home for less than a year of rent and still be comfortable and warm. \n​ \nA first come first serve guest cottage (sleeps 2)  and pop up camper (sleeps 4) is available to rent on upon request on a first pay first serve basis. Camp sites are available at no cost. Please inquire ahead about availability for parking live in vehicles. Composting toilet and an outdoor shower are available for use. \n​​ \nThose joining us are welcome to explore the 5 acre property\, forage\, swim in the ponds\, and walk to the frisbee golf course just down the road. \n​ \nWe love animals\, but unfortunately no pets are allowed. \n​ \nFood:  \n​ \nAn outdoor kitchen is available for community use with staples provided (rice\, bread\, sugar\, tea\, coffee\, etc.) as well as many greens from the garden. The first evening of the class we will host a pizza party using our cob oven. \n\nSpace is limited to 12 participants. \n​ \nApproximate Schedule: \nDay 1: Tours of existing structures\, discussion of building elements\, pallet wall construction \nDay 2: Cob\, doors\, and windows \nDay 3: Waddle Daub\, bottle windows\, sculpture and walls \nDay 4: Earthen Renders and Lime Plasters \n​​ \nDate: July 3-July 6\, 2026 \nStart Time: 11am\, July 3 \nCost: $690 \n5% discount for family + friends participating together \n\nLocation: SpiritWood Natural Building\, Victor\, MT
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/4-day-natural-building-immersion/
LOCATION:SpiritWood Natural Building\, Victor Montana\, Victor\, MT\, 59875\, United States
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ORGANIZER;CN="SpiritWood%20Natural%20Building":MAILTO:spiritwoodnaturalbuilding@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Lisbon:20260705T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Lisbon:20260809T140000
DTSTAMP:20260405T204512
CREATED:20260124T211033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260124T211033Z
UID:10076-1783252800-1786284000@cobworkshops.org
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
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260718T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260725T120000
DTSTAMP:20260405T204512
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:20260405T204512
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
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260821T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260830T170000
DTSTAMP:20260405T204512
CREATED:20260307T221425Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260307T221425Z
UID:10116-1787331600-1788109200@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:Create Sacred Space- A Straw Bale roundhouse workshop
DESCRIPTION:We will be installing the Straw Bales for this conical roofed roundhouse \, using the bales in their vertical orientation \, known as BOEBS\, which stands for Bales On End Between Studs. This is a fantastic technique where the Bales are oriented vertically within a light stud-framed wall\, using the 15” narrow dimension of the bales as the wall thickness. This technique uses less bales\, and has a lower building cost per square foot than bales laid flat\, while still creating a wall system with great insulation.\nWe’ll be finishing out the bales with a site made cob plaster leveling coat and finish coat\,  and will explore cob bench building\, bas-relief sculpture\, altar and niche building\, stone sill cutting \, door and window framing and installation\, conical roof design and carpentry. Also included are a natural building home tour \, a Yuba River swimming trip\, camping \,  3 fresh meals a day and hot showers. \n  \n 
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/create-sacred-space-a-straw-bale-roundhouse-workshop/
LOCATION:Nevada City\, CA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cobworkshops.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_5676.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="California%20Cob":MAILTO:robpollacek@icloud.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260822T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260823T170000
DTSTAMP:20260405T204512
CREATED:20221108T144619Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T222223Z
UID:8761-1787396400-1787504400@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:Rocket Mass Heater Build (2 Day) — Montana
DESCRIPTION:Rocket Mass Heater Build (2 Day)\n\n\nIn this two day workshop you will learn how to build a  Batch Style Rocket Mass Heater. Learn about the principals behind creating these high temperature\, beautiful\, and efficient wood burning stoves. \n\nThis hands on class is located at Spiritwood Natural Building\, in Victor Montana. Attendees will join Katherine and Daniel Ray of Spiritwood Natural Building to build a rocket mass heater in an existing earthen sauna. \n\nThis class will demonstrate the materials and tools needed to build your own stove. Participants will gain hands on experience building a  batch box rocket mass heater. \n​ \nParticipants will also receive a tour of four complete structures; a balecob home\, strawbale workshop\, balecob guest studio\, and pallet cob chicken coop. Included in the tour are 3 Rocket Mass Heaters (batch and J-style) for winter heat\,  earthen floors\, and many other natural elements for discussion. Learn how you can build a home for less than a year of rent and still be comfortable and warm. \n​ \nA first come first serve guest cottage (sleeps 2)  and pop up camper (sleeps 4) is available to rent on upon request on a first pay first serve basis. Camp sites are available at no cost. Please inquire ahead about availability for parking live in vehicles. Composting toilet and an outdoor shower are available for use.​ \n​ \nThose joining us are welcome to explore the 5 acre property\, forage (many berries)\, swim in the ponds\, and walk to the frisbee golf course just down the road. \n​ \nWe love animals\, but unfortunately no pets are allowed. \n​ \nFood:  \n​ \nAn outdoor kitchen is available for community use with staples provided (rice\, bread\, sugar\, tea\, coffee\, etc.) as well as many greens from the garden. The first evening of the class we will host a pizza party using our cob oven. \n\nSpace is limited to 10 participants. \n\nDate: Saturday-Sunday August 22-23 \nStart Time: 11am\, August 22 \nCost: $290 \n5% discount for family + friends participating together \n\nLocation: SpiritWood Natural Building\, Victor\, MT
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/rocket-mass-heater-workshop-2/
LOCATION:SpiritWood Natural Building\, Victor Montana\, Victor\, MT\, 59875\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cobworkshops.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_5636.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SpiritWood%20Natural%20Building":MAILTO:spiritwoodnaturalbuilding@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260903T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260907T110000
DTSTAMP:20260405T204512
CREATED:20260321T204508Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260322T052607Z
UID:10144-1788449400-1788778800@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:Advanced Fast Cob/Roofing and Foundations for Fast Cobbers!
DESCRIPTION:Roofs\nAfter building almost 20 roofs of 5 different materials\, including Lasqueti’s Arts Centre\, it’s time to share these skills with you.  I’ve delayed this offering because being off the ground is inherently dangerous\, but this year we’ll have a roof design that uses two different “shed” styles that will be easily accessible from low\, stable scaffolding.  Of course\, safety will be foremost in our minds at all times. \nThe roof itself will be made of metal\, the longest-lasting (other than slate) and lowest cost (over its lifespan) material currently available.  We’ll see and examine liquid membrane roofs\, hand-split cedar shake roofs\, and many other metal roof examples in between our workshop sessions. \nEvery roof has multiple layers\, and we’ll experience installing all the standard ones: the main decking\, tar paper\, and then the metal itself.  We’ll also install a glass skylight that is far from standard but has proven to work like a charm without the exorbitant cost of building in and buying commercial skylights. \nFoundations\nFor any cob structure\, foundations take on another critical role beyond providing a stable base: they prevent cob walls from wicking moisture up from the ground. \nWe’ll show you how to build stacked rock foundations\, aka mortar-less stone foundations.  We’ll also show you a couple of other options as well as discuss the pros and cons of more mainstream foundations. \nOur Workshops begin on a Thursday evening with a welcoming dinner and end with a Farewell breakfast on Monday before you depart on the 11 am ferry. \nFood\, Food\, and more Food! \nEvery workshop day\, we start with a hot\, hearty breakfast (with a Q&A)\, after which we start learning.  In the morning\, two hands-on sessions sandwich a hearty snack break.  A hot\, hearty lunch (with another Q&A session)\,  to make sure we have the strength and stamina to absorb all the learning we can\, precede a longer afternoon session.  After an hour break to clean-up\, a hot gourmet dinner accompanies a daily recap on lessons learned and sets the stage for an evening discussion among ourselves or with an invited guest from the Community. \nPlease visit our workshop page for all the details and to fill in our online application.  It is also part of our Complete Builder’s Programme.  This course will complete your learning journey and allow you to complete your own natural buildings! \nWe offer discounts to those who register in pairs or who take multiple workshops with us.  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!).
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/advanced-fast-cob-roofing-and-foundations-for-fast-cobbers/
LOCATION:Lasqueti Island\, 1 Beautiful Bicycle Lane\, Lasqueti Island\, BC\, V0R 2J0\, Canada
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cobworkshops.org/wp-content/uploads/2-story-side-from-extension.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Dave%20Olsen":MAILTO:cob@lasqueti.ca
GEO:49.4863406;-124.2758774
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Lasqueti Island 1 Beautiful Bicycle Lane Lasqueti Island BC V0R 2J0 Canada;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=1 Beautiful Bicycle Lane:geo:-124.2758774,49.4863406
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260906T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260906T163000
DTSTAMP:20260405T204512
CREATED:20221108T142311Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T222626Z
UID:8745-1788688800-1788712200@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:Clay and Lime Plaster Workshop-- Montana
DESCRIPTION:Clay and Lime Plaster Workshop\n\n\nIn this one day workshop you will learn how to mix and apply earth based plasters. \n\nThis hands on class is located at Spiritwood Natural Building\, in Victor Montana. Attendees will join Katherine and Daniel Ray of Spiritwood Natural Building to learn how to mix and apply earth based plasters onto earthen walls. \n\nEarthen plasters can be used to protect wall systems against the elements while also being aesthetically pleasing. This class will give participants the opportunity to apply thick protective plasters and work with much finer finish plasters to make a beautiful finish! \n\nParticipants will also see examples of how cob is used to construct a balecob house and rocket mass heaters. \n​ \nFood is not provided. Participants should bring a lunch to this workshop. \n\nSpace is limited to 15 participants.  \n\nDate: Sunday\, September 6 \nTime: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm \nCost: $150 \n5% discount for family + friends participating together \n\nLocation: SpiritWood Natural Building\, Victor\, MT
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/earth-based-plasters/
LOCATION:SpiritWood Natural Building\, Victor Montana\, Victor\, MT\, 59875\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobworkshops.org/wp-content/uploads/plaster_PNG.png
ORGANIZER;CN="SpiritWood%20Natural%20Building":MAILTO:spiritwoodnaturalbuilding@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260906T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260919T120000
DTSTAMP:20260405T204512
CREATED:20260111T022025Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260307T161948Z
UID:10055-1788696000-1789819200@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:Morocco Natural Building
DESCRIPTION:The Building Project \nWe’ll help build a 400 square foot earthen cabin alongside local craftsmen at beautiful Farm Finn. We’ll also build and use a cob oven. \nWe’ll teach foundations\, wall building and how to attach a roof. You’ll learn cob\, adobe\, slipstraw\, cordwood cob\, balecob\, rammed earth\, and the basics of base and finish plasters. We’ll also have time for sculpting and carving and earthen floor basics. The course will include instruction from a local tadelakt experts and deep dives into the sustainability systems on site. \nGo here for all the info \nThis is a special class for us at Cobitat. In addition to having a fascinating culture and history\, diverse geography and ecosystems\, and serving as the gateway between Europe and Africa\, Morocco has a long history of earthen building. Earthen blocks\, cob\, and rammed earth walls along with lime plaster called tadelakt have all been used for centuries and into the modern era. But\, like many vernacular building styles around the world\, this knowledge is being lost as less sustainable and industrialized materials like concrete take over. Farm Finn\, however\, has worked with local knowledgeable craftsmen to build an earthen house and are excited to host us to help foster an exchange of learning around natural building. But\, it doesn’t end there. \nFor us\, natural building is just one part of living in a way that helps create a new and regenerative paradigm to foster a more just\, verdant\, and beautiful future. Farm Finn is working to be a part of that new paradigm by utilizing tourism at it’s organic and “permacultured” farm and micro-hotel to support traditional ways of life while demonstrating how to adapt to a changing environment. \nOur host Paul has spent decades working with organizations like Oxfam\, UNICEF\, and Save the Children helping communities around the globe clean and protect water resources\, improve sanitation\, and adapt to a changing climate. Farm Finn is his attempt to do the same work on a local and regional scale over a longer period while rooted in a community. His vision includes creating a climate change adaptation learning center that will teach and demonstrate permaculture\, natural building\, and other appropriate and democratic technologies. \nWe are excited to be a part of that vision and hope you’ll join us on this a once-in-a-lifetime natural building experience in Morocco.
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/complete-cabin-morocco/
LOCATION:TX
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobworkshops.org/wp-content/uploads/2-WeekMorocco.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Cobitat":MAILTO:cobitat@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260906T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261011T140000
DTSTAMP:20260405T204512
CREATED:20260124T213042Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260124T213042Z
UID:10079-1788696000-1791727200@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:Tennessee Complete Cob Cottage For ALL in the Fall!
DESCRIPTION:OUR LOVELY HOSTS\n  \n \nA Southern-Style Welcome awaits us with River & Mike:) \n\n  \nRiver & Mike will welcome us with open hearts and smiles into their sanctuary home for this southern-style US workshop! Born in South Dakota\, River has travelled throughout the States constantly\,  led by her deep hungry passion for learning all kinds of primitive\, survival and natural wilderness living skills. She loves attending workshops and as a host she will be very well-prepared after attending her first full-build cob workshop taught by CruzinCobGlobal in Tasmania in 2026. Her partner\, Mike\, is an Ohio native. He is a full-time dentist who loves carpentry and building with his hands\, and taking care of people’s teeth who can’t afford it. Together\, Mike and River enjoy gardening and spending time in nature\, whether it’s kayaking the local rivers\, hiking mountain trails\, or foraging for mushrooms. \n  \n \nSoil testing lookin’ good! \n\n  \nOur home in the woods is set on a 30-acre plot in Decatur\, TN\, halfway between Knoxville and Chattanooga. This cozy homestead is one-third relaxing forest and two-thirds rolling grassy pasture. Deer and many small forest animals call this place home. The host site will have many beautiful and varied camping spots in the woods and open pasture for the students\, as well as outdoor compost toilets\, an outdoor and indoor shower\, a massive outdoor movie screen with firepit\, a beautiful vegetable garden and much more as we grow this year. We plan to use the cob house as a center for learning and healing. \nHere there is no shortage of ways to spend time in the great outdoors on the weekends. We are about an hour’s drive from The Great Smokey Mountains National Park\, America’s most visited park and only 17 minutes from the Hiawassee River for kayaking. This region is home to some of the best hiking trails you can find\, with caves\, waterfalls and gorgeous views. River will be a great guide for those who want to explore every weekend.  For those who want to ditch the hiking boots and explore the city life\, both Chattanooga and Knoxville are rich with art\, culture\, rich cuisine\, and entertainment. \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\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE PROJECT\n  \n \nBelgium Cob Cottage\, 2025 \n\n  \nWorkshop students will be building the first COB structure on the Land and we are honored River & Michael have 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 \nThe sheathing before the green roof goes on! 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. \n  \n \nThe sprint to the door and a completed finish floor\, the last step of the workshop! Belgium\, 2025 \n\n  \n \nHappy Cob Sculptor in Costa Rica\, 2025 \n\n  \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.  We 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 \nKenya Cob friendship\, 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 \nBelgium Cob Maker\, 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 promptl \n  \n \nAll hands on deck fo the Ancestor Stones which will support our build! Belgium\, 2025 \n\n  \ny 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.  Please 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 \nAll smiles in Week 1! Belgium Host got to be a student\, 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. \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\, Bottles\, Niches\, Art\, Electrical Housing & Plumbing preparation\, Sculpting)\, Floor\, Plaster & Roof. \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 \nDoor frame goes up with everyone participating on Day 5\, the final goal for Week 1! Belgium\, 2025 \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 be present 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 \nCosta Rica All-Women Cob Team\, 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 \nTire foundation prep in Costa Rica\, 2025 \n\n  \n \nThe first step of the Reciprocal Roof\, a moment of joy! Costa Rica\, 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 creative 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. \n  \n \nReading up on the Reciprocal Roof is essential for building your confidence with this tricky roof! Costa Rica\, 2025 \n\n  \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 North 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 \nTrying capoeira on the cob floor with one of the students during downtime! Costa Rica\, 2025 \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  \n \nKenya Workshop spread\, 2025 \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. \nCamping with your own tent or hammock and bedding or and in your vehicle are free. There may be indoor sleeping options at neighbors’ houses. We will have more info on that in the Spring. \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nCOB INSTRUCTOR\nCLAUDINE “COB QUEEN” DÉSIRÉE\n\n\nBorn and raised on the 22nd floor of a skyscraper in NYC to two Jewish European immigrants from France and Romania via Morocco\, I carried my Manhattan/European roots with me to California and beyond. I studied Geography\, International Relations/Development and International Environmental Policy in the academic world in California\, France\, and Switzerland before and while raising Viva\, Joia and Xica\, my three stellar sons\, currently established all over the U.S. and honing their unique journeys… and all cob lovers of course!!!! My eldest Son Viva has become a Master Cobber in his own right\, specializing in Fire & Cob\, meaning beautifully-sculpted heaters\, cookstoves\, and ovens\, as well as stand-alone Cob Art. \n  \n \nWith Tennessee 2026 Workshop Host River looking for the perfect clay soil for the Cob mix! \n\n  \nMy academic pursuits soon gave way to the obligatory West Coast Yoga/Meditation/Massage path and thus the work of a Spiritually Awakened life was initiated. My academic interests were also complemented with hands-on learning in every aspect of Sustainable Living skills\, which I then put into action in our 5000 square foot homestead in downtown Santa Cruz\, near the beach\, with cob buildings\, permaculture\, a compost toilet\, chickens\, fruit trees and the lowest utility bill in SC! When my youngest son turned 18 in 2014\, and I turned 50\, my next Dream was manifested with the sale of our Mini-Urban Ecovillage in Santa Cruz to fuel a solo Global Ecovillage and Cob Teaching Bike Tour for the next five years through 15 countries in Africa\, South America\, the US and Europe\, in which I taught over 30 workshops\, most of them 4-5-week full builds. \n  \n \nAzorean Cob-Loving Cat \n\nIn January of 2019 I bought 5 hectares in the Alentejo region of Portugal\, planning on manifesting a Cob Ecovillage there.  However the isolation and dependence on a vehicle\, as well as the extreme winter/summer climates and drought conditions led me back to the Azores Islands\, that had caught my Heart the first time I stepped out of the plane and smelled/felt the air.  I had been brought to the Azores by an astrocartography reading in which my Venus and Neptune lines were strongly activated there.  My Neptune line runs right through São Miguel and one kilometer from the Quinta da Vida Beleza Ecovillage Farm \n\n \nSunrise behind the Majestic Azorean Cob Villa at the Quinta Da Vida Beleza\, 2025 \n\n  \n\n\nthat I created from scratch between January 2020 and 2023\, with the help of many workshop students\, teachers\, volunteers\, friends and my sons.  It is the present culmination of my 20+ years of Cob Life!  It is a fearlessly manifested Vision.  It is my comfort as I wake up every morning on the 2nd floor of my Cob Home and look out at the Atlantic Ocean to see if it looks good for an early morning swim.  The Azorean moist pleasant breezes that are always a perfect temperature wrap me in LOVE\, nurturing my Soul and Spirit every day.  The village I envisioned became a reality in a mere 3 years\, and is now highly enjoyed by campers\, bungalow guests\, volunteers\, family\, friends\, students\, cats\, chickens and many other living beings visible and invisible.  It is the first if its kind in the Azores and a unique phenomenon on the Planet.  You can find it on GoogleMaps and visit the website\, and come visit us for a dose of Natural before it is sold and transferred to the next fortunate caretaker. \n  \n \nCob Outdoor Rocket Stove Kitchen & Oven built by students led by Brazilian Instructor Paula Carneira\, 2023 \n\nOur last additions are my beloved and magnificent 2-story personal Compost Toilet with ocean view and an Outdoor Rocket Stove Kitchen.  My unending love of travel\, speaking in other languages and cultural immersion will always continue\, and I envision having beautiful cob houses to come to in all of my favorite places\, which I am continuing to discover. I am so grateful for the strong support of the Universe confirming this path every day. \n\n  \n \nMy first international cob workshop in the Canaries in 2015…been a full 11 years on the road and 22 years of spreading the COB word! \n\nLearning to build cob houses has been an unexpected gift in so many ways.  The joy I see on people’s faces at my workshops when they roll up their pants for the first time and stick their toes in the cool soft mud\, the laughter and heart-to-heart conversations ignited while mixing and building with a partner\, the meditative concentration of working on a sculpture\, the satisfaction of stepping back and seeing your beautiful trimmed wall section\, the excitement at embedding bottles and sculpting an art window\, the bliss of relaxing with good food and a cold beer after a full day’s building in community\, and the gratitude of leaving confident in starting a dream project….are why I do this work.  Over and over again\, all over the world\, cob building creates childlike joy\, love\, community\, and empowerment.  It has shown itself to be much more than a building technique.  It is a remedy for a better Life on Earth.  It creates Happy People living in Happy Houses. May the legacy of CruzinCobGlobal continue to heal the World one workshop at a time\, one new cobber and one more cob house at a time. Aho. \n  \nTRANSPORTATION\n  \nStudents will get to Decatur\, TN by car and rideshare/carpooling\, bus or train/plane to Knoxville or Chattanooga or if necessary for international flights\, Atlanta. Airport pickups will be organized by hosts and among students diving in from similar direction  We will setup a Whatsapp thread once we are a month out for students to organize carpooling and povide info on airport pickups.. \n\nREGISTRATION & PAYMENT\n  \nVery Early Bird Rate: $2600\, paid in full by January 6th\, 2026 \nEarly Bird Rate: $2700\, paid in full by May 6th\, 2026 \nStandard Rate: $2800\, paid in full by August 6th\, 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 at the current conversion rate 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 May 1st\, 2026. \n\nCANCELLATION POLICY\n  \nStudents who have paid and cancel by June 6th\, 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 July 6th\, 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 July 6th\, 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!\n 
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/tennessee-complete-cob-cottage-for-all-in-the-fall/
LOCATION:River & Michael's Farmstead\, Decatur\, TN\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cobworkshops.org/wp-content/uploads/TennesseeCOB2026.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="CruzinCobGlobal":MAILTO:claudine@cruzincobglobal.org
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260919T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261009T120000
DTSTAMP:20260405T204512
CREATED:20251221T095421Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251221T095624Z
UID:10041-1789833600-1791547200@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:Cob Hill 21-Day Natural Building Cert
DESCRIPTION:Service Description\nThis intensive hands on workshop is for adults wishing to begin their natural building journey toward building for others\, or to start their own home build. This class will give you a physical workout. Natural building is tough. Are you tougher? Find out during 21 days at Cob Hill Natural Building School\, as Cat Taylor and Danny Holmes teach the techniques and skills you will need to get from choosing property\, building the foundation to the roofing system. Your class will be building a structure from start to finish\, with hands on experience covering: property site selection soil testing home designing passive solar foundations stem wall cob straw bale palletable cob timber framing windows and doors LSC – light straw clay insulation roof designs living roofs roof sheathing tree felling log peeling log milling (saw mill) Shou Sugi Ban(Japanese art of waterproofing wood) budgeting/planning basic electrical/plumbing facts and myths common mistakes composting toilets. This is a certification course\, to receive your certificate you must attend all class time activities and pass a written test. Tent camping sites are available on-site 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\, contact us if this is an issue. (See FAQ section of naturalbuildingorg.com) Prospective attendees\, please be advised that we are unable to accommodate guests\, children 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. The $1975 tuition includes a $200 deposit to secure your spot that is is non-refundable unless NaturalBuildingOrg has to cancel the workshop for some unforeseen reason. If registration includes two or more people there is a $50 discount per person. 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.) Members can register as such by selecting that tuition tier.
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/cob-hill-21-day-natural-building-cert-3/
LOCATION:Cob hill natural building school\, hughes springs\, TX\, 75656\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cobworkshops.org/wp-content/uploads/Hobbit-house-2-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Cobhill%20Natural%20Building%20School":MAILTO:cobhill.naturalbuildingschool@gmail.com
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