Cob Workshops

The Art of Natural Plasters: Clay & Lime Finishes
2023-07-02 - 2023-07-07 | Tirth, Tonasket, WA, United States
Instructors: Michael G. Smith, Athena Steen, Robert Kolden and Avani Leitz

The Art of Natural Plasters workshop is an immersive learning experience that focuses on the use of traditional and natural materials to create beautiful, durable and sustainable finishes for walls and other surfaces. Learn from instructors with over a century of combined experience in natural building and fine finishes! Participants will learn about the various types of clay and lime plasters and finishes, the techniques for applying them, and the benefits of using natural materials in building and design. These techniques are well-suited to natural wall systems such as straw bale and cob, but are equally appropriate over conventional materials such as drywall.
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Hands-on experience is a key component of the workshop. Approximately six hours each day will be spent mixing and applying plaster to a real natural home, allowing participants to develop application skills while plastering on different substrates and experimenting with various finishing techniques and textures. Lectures and discussions will cover the health benefits of natural finishes, how to select the most appropriate plaster type for your situation, the importance of proper surface preparation, what tools you will need, how to source the best ingredients and develop and test your own plaster recipes, how to calculate the amount of materials you will need, how to maintain and repair natural plasters, and how to design your home to minimize maintenance over time.
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This workshop will cover a wide range of natural wall finishes including:

Straw-clay base coat plasters ideal for protecting straw bales and for sculptural relief work

Lime scratch, brown and finish coats for wet and weather-exposed surfaces

Smoothed and polished clay finishes suitable for all interior walls

Lime-clay combinations

Sgraffito – the art of carving through multiple layers of different plasters to create a textured and multi-colored design

Simple, durable clay paints you can make yourself

Tadelakt – a highly polished and waterproof lime plaster from Morrocco

At the end of the workshop, participants will leave with a deeper understanding of natural plaster and finish techniques and the confidence to apply these techniques in their own projects. In addition to the practical skills and knowledge gained during the workshop, participants will also benefit from the opportunity to connect with a diversity of people and learn from experienced instructors in a supportive and collaborative environment.

9 day balecob immersion
2023-07-01 11:00 - 2023-07-09 15:30 (America/Denver) | SpiritWood Natural Building, Victor Montana, Victor, MT, 59875, United States
9 Day Natural Building Immersion

This nine day immersion will take place from July 1-July 9. This class has a one day break on the July 5th to allow participants to explore the area, relax, and socialize.
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During this nine day immersion workshop you will learn the ins and outs of building a structure with natural materials. Working on a small guest house, participants will help build the earthbag foundation and strawbale and cob walls. Participants will also apply clay based plasters for finishing natural structures. Roofs, floors, and other natural building elements will be discussed during this workshop.
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Participants will also receive a tour of two complete structures; a balecob home and a strawbale workshop. These structure use Rocket Mass Heaters (batch and J-style) for winter heat, have finished 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.
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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.
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An outdoor kitchen is available for community use with some staples provided (rice, bread, sugar, tea, coffee, etc.) as well as greens from the garden. We will be cooking pizzas in a cob fired oven on the first night of the course for those wishing to join.
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Those 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.
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We love animals, but unfortunately no pets are allowed.

Space is limited to 10 participants.

Date: Saturday July 1 – Tuesday July 9
Start Time: 11am July 1
Cost: $900
5% discount for family + friends participating together

Location: SpiritWood Natural Building, Victor, MT

4 day straw and cob immersion
2023-07-01 11:00 - 2023-07-04 15:30 (America/Denver) | SpiritWood Natural Building, Victor Montana, Victor, MT, 59875, United States
4 Day Natural Building Immersion

This four day workshop is the first half of our offered 9 day workshop. Sign up for our full nine day course here and save 10%!
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During this four day immersion workshop you will learn the ins and outs of building a structure with natural materials. Working on a small guest house, participants will help build the earthbag foundation and strawbale and cob walls of the building. Roofs, floors, plaster, and other natural building elements will be discussed during this workshop.
​
Participants will also receive a tour of two complete structures; a balecob home and a strawbale workshop. These structure use Rocket Mass Heaters (batch and J-style) for winter heat, have finished 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.
​
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.
​
An outdoor kitchen is available for community use with some staples provided (rice, bread, sugar, tea, coffee, etc.) as well as greens from the garden. We will be cooking pizzas in a cob fired oven on the first night of the course for those wishing to join.
​
Those 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.
​
We love animals, but unfortunately no pets are allowed.
Space is limited to 10 participants.
Date: Saturday July 1 – Tuesday July 4
Start Time: 11am July 1
Cost: $500
5% discount for family + friends participating together
Location: SpiritWood Natural Building, Victor, MT

Humboldt Eco-Cob Workshop
2023-07-01 08:00 - 2023-07-03 17:00 (America/Denver) | Humboldt Experience Farmstay, Carlotta, 95528, United States
Beat the summer heat and join us in beautiful Carlotta, California for a 3-day natural building workshop for $450, followed by an optional 10-day permaculture summer camp. Sign up for the natural building and stay for the permaculture camp for as many days as you like for an affordable donation that fits your budget.
We will be learning the fundamental skills of natural building as we build a garden bench in the palletable cobin method that is translatable into a shed or small living structure. Then we will be working on the 12 permaculture principles in application and exercises.
We will start our 3-day cob workshop by constructing a rubble trench foundation and stacking a stem wall. We’ll continue hand sculpting a garden wall with cob, including built in benches and candle cubbies for the meditation garden. Then we will take a day off to enjoy the river and explore the redwood forest before we start our permaculture camp.
Humboldt Experience Farmstay is our venue, providing camping spots plus 3 vegetarian meals daily. Our host is known for their locally grown delicious nutrient dense food. Please bring camping gear and comforts plus any special dietary needs.
Arrive on June 30, 2023 for the cob workshop and depart on July 4th unless you decide to stay for the permaculture summer camp.
If you are driving, follow directions to Carlotta, CA and once you register, you will receive detailed directions to the venue.
If you are flying, book your ticket to Arcata Eureka Airport in McKinleyville California. Transportation to and from the site will be provided once on June 30th, once on July 4th and once on July 16th for $100 per van load. Cost is split between riders. Depending on your flight times, you may be spending time at the airport.
I look forward to seeing you for either or both.

Cob Outdoor Kitchen
2023-06-25 09:00 - 2023-06-30 14:00 (America/New_York) | CA
This workshop is a great introduction to natural building materials and methods. We will build a wood-fired cob bread/pizza oven from start to finish. Students will build the stone foundation, firebrick hearth, cob structure, and finish the oven with earthen plasters. We will also build an attached straw bale and cob wall and a cast-in-place concrete countertop. You will learn the skills to go home and build your own oven, as well as take on other building projects with natural materials!
What to expect:
Our days will be spent engaged in hands-on building and learning with natural materials. Expect a rich weekend of natural and community building with the group. We’ll work, learn, eat, and relax with each other in a positive, hard-working, fun atmosphere. Conversation on natural building will provide constant background chatter throughout the weekend. Evenings are typically unscheduled so folks have time to enjoy the site, explore nearby towns, or relax around the fire.
We will make time for a few focused discussions on related natural building subjects such as straw-bale construction, passive solar design, wood framing, roofing, permits and codes, and more. Michael may give an interesting slideshow presentation.
The Site:
Our site is Chisels & Ginger, a 22 acre property in Richfield, Springs, NY. It is part of the Black Land Ownership Eco Hub. The property was purchased just over a year ago. Hosts Melissa and Chris have been working with the help of community and grants, to renovate and build a nature institute and artist residency for exploration, learning, and creative endeavors that empower change. They are dedicated to working with natural materials and learning/implementing alternative design and building methods that support integration and connection to nature. They are excited for you to be a part of their project!
Meals/Food preferences:
We will serve three meals daily, cooked on-site by staff. The food will be mostly vegetarian with a vegan option. Many of the ingredients will be sourced from local farms. Please indicate any food allergies upon registration.
Schedule:
The workshop will begin at 9am on Sunday the 25th. We will break for lunch around 1pm and work again until 5pm. The evening is informal and unscheduled, although a campfire hang-out will be available. Breakfast will be served at 8am with the workshop to follow. Participants may arrive Saturday evening to set up camp, but no meals will be provided until breakfast on Sunday.
Instructor:
Michael McDonough is a Troy, NY based building contractor, designer, and educator. His work can be found at the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Oxmoor Farm, and a number of happy homesteads around the east coast. He has taught about 20 natural building workshops.
What to bring:
* Camping equipment including tent, sleeping bag, flashlight
* Work clothes and shoes. Slip on/off shoes are recommended, such as crocks, sandals, etc.
* Work gloves
* Sunscreen, bug spray, hat, water bottle, rain gear
* Notebook, building plans or sketches to discuss
To Register:
Tuition is $850 and includes the camping fee, workshop experience and materials, and all meals. Group rates, discounts for previous students, or for taking multiple courses are possible.
You may register via paypal by sending the tuition to michael@risingearthbuilding.com
Or mail your tuition check to the address below and we will confirm your registration via email.
Rising Earth Natural Building
363 3rd St.
Troy, NY 12180
Call or email with questions:
(919) 685-0123
michael@risingearthbuilding.com

Earth Based Plasters
2023-06-18 10:00 - 16:30 (America/Denver) | SpiritWood Natural Building, Victor Montana, Victor, MT, 59875, United States
In this one day workshop you will learn how to mix and apply earth based plasters.
This 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 cob and strawbale walls.
Earthen 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!
Participants will also see examples of how cob is used to construct a balecob house and rocket mass heaters.
Food is not provided. Participants should bring a lunch to this workshop.
Space is limited to 15 participants.
Date: Sunday, June 18, 2023
Time: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm
Cost: $120
5% discount for family + friends participating together
Location: SpiritWood Natural Building, Victor, MT

Round Pole Timber Framing with Eric Lasotavitch and Blair Phillips
2023-06-18 08:00 - 2023-06-28 17:00 (America/Denver) | Wanosh Forest Gardens, Willits, CA, United States
In this two-week hands-on round pole timber frame workshop we will show you how to set concrete piers according to plan and build the frame for a 10×12 gable roofed building. Round Poles have been previously harvested during forest health and fire remediation work onsite. The workshop will briefly cover pole selection and pole peeling, with the primary focus being framing and chiseling of mortise and tenon joinery. We will share with you how to read simple building plans and will also have slide show nights giving overview of other projects and earthen infill options to inspire your creativity. On the final day of the workshop we will assemble the frame in its forever home.

Introduction to Cob Workshop
2023-06-12 - 2023-06-16 | This Cob House, Greeneville, TN, 37743, United States
Dates: June 12 – June 16, 2023 (YES. We are still having the workshop as scheduled.)

Location: Greeneville, Tennessee

Come and join us in beautiful eastern Tennessee for our next Introduction to Cob Workshop! We will be constructing a cob house. A perfect project for beginners and experts alike! You will get the knowledge to build cob projects scaling from smaller things, such as cob ovens and benches, up to large projects like homes and buildings.
This workshop is a great experience to learn how to build with cob, and to get a broad learning overview of natural building techniques. You will get a solid foundation in cob building fundamentals. We will be constructing the walls on a new cob building, mixing and applying lime plaster, building with cob, and studying Natural Building together each day. After this workshop, you will have the basic experience and confidence to design and build your own simple cob constructions or buildings.

Hands-On Work Topics:
– How to make cob (learn how to make cob with the tarp method and with a mortar mixer!)
– How to build cob walls using traditional hand-sculpting and using innovative slipforms (learn all the great advantages of building cob walls with forms)
– Selecting and testing soils for cob (learn several ways to test your soil composition)
– Lime Plaster and Earth Plaster (learn how to mix and apply lime plaster and earth plaster)
– Creating window and door frames (learn how to install frames into cob walls)
– Rammed Earth Demonstration (building rammed earth forms and compaction process)

Classroom and Discussion Topics:
– Site selection and design (includes Passive Solar design principles)
– Materials and tools (covers traditional and modern cob building toolset and materials)
– Building Solid Foundations (Learn all about constructing proper building foundations)
– Drainage principles (Important: water can be cob’s worst enemy)
– Basic Electrical and Plumbing integration for cob homes
– Installing windows and doors
– Roofing and Bond Beams
– Natural plasters and finishes (Vapor Permeable / “Breathable” finishes)
– Overview of Natural Building materials

This workshop is a unique experience for people to learn about building cob 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 don’t cover this many topics. But here, you will learn all the core lessons needed to start building from this one workshop!
Plus – 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!
The workshop will be held at a private property in Greeneville, Tennessee.
Each 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!

The 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, LLC, which is dedicated to teaching people about cob and earthen building techniques. Alex has a background in business and advertising, and 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.
Free Bonus!
Everyone who signs up for the workshop will receive a printed copy of Alex’s book, “Build a Cob House: A Step-By-Step Guide”, and the downloadable PDF version, FREE! We only make printed copies for workshop students, so this is your chance to get one. We will be using the book as a lesson guide throughout the workshop too so you can follow along with your book in hand.

Listen to the great things that our workshop participants are saying!

“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!” Tony Romo, Texas

“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!”
Marybeth Babos, Tennessee
Lodging
There 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.
Nearby are the Meadow Creek Moundation Lodge in Parrottsville, TN, and the Hot Springs Resort in Hot Springs, North Caolina.
Campers will have access to a private compost toilet and a private outdoor shower.
The workshop location has running water available, but no electricity yet. Please bring your own solar generator if needed.

Food
Meals 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!
Each 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!
Recreation & Surroundings
Greeneville 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.
Family & Groups
Ask about discounts. We encourage group & family activities because it enhances learning among your support group. Email me at alex@thiscobhouse.com for custom group/family invoice.
Children/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.
Prices
Price: $499

Additional Discounts: 10% for family and friends participating together.
Teens accompanying a parent/guardian are half price. Children under 13 accompanying a parent/guardian are free.

Please email me to register with the group/family discount. For normal registration, please click the “Sign Up Now” button above.

If you have any other questions about the workshop, please feel free to email me at alex@thiscobhouse.com
If you have a large party of people registering, they can all register separately, or contact me for a custom invoice.

Cob Rocket-Heated Cook Stove in North Carolina (Murphy, NC, USA)
2023-06-11 08:00 - 2023-06-18 17:00 (America/New_York) | Earthsong Regenerative Farm, Murphy, NC, United States
OUR HOSTS

Daniel & Molly at Buck Bald Sunset

Molly and Daniel will be the hosts of our workshop, a lovely young couple starting a new life sharing Earthsong Regenerative Farm, a 40-acre homestead in beautiful rural southwestern North Carolina, with Molly’s parents and godmother since August 2021. Murphy lies between the Nantahala and Chattahoochee Oconee National Forests, a couple of hours from Atlanta, Asheville, Chattanooga and Knoxville. It is the county seat of Cherokee County and at the confluence of the Hiwassee and Valley rivers.
Over the last two years, they have fallen in love with the lush forests, rolling green hills, red clay soil, abundant fresh water, and loving people of the Appalachian mountains. Molly is a
passionate zero waste activist, visual and performing artist, and permaculture
practitioner. Daniel is a newly trained massage therapist, Waldorf teacher, and has a
real soft spot

The Barn

for animals of all kinds. Along with Molly’s parents, Mary and Peter, the two have steadily improved the land’s infrastructure over the past two years, building a community building with kitchen, bathroom, and living room, putting in a well, creating mixed perennial/annual gardens, and building platforms for wall tents. They envision a robust mixture of fruit orchards, gardens, cob dwellings, farm animals, communal spaces, and outdoor kitchens manifesting within the next 5 years. Their dream is to build their farm into a communal hub for sustainability, spirituality, and arts education.

Mary, Molly, Daniel and Peter

Daniel and Molly are so excited to be receiving the gift of a cob home through this workshop, having fallen in love with the beauty of cob structures many years ago. Molly and Daniel have lived in a wall tent since moving to NC, so this project will provide them with an insulated, sturdy dwelling for the first time since 2021.

THE LOCATION

sunset over the barn

Earthsong Regenerative Farm is located at the end of a dirt road in the Great Smoky Mountains of southwestern North Carolina. The land is very peaceful and quiet – you will be lulled to sleep by the songs of the cicadas and peepers. It is a lovely mixture of forest and open pasture with many creeks and springs flowing throughout, and an eight-stall horse barn at its center. There are walking paths throughout the forest that provide endless enjoyment and solitude for the walker. This area of the Appalachian Mountains is one of the most biodiverse in North America. The array of different insects, birds, flowers, and animals on the Farm is a constant joy to behold! From early May to late June, the fireflies fill the evening air with dancing, twinkling lights, just like a fairy ball.

forest in bloom

The Farm is 20 minutes from the town of Copperhill, TN, where there are restaurants on the river, a coffee shop, craft breweries, and assorted gift stores. The farm is 40 minutes from the larger towns of Murphy, NC, Blue Ridge, GA, and Blairsville, GA, all of which offer grocery stores, cafes, shops, high quality restaurants, and craft breweries. The nationally renowned John C. Campbell Folk School is located in Murphy, NC, and offers a robust curriculum of traditional arts and crafts courses as well as free community events throughout each week: live music, contra dancing, communal singing, etc. There is an abundance of nature hikes and swimming spots in the area.
Molly and Daniel’s favorites are Cherokee Lake, a huge lake where on almost any day of the weekend you will find no other swimmers, and Turtle Creek Falls, a beautiful hike through the forest that visits two large waterfalls, both of which have swimming holes at their bases. There are also many places to swim along the nearby Ocoee River, and a stunning overlook called Buck Bald where you can go to take in a 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains at sunset or sunrise.

Murphy, NC

our lovely hosts

the great barn

barn and main pasture

swallowtail butterfly

our hosts

forest in bloom

turtletown creek falls

pond and permaculture garden

apple trees in bloom

main pasture

spring wildflowers

THE PROJECT

Beautiful All-Natural Earthen Rocket Stove with a silky smooth Finish in Brazil

Cob Rocket Stove Workshop participants in Brazil, 2020

Six students will build a high-efficiency (low fuel consumption and maximum burning efficiency) rocket stove for cooking in the cob cottage that will be completed in the previous workshop. Rocket stoves were developed for ecological and economic sustainability, especially targeting the poor countries where access to wood has become harder. The rocket stove system’s efficiency is due to the thermal insulation together with the double combustion and retro-heating of the airflow producing a longer duration of the heat inside the system and thus less heat loss to the outside. The enclosed chimney prevents cold air from coming in and directs any smoke to the outside, though since all the fuel is burned so efficiently, hardly any smoke or heat leaves the exit chimney, and is all directed to the cooking. While rocket stoves can be used for many different functions, ie air heating, water heating, stove, oven, smoker, furniture heating, floor heating, etc, we will focus on channeling the heat for cooking on a stovetop. Of course a by-product of the cooking heat in the cottage will be air heating.

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

This 7-day Rocket Stove workshop consists of learning & construction for 4 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the afternoon with theoretical instruction (lectures with graphics) after lunch/rest time to complement and support the hands-on experience.
Students arrive on Sunday between noon and 2pm and settle in. The workshop begins at 4pm with the Opening Circle followed by a Host Site Orientation and Introduction to the Project. Dinner is served at 6pm, and will be followed by an Introduction to the Workshop by Instructor Paula Carneiro.

Paula’s Cob Rocket Stove Workshop in Minas Gerias, Brazil, 2021

Following Breakfast from 7:30-8:15am, the morning learning/building session begins at 8:45 a 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, with a 60-minute lecture, followed by construction time. After class in the afternoon there is a 90-minute break before dinner, in which students are encouraged to stretch, do some type of relaxation/movement practice, go swimming if possible, and just relax. There 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 one or more evenings for showing slides, videos and having Course-related discussions. Other evenings are free and sometimes students offer informal courses in their specialties and passions.
This 7-day workshop will be structured with lectures and hands-on building.
The lectures will include:
-Hot air physics
-Rocket Stove design, structure, proportions, materials
-Use of Heat
-Thermal Insulation
-Multifunctionality

Hands-on work will include:
-foundation
-cob structure
-preparation of refractory mortar
-installation of refractory bricks
-thermal insulation layers
-installation of iron parts (plate, cookers, door)
-chimney and pipe installation
-earthen plaster

WEEK SCHEDULE & COURSE CONTENTS

Day 1
Foundation
Ash chamber construction
Construction of the first chamber (combustion)
Construction of stove walls

Day 2
Construction of the second chamber
Continuation of the walls
Filler for thermal insulation
Beginning of the third chamber

Day 3
Continuation of the walls
Construction of the fourth chamber (furnace)

Day 4
Installation of iron parts
Finishing the walls
Stove closure (slab)
Chimney installation

Day 5
Sculpting, Decoration, Mosaics

Day 6
Plaster & Finishes

DAILY SCHEDULE

The Rocket Stove Workshop begins on a Sunday at 4pm and ends on a Sunday, 5 weeks later, after the morning Closing Circle & Brunch. Students can arrive a day or two before to acclimate and settle in (please let us know) but will need to cover their own food needs unless a work trade is approved by Host.
The daily schedule (subject to slight modifications due to climate/time of year) will be:
8:00-8:45 Breakfast
9:00-1:00 Class
1:00-2:30 Lunch
2:30-5:30 Class
5:30-7:00 Rest/Yoga
7:00-8:00 Dinner
8:00-9:00 Slides/Videos/Discussion (once or twice)
Students 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!

REQUIREMENTS & IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Students will need to come prepared for physical work from Day 1.
This includes bringing:
Work clothes appropriate for the country and climate we are in
Work boots or other closed-toe shoes (for foundation and roof)
Flip-flops (for cobbing/plaster days)
Rubber dishwashing gloves (for lime mortar)
Work Gloves
Tape Measure
Level
Triangular trowel
Carving Knife
Wood Hand Saw (cheap)
4”-6” Diameter Round Plastic Container Lids (for plastering)
Good Moisturizer
Hat
Sunglasses
Safety Glasses
Water Bottle
Notebook/Pen/Camera

INSTRUCTOR
Paula Carneiro (Moçabarro, Brazil)

always smiling!

I was born in Campo Grande, raised in Curitiba and Salvador, and now I live in the countryside in the mountains of Mantiqueira, Minas Gerais, Brasil, where I’m eco building my own house. I’m also a professional dancer, graduated from Bahia Federal University in 2012, and have worked with performing and visual arts, cinema and cultural centre management. Meeting Claudine and cob building in 2018 simply transformed my life. I started a natural building business after my first advanced cob workshop with CruzinCobGlobal in Guatapé, Colombia. I continued learning with a full build workshop in Colorado, later that year. In the beginning of 2019, I joined with Naiana Maximo and Priscila Bogéa to create the first female eco-building collective in Brazil called Moçabarro (Clay Gals is a translation we love!). We began teaching cob workshops and expanded to other natural building techniques and finishings. In our very first year of work we had the opportunity to build a full 100m2 house (@terra.333) using a variety of earthen building processes in this very successful project. Since then we have been working collectively on eco-refurbishing, rocket stoves, cob ovens, cob furnishings, tadelakt, plastering and other finishings. We have also taught short-length workshops at my building site as well as for other hosts in Brasil. Cob building is now a way I find to express gestures and print them on earth. Here is the link to our successful all-women cob business: www.mocabarro.com.br
@mocabarro on Instagram and Facebook

MEALS & ACCOMMODATIONS

Students will have 3 delicious, hearty vegetarian meals a day Monday through Friday. There will also be a Welcome Dinner on the first Sunday night, a Celebration Dinner on the last Saturday night, and a Goodbye Brunch on Sunday morning after the Closing Circle.
All students will be camping onsite for this workshop. Students who don’t want to camp can find other local accommodations (ask Host for suggestions) but will need to be able to get to the site on time every weekday. They can also carcamp obviously.

TRANSPORTATION

Students driving in will receive directions to the workshop site in the Welcome Letter sent a month before the start date. Nearest airports are Atlanta, Chatanooga and Knoxville. More information will be sent regarding transportation from the airports to the site, unless students share rental cars. There are shuttle buses that can be shared with other students, info will be sent in Welcome Letter.

REGISTRATION

Thrifty Bird Rate :$650, pay in full by February 19th, 2023
Chill Bird Rate: $700, pay in full by April 16th, 2023
Super Chill Bird Rate: $750 pay in full by May 21st, 2023
Payment includes tuition, camping and weekday meals plus first and last dinners and last brunch.
To register, please email claudinedesiree@gmail.com or send standard text or Whatsapp text to (831) 212-7225 with your email address to receive the two registration forms. Payment can be made by Zelle, Venmo and Paypal using claudinedesiree@gmail.com. With Paypal, please check the “Send to Family and Friends” box or add 3% for the fee. If you are using a credit card with Venmo or Paypal please add 3% for the transaction fee. Venmo ID is @claudine-desiree.
It is preferable that you pay in full when you pay however 50% deposit is required to hold your place with the final balance due by May 21st at the latest.
We will offer 2 work trade discounts of $70 each for an hour of work each class day in the kitchen or onsite. The kitchen work trader will prepare breakfast from 6:30-7:30am and site work trader will do site prep from 6:30 to 7:30am. If you want a work trade, please email or text Claudine (contact info above). These are first come first serve. Note that the work trade discount is applied to the amount that is being paid off in full. So if you are making your payment in full by the Thirfty Bird date, it will be deducted form that rate. If you pay in full after the Chill Bird deadline, then it will be deducted from the Super Chill Bird rate. To hold a work trade please pay in full or with a 50% deposit. Please see work trader cancellation policy below.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Students who cancel before April 16th, 2023 will receive a full refund minus a 5% administration fee or a credit for another workshop within 2 years (no admin fee deducted).
Students who cancel after April 16th, 2023 and before May 21st, 2023 will receive a full refund minus 10% admin fee or a credit for another workshop within 2 years (no admin fee).
Students who cancel after May 21st will not receive a refund or a credit unless they have proof of an emergency situation beyond their control, in which case they will receive a credit to be used within 2 years, minus 10% fee.
Work traders who cancel after April 16th, 2023 will receive a full refund minus the $70 discount.

EXCITED TO COB WITH YOU IN 2023!!!

Natural Building Basics Cob Workshop
2023-06-10 17:00 - 2023-06-20 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Cob hill natural building school, hughes springs, TX, 75656, United States
This action-packed, hands-on/feet-on workshop is for adults and youth ages 12 and up accompanied by parents who intend to build their own cob home! Test your grit during 10 days at Cob Hill Natural Building School, as Cat Taylor teaches the techniques and skills you will need to get from the foundation to the roofing system. We will learn about various building styles: cob; bale cob; palletable cob. We will also cover many other natural building concepts like: site placement and preparation; dig a rubble trench; stack a stone stem wall; tamp subfloors; set windows; build up our walls and of course cob, cob, cob!

Hands on experience covering

soil testing

foundations

dig a rubble trench

pier and beam

stack a stone stem wall (dry stacking)

cob building

bale cob

palletable cob

timber framing

windows and doors

roof designs

living roofs

roof sheathing

tree felling

log peeling

log milling (saw mill)

Shou Sugi Ban(Japanese art of waterproofing wood)

class time

site selection

home design

passive solar

earthen plasters

straw bale

LSC – light straw clay insulation

basic electric

basic plumbing

facts and myths in natural building

common mistakes in natural building

choosing build style

project planning

budgeting

acquiring materials

purchasing property and permits

correct placement of building

water catchment

composting toilets

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

Artistry with Clay and Lime
2023-06-05 - 2023-06-10 | Be the Change Project, 2055 McCloud Avenue, Reno, NV, 89512, United States
The Project
During this six day workshop we will cover the essentials of natural and earthen plasters and dive deeper into the more specific finishes for your home. Each participant will have their own practice panel to learn these methods with ease and repetition.
This workshop will cover a large range of natural wall finishes including:

Simple clay & lime basecoats

Smoothed and polished clay finishes

Clay paint

Lime finishes & fresco

Stabilized exterior plasters

This course is suitable for both beginners and experts. You will learn everything from the basics, such as finding soil, how to compose a mix, and applying that mix, and then the more advanced practices, such as water-resistant lime tadelakt. You will leave with a confidence and understanding of how to coat walls in your own home with beautiful, creative earth finishes.
During every workshop we make time for specific issues related to individual situations. This usually includes a careful look at different climates and regions, living with families or in communities, dealing with the building code, physical and financial challenges, appropriate technologies and more.
Kyle’s book, “Build it with Earth: the Cob Pizza Oven” and Conrad’s, “House of Earth” are both included with the workshop and will be mailed before we begin.
About Athena
Athena Steen grew up building with clay and adobe. She loves creating sculpted spaces that connect form with function, and walls rich with pattern, texture and color. Through the Canelo Project, a small non-profit organization, Athena and Bill, her husband, have been teaching workshops for over thirty years, in strawbale construction and earthen building. Focused on simple, low-skill, low-cost methods that build community between people, culture and nature. Co-authors of “The Straw Bale House,” “Small Strawbale,” and “Built by Hand,” Their influence in the natural building world has been widespread. When Athena does not have her hands in the mud, she also enjoys publishing and designing books.
Oso, her son and co-teacher for this workshop, has been immersed in natural building, including working with clay. He has built several clay-plastered strawbale, adobe, and timber frame structures from start to finish. He is an excellent hands-on teacher.
About the Site
The Be the Change Project is a Reno-based nonprofit, centered on our half-acre urban homestead where we have offered classes, tours, and workshops since 2011. That year we were able to buy what was a run down and neglected house on a half-acre through fundraising and crowdfunding. Since then we have enjoyed living an alternative and off-the-grid lifestyle while transforming the property into a verdant oasis. It has become a center for neighborhood uplift as well as a model for simpler living in the urban/suburban context. We were a Mother Earth News Magazine Homestead of the Year in 2013.
Reno is in the high desert on the western edge of the Great Basin. The weather in May and June is usually warm, clear, and sunny during the days with much cooler nights. It can get hot, and rain is unlikely.
Along with earthen cabins, landscape walls, ovens, and plasters on site, we’ve developed and use many systems for living more sustainably in town which you’ll get to know and use during the workshop:

Solar cooking and wall heaters

Small scale solar PV

Wood stove and solar thermosiphon water heating

Composting – vermicomposting and conventional aerobic piles

Alternative septic system – the Watson Wick

Basic principles and practices of Permaculture

Organic small plot intensive gardening including season extenders like hoop houses, root cellaring and solar dehydrating

ScAvenging! – upcycling and salvaging materials from the urban waste stream

Living with little electricity and fossil fuels

Wood-fired hot tub

Lodging
We have a variety of lodging options including cob cabins, rooms, tent sites, and parking for camper vans. Couples get priority for the cabins.
Registration, Payment, & Refunds
This workshop requires a $400 deposit to hold your space. When a deposit is made, Kyle will reach out to you, welcome you to the course, and get you in the email loop with all the details.
Go here to make a Venmo deposit or send a check for $400 made out to Cobitat and mailed to 2055 McCloud Avenue, Reno, NV 89512. Full payments are also gladly accepted.
Deposit is refundable (minus $50 for books and mailing cost if they’ve already been shipped to you) until 6 weeks before the start of the class. If you cancel with less than six weeks before the start of the class and your spot can be filled, we will issue a refund minus book costs. If it can’t be filled, your deposit will not be refunded.
Full payment is requested by two weeks before the start of each class.

Register by Making a $400 Deposit

The Daily Schedule
We are aware that students make a big investment in a workshop such as this. We honor your time and do the best we can to share our knowledge and experience. Expect long days with lots of building and learning. On some evenings we will show slides and films featuring our previous projects and that of other people and cultures. Believe it or not, we also still like to make time for a campfire and some music. We always strive to make the workshop itself a comfortable, memorable and fun experience.
7:30am-Breakfast
8:30am-Talk/discussion
9am – Hands-on
10:30 or 11am- Snack break
1pm – Lunch
2pm – Hands-on
4:30pm – Clean -up
5pm -Class ends
7pm – Dinner
8pm -Optional slideshow7:30 breakfast
Delicious home-cooked meals are provided and will be vegetarian with occasional meat options.
Pickup and Dropoff
Airport pickup and drop off is available from the Reno Airport on only the Sunday or Monday morning before the start of the workshop and the Saturday at the end of the workshop.
Support Staff
Kyle Isacksen has been building with earth since 2010 and teaching natural building since 2011 with House Alive, Be the Change Project, and now Cobitat. Kyle has a background in construction, teaching, and simple living. He’s worked as a framer, carpenter, and commercial roofer and recently finished building a “green” conventional house in his neighborhood in Reno. He was a science teacher for 7 years, is a frequent speaker on sustainable living, and is a contributing writer for Mother Earth News magazine and blog. Kyle enjoys basketball, hiking, reading, and martial arts.
Katy Chandler is the co-founder of the Be the Change Project and has lived in and played with natural building materials for many years. She is a prolific gardener, certified permaculture designer, urban garlic farmer, and former math teacher and school designer. She loves to dance, laugh, and pore over seed catalogs while cozied up to the wood stove on long winter nights. Kyle and Katy also have two teenage sons.

Natural Building Cob Certification Course
2023-06-03 17:00 - 2023-06-24 12:00 (America/Denver) | Cob hill natural building school, hughes springs, TX, 75656, United States
This action-packed, hands-on/feet-on workshop is for adults who wish to begin their learning journey toward helping others realize their natural building dreams as part of a build crew or to supervise their own home build! Natural building is tough. Are you tougher? Find out during 21 days at Cob Hill Natural Building School, as Cat Taylor teaches the techniques and skills you will need to get from the foundation to the roofing system.
Hands on experience covering

site selection
home designing
passive solar
soil testing
foundations

dig a rubble trench
pier and beam
stack a stone stem wall (dry stacking)

cob building
bale 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)
earthen plasters
Shou Sugi Ban(Japanese art of waterproofing wood)
Leading a team
Real time home build experience
class time

basic electric
basic plumbing
facts and myths in natural building
common mistakes in natural building
choosing build style
project planning
budgeting
acquiring materials
purchasing property and permits
correct placement of building
water catchment
composting toilets

Enroll here

Womens Carpentry with Avani Leitz
2023-06-02 08:00 - 2023-06-04 17:00 (America/Denver) | Wanosh Forest Gardens, Willits, CA, United States
This course is designed for both carpentry novices who want to break the ice using power tools, as well as women who have some carpentry experience but want to increase their confidence and knowledge base. The skills we will be learning will leave you with a feeling of empowerment to approach and build the projects that have inspired you to learn this craft. Over the span of three days we will cover the basics of tool safety and operation, how to read and create carpentry plans, hands-on building, learn creative problem solving, talk about workspace setup and essential tools for your home shop, and more.
To develop your skills we will build a small outhouse for a bucket compost toilet and yoni steam boxes that will be yours to take home. These projects will empower you with the basics to build a small structure you could tailor for your needs as well as smaller projects like drawers, shelves, toy box, etc. Throughout the weekend we will be combining learning opportunities through lecture format as well as hands-on instruction.
Childcare- Childcare is included in the costs of the workshop. We provide a family friendly environment and space for mothers to come learn new skills.

VersaTerra 10-day Complete Cob & Natural Building Intensive
2023-05-24 08:00 - 2023-06-03 17:00 (America/Denver) | Be the Change Project, 2055 McCloud Avenue, Reno, NV, 89512, United States
Wednesday, 5/24/2023 – Saturday, 6/3/2023 (10 days)
Number of Students: up to 12
Cost: $1550
The Building Project
During this ten day workshop we will build a beautiful garden wall and an earthen bread/pizza oven. Within the garden wall, we will incorporate all the features of a wall in an earthen house: windows, doors, electricity, plumbing, arches, niches, and artwork.
(We don’t start a whole building in a shorter workshop, as attractive as that may sound; it will have people do too much of one thing [mixing cob and wall building] while not being able to learn the other important aspects of natural building in a meaningful way, such as roof variations, natural plasters, earthen floors and design.)
Overview
This is one of the most comprehensive natural building workshops you can find. Together, VersaTerra instructors have decades of experience on four different continents. This has helped us design rich learning experiences giving students the tools they need to become confident earthen builders.
Earth is the mother of all building materials. For millennia, and all over the world, people have used earth to build beautiful, simple, efficient and inexpensive homes. It’s plentiful, ecological, and non-toxic. Plus, it can’t burn, won’t rot and is much simpler to build with than conventional construction.
We will teach you how to use clay-soil to build just about everything: from strong structural walls (cob and adobe) to beautiful floors, plasters and light-straw-clay walls. Because the materials are fireproof, they are ideally suited to sculpt ovens, fireplaces and cook stoves.
The essence of your learning experience will revolve around developing a deep understanding of how to process and combine a few simple materials: clay-soil, sand, and straw. How you apply that in your building adventures is then up to you, but you will find the possibilities endless and exciting.
What you will learn
After this workshop, you will feel confident that you can

Design and build yourself a cob cottage

Remodel or renovate an existing home, using natural materials

Build and use an earthen oven

Use cob to create garden walls and hot tubs

Teach a one-day natural building event yourself!

Specifically, you will get hands-on experience and skill development in the following areas:

Foundation systems, rubble trench, stem walls, earthbag construction (as a stem wall)

Identifying the right materials, screening, processing, testing, costs, amount calculations

Mixing cob efficiently

Making adobe bricks and using straw bales (“balecob”) and cordwood cob

Building with cob: strong sculptural walls, arches, windows and doors, niches, and sculptural artwork

Electricity and plumbing, how to install wires and pipes in the walls

Roof attachment and roof design

Light-straw-clay: this is an infill technique perfect for code-approved buildings and natural renovations of existing homes. You will learn how to make the right materials and how to install them

Natural plasters, tools, making your own plasters and paints, colors, applications, how to apply it on earthen walls, drywall, wood, concrete

Tamped floors, finish earthen floors in natural buildings, earthen floors in existing homes on plywood, oriented strand board, and concrete

Earthen ovens: from start to finish and how to use them (pizza party!)

Different design strategies, natural design essentials, passive solar, using cob to make models

Building codes, how they work, how to work with and around them

During every workshop we make time for specific issues related to individual situations. This usually includes a careful look at different climates and regions, living with families or in communities, dealing with the building code, physical and financial challenges, appropriate technologies and more.
Kyle’s book, “Build it with Earth: the Cob Pizza Oven” and Conrad’s, “House of Earth” are both included with the workshop and will be mailed before we being. They will serve as guidebooks for the workshop.
About the Site
The Be the Change Project is a Reno-based nonprofit, centered on our half-acre urban homestead where we have offered classes, tours, and workshops since 2011. That year we were able to buy what was a run down and neglected house on a half-acre through fundraising and crowdfunding. Since then we have enjoyed living an alternative and off-the-grid lifestyle while transforming the property into a verdant oasis. It has become a center for neighborhood uplift as well as a model for simpler living in the urban/suburban context. We were a Mother Earth News Magazine Homestead of the Year in 2013.
Reno is in the high desert on the western edge of the Great Basin. The weather in May and June is usually warm, clear, and sunny during the days with much cooler nights. It can get hot, and rain is unlikely.
Along with earthen cabins, landscape walls, ovens, and plasters on site, we’ve developed and use many systems for living more sustainably in town which you’ll get to know and use during the workshop:

Solar cooking and wall heaters

Small scale solar PV

Wood stove and solar thermosiphon water heating

Composting – vermicomposting and conventional aerobic piles

Alternative septic system – the Watson Wick

Basic principles and practices of Permaculture

Organic small plot intensive gardening including season extenders like hoop houses, root cellaring and solar dehydrating

ScAvenging! – upcycling and salvaging materials from the urban waste stream

Living with little electricity and fossil fuels

Wood-fired hot tub

Lodging
We have a variety of lodging options including cob cabins, rooms, and tent sites, and parking for camper vans.
Registration, Payment, & Refunds
This workshop requires a $500 deposit to hold your space. When a deposit is made, Kyle will reach out to you, welcome you to the course, and get you in the email loop with all the details.
Go here to make a Venmo deposit or send a check for $500 made out to Cobitat and mailed to 2055 McCloud Avenue, Reno, NV 89512. Full payments are also gladly accepted.
Deposit is refundable (minus $50 for books and mailing cost if they’ve already been shipped to you) until 6 weeks before the start of the class. If you cancel with less than six weeks before the start of the class and your spot can be filled, we will issue a refund minus book costs. If it can’t be filled, your deposit will not be refunded.
Full payment is requested by two weeks before the start of each class.

Register by Making a $500 Deposit

Pickup and Dropoff
Airport pickup and dropoff is available from the Reno Airport, Amtrak and Greyhound stations. Contact Kyle to arrange a lift.
Instructors
Lead instructor Kyle Isacksen has been building with earth since 2010 and teaching natural building since 2011 with House Alive and the Be the Change Project. Kyle has a background in construction, teaching, and simple living. He’s worked as a framer, carpenter, and commercial roofer and recently finished building a “green” conventional house in his neighborhood in Reno. He was a science teacher for 7 years, is a frequent speaker on sustainable living, and is a contributing writer for Mother Earth News magazine and blog. Kyle enjoys basketball, hiking, reading, and martial arts.
Kathleen O’Brien started natural building with two VersaTerra workshops several years ago and has gone on to teach with us in India, Mexico, Oregon and Reno. She has extensive carpentry experience, is a certified permaculture designer and talented grower, and has over 20 years of public school teaching experience. She is an avid reader and writer and is currently building her own off-grid home at Long Ranch in Surprise Valley, Nevada.
Katy Chandler is the co-founder of the Be the Change Project and has lived in and played with natural building materials for many years. She is a prolific gardener, certified permaculture designer, urban garlic farmer, and former math teacher and school designer. She loves to dance, laugh, and pore over seed catalogs while cozied up to the wood stove on long winter nights. Kyle and Katy also have two teenage sons.

Introduction to Cob Workshop
2023-05-15 - 2023-05-19 | This Cob House, Greeneville, TN, 37743, United States
Dates: May 15 – May 19, 2023 (YES. We are still having the workshop as scheduled.)

Location: Greeneville, Tennessee

Come and join us in beautiful eastern Tennessee for our next Introduction to Cob Workshop! We will be constructing a cob house. A perfect project for beginners and experts alike! You will get the knowledge to build cob projects scaling from smaller things, such as cob ovens and benches, up to large projects like homes and buildings.
This workshop is a great experience to learn how to build with cob, and to get a broad learning overview of natural building techniques. You will get a solid foundation in cob building fundamentals. We will be constructing the walls on a new cob building, mixing and applying lime plaster, building with cob, and studying Natural Building together each day. After this workshop, you will have the basic experience and confidence to design and build your own simple cob constructions or buildings.

Hands-On Work Topics:
– How to make cob (learn how to make cob with the tarp method and with a mortar mixer!)
– How to build cob walls using traditional hand-sculpting and using innovative slipforms (learn all the great advantages of building cob walls with forms)
– Selecting and testing soils for cob (learn several ways to test your soil composition)
– Lime Plaster and Earth Plaster (learn how to mix and apply lime plaster and earth plaster)
– Creating window and door frames (learn how to install frames into cob walls)
– Rammed Earth Demonstration (building rammed earth forms and compaction process)

Classroom and Discussion Topics:
– Site selection and design (includes Passive Solar design principles)
– Materials and tools (covers traditional and modern cob building toolset and materials)
– Building Solid Foundations (Learn all about constructing proper building foundations)
– Drainage principles (Important: water can be cob’s worst enemy)
– Basic Electrical and Plumbing integration for cob homes
– Installing windows and doors
– Roofing and Bond Beams
– Natural plasters and finishes (Vapor Permeable / “Breathable” finishes)
– Overview of Natural Building materials

This workshop is a unique experience for people to learn about building cob 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 don’t cover this many topics. But here, you will learn all the core lessons needed to start building from this one workshop!
Plus – 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!
The workshop will be held at a private property in Greeneville, Tennessee.
Each 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!

The 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, LLC, which is dedicated to teaching people about cob and earthen building techniques. Alex has a background in business and advertising, and 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.
Free Bonus!
Everyone who signs up for the workshop will receive a printed copy of Alex’s book, “Build a Cob House: A Step-By-Step Guide”, and the downloadable PDF version, FREE! We only make printed copies for workshop students, so this is your chance to get one. We will be using the book as a lesson guide throughout the workshop too so you can follow along with your book in hand.

Listen to the great things that our workshop participants are saying!

“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!” Tony Romo, Texas

“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!”
Marybeth Babos, Tennessee
Lodging
There 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.
Nearby are the Meadow Creek Moundation Lodge in Parrottsville, TN, and the Hot Springs Resort in Hot Springs, North Caolina.
Campers will have access to a private compost toilet and a private outdoor shower.
The workshop location has running water available, but no electricity yet. Please bring your own solar generator if needed.

Food
Meals 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!
Each 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!
Recreation & Surroundings
Greeneville 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.
Family & Groups
Ask about discounts. We encourage group & family activities because it enhances learning among your support group. Email me at alex@thiscobhouse.com for custom group/family invoice.
Children/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.
Prices
Price: $499

Additional Discounts: 10% for family and friends participating together.
Teens accompanying a parent/guardian are half price. Children under 13 accompanying a parent/guardian are free.

Please email me to register with the group/family discount. For normal registration, please click the “Sign Up Now” button above.

If you have any other questions about the workshop, please feel free to email me at alex@thiscobhouse.com
If you have a large party of people registering, they can all register separately, or contact me for a custom invoice.

Whole Cob Cottage Foundation to Roof in North Carolina, USA
2023-05-07 08:00 - 2023-06-11 17:30 (America/New_York) | Earthsong Regenerative Farm, Murphy, NC, United States
THE PROJECT
Students will be building a 10-15m2 cob cottage (size depends on number of students) for the couple as their first “home” on the land, which will be outfitted by a rocket heater in a second complementary workshop right after the cob building workshop.
The cottage will be built from foundation to reciprocal green roof including floor, sculpting and plaster, as well as electrical outlets, switches and housing and plumbing connection. Students will receive an Advanced Cobber Certification for the 5-week training workshop.

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

Azores, Portugal 2022 “plaster complete”

The 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 Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays afternoons to complement the hands-on experience.
Students arrive on Sunday between noon and 2pm and settle in. The workshop begins at 4pm with the Opening Circle followed by a Host Site Orientation and Introduction to the Project. Dinner is served at 6pm, and will be followed by an Introduction to the 5-week Workshop by the Instructors Josh Burg and Paula Carneiro.

Casais, Portugal 2022 “on cloud 9”

Monday morning we begin digging the trench for our Cob Building!!!!
Following Breakfast from 7:30-8:15am, the morning learning/building session begins at 8:45 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. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays there is a 60-minute lecture, followed by construction time. Tuesdays and Thursdays students begin building again after the rest time. After class in the afternoon there is a 90-minute break before dinner, in which students are encouraged to stretch, do some type of relaxation/movement practice, go swimming if possible, and just relax. There 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 (once a week) after dinner for showing slides, videos and having Course-related discussions. Other evenings are free and sometimes students offer informal courses in their specialties and passions. Mondays are reserved for our weekly Council Circle.
Weekends students are free to explore the area, rest onsite, and even continue building, with Instructor approval.
The 35-day Course will offer practical learning by building a complete 10m2-15m2 (depending on number of students) 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 & Plumbing installation), Floor, Plaster & Roof.

DAILY SCHEDULE

The Advanced Cob Building Workshop begins on a Sunday at 4pm and ends on a Sunday, 5 weeks later, after the morning Closing Circle & Brunch. Students can arrive a day or two before to acclimate and settle in (please let us know) but will need to cover their own food needs unless a work trade is approved by Host.
The daily schedule (subject to slight modifications due to climate/time of year) will be:
8:00-8:45 Breakfast
9:00-1:00 Class
1:00-2:30 Lunch
2:30-5:30 Class (Lecture on MWF’s)
5:30-7:00 Rest/Yoga
7:00-8:00 Dinner
8:00-9:00 Slides/Videos/Discussion (once a week)
Students 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!

COURSE CONTENTS
Students 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.
Our hands-on practice will include:
digging foundation trench
pouring gravel and inserting drainage pipe (if applicable)
building foundation stemwall
analyzing soils and materials
making test bricks
deciding on correct mixture
deciding on best location
making cob w/ partner and solo
building with cob
preparing and inserting the door
preparing and inserting fixed and opening windows
preparing and inserting shelves
inserting bottle windows, glass and other objects
inserting electrical wiring and plumbing in walls
sculpting
preparing and applying earthen plasters (1 coat)
pouring an earthen floor (2 layers)
preparing walls for roof connection
building roof frame
putting on sheathing and other elements
building green roof
In addition to Cob Building practices, the Course material
also includes:
legal cob construction practices & the international cob
code
cost analysis
creating a cob business (building/teaching)
assisting, interning and teaching with CruzinCobGlobal

REQUIREMENTS & IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Students will need to come prepared for demanding physical work from Day 1.
This includes bringing:
Work clothes appropriate for the country and climate we are in
Work boots or other closed-toe shoes (for foundation and roof)
Flip-flops (for cobbing/plaster days)
Rubber dishwashing gloves (for lime mortar)
Work Gloves
Tape Measure
Box Cutter
Carving Knife
Wood Hand Saw (cheap) Level(2ft)
Wood Chisel
Trowel (triangular rounded)
Hammer (if possible)
4”-6” Diameter Round Plastic Container Lids (for plastering)
Good Moisturizer
Hat
Sunglasses
Safety Glasses
Water Bottle
Notebook/Pen/Camera
Sample of Your Soil (Optional)
***VERY IMPORTANT***

Casais, Portugal 2022 “hardcore roofers”

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/learning hours unless ill or have some other significant 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. In addition Instructors try to set up building work according to students’ preferences and learning needs.

Casais, Portugal 2022 “ahhh, plaster bliss”

That being said, the workshop intensity also changes from week 1 to week 5. The first foundation week breaks people in with the work of moving, lifting, rolling and placing rocks and is a new and demanding physical experience for most students. It also includes the first layers and coat of cob floor. The second and third weeks of cob making and building are similar to the rock foundation week in physical demand but are more flowing and active in movement and cardiovascular exercise. The
fourth week finally slows down and the body can rest as students tap into their creative source and design and sculpt the walls and around niches, shelves, windows, etc. Plastering follows sculpting and is also an 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. In the fifth week, the roof is the beginning of a change of pace from the
earthen building work to carpentry skills, power tools, drilliing, hammering, screwing, trimming, etc. But now the workshop is in its final stretch and there is a boost of energy to wrap up the green roof and the second floor coat and closing of the wall, the grand finale on the last day.
For students wanting a more mellow slow-paced cob experience along with time for personal exploration and experimentation, these workshops are not for you. However you can find a more suitable workshop online with other organizations that are usually for a shorter period building a garden wall, a bench, a compost toilet or some other smaller-scale project.

Casais, Portugal 2022 “the gold”

Students are required to read “The Hand-Sculpted House” before the workshop begins and any other books they find, as well as watching our “International Cob Workshop”
videos on Claudine’s YouTube channel, 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).
Students 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 can adjust appropriately. It is totally OK to come for the lecture/theory part, and then help the building part in less physically demanding ways, ie cutting straw, sifting for plaster, hammering nails into frames or shelves, sculpting, plastering, cutting bottles. There is alot to do besides making and building with cob!!!!

Azores, Portugal 2022 “another job well done!”

Finally, please bring a watch or use your phone to be prompt and ready for each part of the Course
including meals. Please share your dietary restrictions/allergies with CCG as soon as you register. 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 may 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 slides, videos, movies and books to share, as well as a sample of your soil to test.
We 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!

INSTRUCTORS

Josh Burg

Always a smile!

Josh is a carpenter and residential remodeler based out of Portland, OR, who has been transitioning out of conventional construction into the world of natural building after two workshops with CruzinCobGlobal. Growing up in an adobe home in central New Mexico,
earthen architecture has always held a special place in Josh’s soul. Years of conventional building have convinced him that the way forward is really to look backwards…to our collective heritage as humans making homes from natural materials. As a teaching assistant, Josh brought his carpentry experience to help build a community space at Quinta da Vida Beleza in the Azores, and is currently designing a high school humanities class based partly around natural building with students in an alternative charter school. He can’t wait for another exciting experience with CCG as a co-teacher with Paula, who he met on their first build in 2018. Vamos!

Paula Carneiro (Moçabarro, Brazil)

Always a smile too!

I was born in Campo Grande, raised in Curitiba and Salvador, and now I live in the countryside in the mountains of Mantiqueira, Minas Gerais, Brasil, where I’m eco building my own house. I’m also a professional dancer, graduated from Bahia Federal University in 2012, and have worked with performing and visual arts, cinema and cultural centre management. Meeting Claudine and cob building in 2018 simply transformed my life. I started a natural building business after my first advanced cob workshop with CruzinCobGlobal in Guatapé, Colombia. I continued learning with a full build workshop in Colorado, later that year. In the beginning of 2019, I joined with Naiana Maximo and Priscila Bogéa to create the first female eco-building collective in Brazil called Moçabarro (Clay Gals is a translation we love!). We began teaching cob workshops and expanded to other natural building techniques and finishings. In our very first year of work we had the opportunity to build a full 100m2 house (@terra.333) using a variety of earthen building processes in this very successful project. Since then we have been working collectively on eco-refurbishing, rocket stoves, cob ovens, cob furnishings, tadelakt, plastering and other finishings. We have also taught short-length workshops at my building site as well as for other hosts in Brasil. Cob building is now a way I find to express gestures and print them on earth. Here is the link to our successful all-women cob business: www.mocabarro.com.br
@mocabarro on Instagram and Facebook

MEALS & ACCOMMODATIONS
Students will have 3 delicious, hearty vegetarian meals a day Monday through Friday. There will also be a Welcome Dinner on the first Sunday night, a Celebration Dinner on the last Saturday night, and a Goodbye Brunch on Sunday morning after the Closing Circle.
On weekends students are on their own for food, and can travel and explore the area, go camping or stay onsite. They will have access to the kitchen and any leftovers from the week. Otherwise they will need to get their own food for the weekend and can collaborate to get rides to the food stores in town.
All students will be camping onsite for this workshop. Students who don’t want to camp can find other local accommodations (ask Host for suggestions) but will need to be able to get to the site on time every weekday. They can also carcamp obviously.

TRANSPORTATION
Students driving in will receive directions to the workshop site in the Welcome Letter sent a month before the start date. Nearest airports are Atlanta, Chatanooga and Knoxville. More information will be sent regarding transportation from the airports to the site, unless students share rental cars.

REGISTRATION

Thrifty Bird Rate :$2500, pay in full by January 15th, 2023
Chill Bird Rate: $2600, pay in full by March 12th, 2023
Super Chill Bird Rate: $2700, pay in full by April 9th, 2023
Payment includes tuition, camping and weekday meals plus first and last dinners and last brunch.
To register, please email claudinedesiree@gmail.com or send standard text or Whatsapp text to (831) 212-7225 with your email address to receive the two registration forms. Payment can be made by Zelle, Venmo and Paypal using claudinedesiree@gmail.com. With Paypal, please check the “Send to Family and Friends” box or add 3% for the fee. If you are using a credit card with Venmo or Paypal please add 3% for the transaction fee. Venmo ID is @claudine-desiree.
It is preferable that you pay in full when you pay however 50% deposit is required to hold your place with the rest due by April 9th at the latest.
We always offer four work trade discounts of $250 each for an hour of work each class day. There are two kitchen work traders who prepare breakfast from 6:30-7:30am and two work traders that do site prep from 6:30 to 7:30am. In this workshop we are offering two more kitchen work trade positions for dinner help. If you want a work trade, please email or text Claudine (contact info above). These are first come first serve. Payment should be made in full for work trade positions.

CANCELLATION POLICY
Students who cancel before March 12th, 2023 will receive a full refund minus a 5% administration fee or a credit for another workshop within 2 years (no admin fee deducted).
Students who cancel after March 12th, 2023 and before April 9th, 2023 will receive a full refund minus 10% admin fee or a credit for another workshop within 2 years (no admin fee).
Students who cancel after April 9th will not receive a refund or a credit unless they have proof of an emergency situation beyond their control, in which case they will receive a credit to be used within 2 years, minus 10% fee.

EXCITED TO COB WITH YOU IN 2023!!!

First Mini Complete Cob Build in only 9 days!!! A Cob Playhouse for the McCarall Family in Chattanooga, Tennessee
2023-05-07 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Denver) | Casa Miguel, 3624 Elder Mtn Rd, Chattanooga, TN, United States
HOST & LOCATION

Lennie, Ellie, Jamie and Sean: a beautiful family!

Hello everybody! I am Sean and Jamie (my wife), Lennox (3), Ellie (4 months) and Alfur (my niece who lives with us) are super excited to host our first cob building adventure. Learning about cob building interests us for multiple reasons. The first being we intend to provide affordable housing for friends, family, and travellers in the future. I’ve looked into traditional home building and even on a small scale it costs a small fortune to build. We hope to learn the process and be able to continue to construct small shelters with our family and friends. Second, I am interested in the eco-friendly nature of cob building seemingly made from more sustainable resources, requiring less upkeep, and lasting longer than traditional homes. And lastly the potential for lots of aesthetic appeal. Once we understand the fundamentals I feel as though it can be a truly artistic outlet to creating all different designs in buildings. Something I have not tapped into since I was a child. Having received the “Hand-Sculpted House” as a gift from Claudine who we hosted as she biked through Tennessee (how we met), we are now even greater cob aficionados and super excited to build with y’all!

Taco Fiesta with the McCarall Family!

A little background on us, we love the outdoors and experiencing new things. In our free time we enjoy traveling, meeting new people, cooking, biking, hiking and camping. My wife and I are geologists by trade and spent 10 years in west Texas living out of our motorhome working and saving up. Then we decided to prioritize building a family and moved to Chattanooga, TN to start that. We now have a VERY funny 2 year old son and an old soul little 6 month daughter who we want to experience some of the cob magic with us too.

We are nestled into a home by Raccoon Mtn and only 10 minutes from downtown Chattanooga. There is plenty of space for everyone whether you would like to stay indoors or out. My wife cooks most of our meals and enjoys changing up cuisine, while trying to stay healthy so there will always be something good to eat. We look forward to hosting and connecting with everyone and hope you are able to join us on our journey of learning this craft. Expect the weather to be hot (90’s) but with plenty of shade and cool breezes. Bugs are not usually an issue.

The McCarrall Family

Our cozy shaded backyard where we will build the playhouse!

Me and the Fam in April

My Goodbye Dinner

Jamie n’ Ellie

Taco Fiesta Dinner!!!

Mom’s happy! Notice Baby Mohawk:)

THE PROJECT

A cob cottage and sauna built by a workshop in the Azores

This is the very first CruzinCobGlobal 9-day Complete Playhouse Build in which students will learn every step of building a cob building on a micro-scale. From foundation to reciprocal frame roof, including cob floor and plaster, sculpting, electricity and plumbing, we will build a 30ft2 round playhouse for Lennie and Ellie. The idea is to give you a taste of what it’s like to build with cob and, if you are already a builder or super savvy, you will DEFINITELY be able to transfer this knowledge and experience to building a full-size cottage. This workshop is ideal for those who are short on time and money for attending our traditional 35-day full build or who want a taster before committing to the extended workshop (we have one happening just 2 hours east in Pulaski, TN August 27th to October 1 with time to register…https://cruzincobglobal.org/events/complete-cob-bungalow-in-southern-tennessee-pulaski/).
This workshop will be easy on the energy as we will build right behind the family’s home in their tree-studded Tennessee backyard, in the shade, and as everything will be small-scale, each step will be completed in about 1/3 of the time of a usual build, in which there are 25 working days. The maximum group size will be 8 as opposed to 15 in the longer-term build. Students will receive a Certificate for a Mini Complete Cob Building Workshop! Even though this is a Playhouse, the workshop is strictly for teens and adults as it will still be an intensive training in order to reach our goal!
Please be prepared to work hard and have fun doing so, bring your favorite playlists and comfortable clothing!

Success!

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

The Mini Complete Cob Building Workshop consists of 9 days (Saturday 12pm through Sunday 4pm) of learning & construction for 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the afternoon with theoretical instruction (lectures with graphics) to complement the hands-on experience.

Cabo Verdean student making cob breads

Students arrive on Saturday morning between 10am and noon to settle in (camping or indoors). The workshop begins with a delicious lunch by Chef Jamie at noon, followed by our traditional Opening Circle, a Host Site Orientation, and an Introduction to the Project by Instructor Krystal Alexander. We will open the hands-on learning by digging the trench and filling it up with the first elements of a foundation on Saturday afternoon.
A Breakfast buffet will be served from 7:15-8:15am and the morning learning/building session begins at 8:45 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.

Sifting plaster materials

There will be a lecture each day from 2:30-3:30, followed by more construction time. After class in the afternoon there will be a 60-minute break before dinner at 7:30pm, in which students are encouraged to stretch, do some type of relaxation/movement practice, and/or just relax. There is sometimes a student informally leading yoga and movement practice in the mornings or afternoons (depending on student preference). There will also be one or more evenings after dinner for showing slides, videos and having Course-related discussions. Other evenings are free and sometimes students offer up informal courses in their specialties and passions just for fun. Fire circle, music, singing, dancing…are all part of our workshops! The last night (Saturday) there will be a Council Circle, also a CruzinCobGlobal tradition.

DAILY SCHEDULE

The Mini Complete Cob Building Workshop begins on a Saturday at noon and ends on a Sunday at 4pm (a week later) with Lunch and a Closing Circle/Graduation. If necessary due to long-distance travel, students may arrive on Friday afternoon to acclimate and settle in (please let us know) but will need to cover their own food needs unless a work trade is approved by Host.
The daily schedule (subject to slight modifications due to climate/time of year) will be:
7:15-8:15 Breakfast
8:45-1:00 Class
1:00-2:30 Lunch
2:30-6:30 Lecture/Class 6:30-7:30 Rest/Yoga
7:30-8:30 Dinner
8:30-9:30 Slides/Videos/Discussion (once a week)
Students 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!

COURSE CONTENTS

Students 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 , and budgeting.
Our hands-on practice will include:
digging foundation trench
pouring gravel and inserting drainage pipe (if applicable)
building foundation stemwall
analyzing soils and materials
making test bricks
deciding on correct mixture
deciding on best location
making cob w/ partner and solo
building with cob
preparing and inserting the door
preparing and inserting fixed and opening windows
preparing and inserting shelves
inserting bottle windows, glass and other objects
inserting electrical wiring and plumbing in walls
sculpting
preparing and applying earthen plasters (1 coat)
pouring an earthen floor (1 coat)
preparing walls for roof connection
building roof frame
putting on sheathing and other elements
building green roof
In addition to Cob Building practices, the Course material
also includes:
legal cob construction practices & the international cob code
cost analysis

REQUIREMENTS & IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Students will need to come prepared for physical work from Day 1.
This includes bringing:
Work clothes appropriate for the country and climate we are in
Work boots or other closed-toe shoes (for foundation and roof)
Flip-flops (for cobbing/plaster days)
Rubber dishwashing gloves (for lime mortar)
Work Gloves
Tape Measure
Box Cutter
Carving Knife
Wood Hand Saw (cheap)
Hammer (if u can)
Rounded triangular trowel (5 inches long)
Level (2-foot)
Ear Plugs (roof week)
Wood Chisel (standard)
4”-6” Diameter Round Plastic Container Lids (for plastering)
Good Moisturizer
Hat
Sunglasses
Safety Glasses
Water Bottle
Notebook/Pen/Camera
Sample of Your Soil (Optional)

INSTRUCTOR

Krystal Alexander (Cob Instructor & Builder)

Krystal is always joyful when she’s cobbin’!

The desire to incorporate healthier practices into modern day living has led Krystal to a life of natural building. After years of growing her practice as a Massage and Sound Therapist she was ready to take the next step on her journey of creative and self-sufficient living. As an artist clay has always been her medium of choice, so once her feet hit the mud she was hooked. From that first workshop with CruzinCobGlobal in 2017, she has dedicated her time to traveling and learning with others (making lifelong friends around the globe). She has assisted, instructed and helped to build 6 earthen structures as well as 5 cob pizza ovens!

Krystal is fueled by the passion to spread awareness that living consciously and comfortably is an attainable (and sustainable) reality. She believes that through this hands-on work, we can unlock our creative potential to share our truth with the world around. When she is not cobbin’ she is running her bodywork practice back home in St. Louis, MO. One day she plans on settling down with her little family on a plot of land and building earthen structures galore. Krystal is eager to share the healing and empowering benefits of cob and community with all!

MEALS & ACCOMMODATIONS

Students will have 3 delicious, hearty vegetarian/vegan meals every day. Animal protein (meat or fish) may be added to some meals if there are non-vegetarians in the group. Also vegan and gluten-free restrictions can be honored. There will be a Welcome Lunch on the first Saturday, and a Celebration Lunch on the last Sunday, followed by our Closing Circle.
All students can camp onsite or sleep indoors on various pull-out couches and on the floor. Students can also choose to stay in other local accommodations (ask Host for suggestions) but will need to be able to get to the site on time every day. They can also carcamp.

TRANSPORTATION

Students driving in will receive directions to the workshop site in the Welcome Letter sent two weeks before the start date. Nearest airports are Chattanooga and Nashville, and also Atlanta. More information will be sent regarding transportation from the airports to the site, unless students want to share rental cars.

REGISTRATION

The $900 Fee for the workshop includes tuition, camping and daily meals.
To register, please email claudine@cruzincobglobal.org or send standard text or Whatsapp text to (831) 212-7225 with your email address to receive the two registration forms. Payment can be made by Zelle, Venmo and Paypal using claudinedesiree@gmail.com. With Paypal, please check the “Send to Family and Friends” box or add 3% for the fee. If you are using a credit card with Venmo or Paypal please add 3% for the transaction fee. Venmo ID is @claudine-desiree.
Europeans and others who want to pay internationally can use Wise to pay in USD. Pls ask Claudine for more info and an invite with a free first transfer.
It is preferable that you pay in full when you pay however 50% deposit is required to hold your place with the rest due by July 1st at the latest.
We will offer 2 work trade discounts of $90 each for an hour of work each class day, onsite or making breakfast from 6:30-7:30am. Full payment or 50% deposit to hold your spot with final balance due by July 1st. Please see work trader cancellation policy below.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Students who cancel before June 1st, 2023 will receive a full refund minus a 5% administration fee or a credit for another workshop within 2 years.
Students who cancel between June 1st, 2023 and June 15th, 2023 will receive a full refund minus 10% admin fee or a credit for another workshop within 2 years.
Students who cancel after June 15th will not receive a refund or a credit unless they have proof of an emergency situation beyond their control, in which case they will receive a credit to be used within 2 years, minus 10% fee.
*Work traders who cancel after June 15th will receive a full refund of what they have paid minus $90.

EXCITED TO COB WITH YOU IN 2023!!!

Natural Building Intensive
2023-04-25 00:00 (America/Denver) | CA
In this two-week course, get your hands muddy with Michael G Smith and the Wanosh Family and leave with the skills to build a small structure from the ground up. We will be building the foundation for a sauna, then adding earthen walls and a round-pole roof structure for a living roof.
Daily hands-on building sessions will be supplemented with lectures on the theoretical background you need to design and build effective natural structures, including a thorough grounding in both the structural and thermal properties of different natural materials and the fundamentals of passive solar design.
Camping is included and all meals are prepared for you with food grown on site or locally sourced with your optimal health in mind.

Intro to Earthen Building Workshop
2023-04-17 - 2023-04-21 | Keystone Heights, Florida, Keystone Heights, FL, United States
Dates: April 17 – April 21, 2023 (YES. We are still having the workshop as scheduled.)

Location: Keystone Heights, Florida
Come and join us in Florida for our next Introduction to Earthen Building Workshop! We will be constructing a 6 foot tall rammed earth column, building a cob wall, and applying lime plaster to the cob cottage. A perfect class for beginners and experts alike! What makes this workshop unique is the opportunity to get hands-on experience with cob, rammed earth, and lime plaster! You will get the knowledge to build earthen building projects scaling from smaller things, such as cob ovens and benches, up to large projects like homes and buildings. You will also get the opportunity to experience a completed cob building, which was built on-site from previous workshop students.
This workshop is a great experience to learn how to build with rammed earth and cob, and to get a broad learning overview of natural building techniques. You will get a solid foundation in earthen building fundamentals. We will be constructing an outdoor rammed earth courtyard, and we will be studying Natural Building together each day. After this workshop, you will have the basic know-how and confidence to design and build your own earthen constructions or buildings.

Hands-On Work Topics:
– How to make cob (with the traditional tarp method and with a mortar mixer!)
– Selecting and testing soils for cob and rammed earth (learn several ways to test your soil composition)
– Building with rammed earth (we will be building a rammed earth 6 foot tall column)
– How to build foundations (learn hands-on how to build concrete foundations for earthen walls)
– Earthen and Lime Plaster (learn to mix and apply earthen plaster and lime plaster)
– Basic carpentry skills (learn how to build rammed earth forms)
Classroom and Discussion Topics:
– Site selection and design (includes Passive Solar design principles)
– Materials and tools (covers traditional and modern cob building toolset and materials)
– Foundation Design (how to build strong foundations for heavy, earthen walls)
– Drainage principles (Important: water can be cob’s worst enemy)
– Basic Electrical and Plumbing integration for cob homes
– Installing windows and doors
– Roofing and Bond Beams
– Natural plasters and finishes (Vapor Permeable / “Breathable” finishes)
– Overview of Natural Building materials
This workshop is a unique experience for people to learn about building earthen 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 earthen construction workshops don’t cover this many topics. But here, you will learn all the core lessons needed to start building from this one workshop!
Plus – there will be many hours of discussions about building cob homes and earthen building throughout the workshop. Its a great way to get your questions answered and brainstorm your building ideas!
The workshop will be held at a private property in Keystone Heights, Florida.
Each day will begin at 9:00 AM, and the days will include hands-on building, classroom sessions, discussions, and learning activities related to cob and natural building topics. We will break for lunch between 12:00 to 1:30 PM, and we will complete each day at around 4:00 PM. They will be full-packed days! Worth your every penny!

The 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, LLC, which is dedicated to teaching people about cob and earthen building techniques. Alex has a background in business and advertising, and 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.
Free Bonus!
Everyone who signs up for the workshop will receive a printed copy of Alex’s book, “Build a Cob House: A Step-By-Step Guide”, and the downloadable PDF version, FREE! We only make printed copies for workshop students, so this is your chance to get one. We will be using the book as a lesson guide throughout the workshop too so you can follow along with your book in hand.

Listen to the great things that our workshop participants are saying!

“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!” Tony Romo, Texas

“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!”
Marybeth Babos, Tennessee
Lodging
There are two options for lodging: free camping on site, or making reservations at one of the local hotels or AirBnB. Hotels are available in the neighboring towns of Stark and Waldo, per Google maps, and possibly in Keystone Heights.
Camping is FREE and is available throughout the property. There are plenty of great locations to set up a tent here. Multiple camp areas are available with oak trees shading the majority of the property. Trees can be used appropriately for hammocks & camp gear. Campers will have access to a clean bathroom and private outdoor shower.
A modernized, yet simple, building contains a flushable toilet with a private outdoor shower that’s tucked away. It is spacious with room to keep things up and dry.
Our location has electricity & water. Electric outlets are minimal, with the ability to charge phones & power tools, in a single location. The water is well water and is drinkable, yet you may wish to bring your own.
Food
Meals will not be included in this workshop so participants will need to provide their own food. There are several local restaurants and grocery stores nearby the workshop site.
Each is responsible for their own meal preparation, unless decisions are made to share or combine. An hour for lunch is provided, allowing adequate time for a quick nap, a trip into town, fast food, cooking over the fire, or utilizing the grill. There is no official kitchen on site, but there is a small operational microwave, and a few pieces of kitchen camp gear available for use. Coolers are welcome and encouraged.
Local Places to Eat: McHenry’s (food & pub), Keystone Inn (country buffet, known for chicken) Hardee’s, McDonald’s, Subway, Johnny’s BBQ
Recreation & Surroundings
Bring a camp chair for some quality R&R. Build a community camp fire, while reflecting on the day. Enjoy the grassy area to throw a ball, walking trails through the woods, blackberry bushes, slightly traveled road that’s great for a leisurely walk, and the open field in the distance to spot deer, crane, & rabbits in the early mornings.
Family & Groups
Ask about discounts. We encourage group & family activities because it enhances learning among your support group. Email me at alex@thiscobhouse.com for custom group/family invoice.
Children/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. Previous workshop parents have brought playpens, pop up tents, outside toys, and so forth. Children are welcome to explore through “hands-on” learning. It’s okay if they play in the dirt.
Prices
Price: $499

Additional Discounts: 10% for family and friends participating together.
Teens accompanying a parent/guardian are half price. Children under 13 accompanying a parent/guardian are free.

Email me to register with the group or family discount. For regular registrations, please follow the “Sign Up Now” button above.
If you have any other questions about the workshop, please feel free to email me at alex@thiscobhouse.com
If you have a large party of people registering, they can all register separately, or contact me for a custom invoice.

Cob Pallet Shed Build
2023-03-17 09:00 - 2023-03-19 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | University California Riverside Palm Desert, 75080 Frank Sinatra Drive, Parking Lot B, Palm Desert, CA, 92211, United States
Join us as we continue building our 6′ x 6′ Cob Pallet Shed that we started in February. It needs shingles on the roof, paint on the fascia boards, a door, interior shelves, cob over the straw and pallets plus plaster on both interior and exterior walls. It may be possible to pour the floor but that is TBD. Furthermore, if we have enough time and students, we may build benches on the outer east and west walls. For the benches we need to dig a rubble trench, stem wall and sculpt the bench out of cob mass.

Fundamentals Cob Workshop
2023-02-17 08:00 - 2023-02-19 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | University California Riverside Palm Desert, 75080 Frank Sinatra Drive, Parking Lot B, Palm Desert, CA, 92211, United States
Escape winter and start your natural building journey in this 3-Day cob workshop in Southern California. We are continuing with our garden walls project that is the start of our permaculture demonstration site on the campus of University of California in Palm Desert. We will be building a rubble trench foundation, stem wall and cob structure with built in benches and cubbies. You will be mixing cob, hand sculpting the structure and practicing lintel installation for windows and doors. Part of this wall will be framed with pallets to practice the Palletable Cobin technique and used to make extra storage for tools and materials.

Intro to Earthen Building Workshop
2022-11-07 09:00 - 2022-11-11 16:30 (America/Denver) | CA
Dates: November 7 – November 11, 2022 (YES. We are still having the workshop as scheduled.)

Location: Keystone Heights, Florida
Come and join us in Florida for our next Introduction to Earthen Building Workshop! We will be constructing a 6 foot tall rammed earth column, building a cob wall, and applying lime plaster to the cob cottage. A perfect class for beginners and experts alike! What makes this workshop unique is the opportunity to get hands-on experience with cob, rammed earth, and lime plaster! You will get the knowledge to build earthen building projects scaling from smaller things, such as cob ovens and benches, up to large projects like homes and buildings. You will also get the opportunity to experience a completed cob building, which was built on-site from previous workshop students.
This workshop is a great experience to learn how to build with rammed earth and cob, and to get a broad learning overview of natural building techniques. You will get a solid foundation in earthen building fundamentals. We will be constructing an outdoor rammed earth courtyard, and we will be studying Natural Building together each day. After this workshop, you will have the basic know-how and confidence to design and build your own earthen constructions or buildings.

Hands-On Work Topics:
– How to make cob (with the traditional tarp method and with a mortar mixer!)
– Selecting and testing soils for cob and rammed earth (learn several ways to test your soil composition)
– Building with rammed earth (we will be building a rammed earth 6 foot tall column)
– How to build foundations (learn hands-on how to build concrete foundations for earthen walls)
– Earthen and Lime Plaster (learn to mix and apply earthen plaster and lime plaster)
– Basic carpentry skills (learn how to build rammed earth forms)
Classroom and Discussion Topics:
– Site selection and design (includes Passive Solar design principles)
– Materials and tools (covers traditional and modern cob building toolset and materials)
– Foundation Design (how to build strong foundations for heavy, earthen walls)
– Drainage principles (Important: water can be cob’s worst enemy)
– Basic Electrical and Plumbing integration for cob homes
– Installing windows and doors
– Roofing and Bond Beams
– Natural plasters and finishes (Vapor Permeable / “Breathable” finishes)
– Overview of Natural Building materials
This workshop is a unique experience for people to learn about building earthen 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 earthen construction workshops don’t cover this many topics. But here, you will learn all the core lessons needed to start building from this one workshop!
Plus – there will be many hours of discussions about building cob homes and earthen building throughout the workshop. Its a great way to get your questions answered and brainstorm your building ideas!
The workshop will be held at a private property in Keystone Heights, Florida.
Each day will begin at 9:00 AM, and the days will include hands-on building, classroom sessions, discussions, and learning activities related to cob and natural building topics. We will break for lunch between 12:00 to 1:30 PM, and we will complete each day at around 4:00 PM. They will be full-packed days! Worth your every penny!

The 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, LLC, which is dedicated to teaching people about cob and earthen building techniques. Alex has a background in business and advertising, and 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.
Free Bonus!
Everyone who signs up for the workshop will receive a printed copy of Alex’s book, “Build a Cob House: A Step-By-Step Guide”, and the downloadable PDF version, FREE! We only make printed copies for workshop students, so this is your chance to get one. We will be using the book as a lesson guide throughout the workshop too so you can follow along with your book in hand.

Listen to the great things that our workshop participants are saying!

“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!” Tony Romo, Texas

“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!”
Marybeth Babos, Tennessee
Lodging
There are two options for lodging: free camping on site, or making reservations at one of the local hotels or AirBnB. Hotels are available in the neighboring towns of Stark and Waldo, per Google maps, and possibly in Keystone Heights.
Camping is FREE and is available throughout the property. There are plenty of great locations to set up a tent here. Multiple camp areas are available with oak trees shading the majority of the property. Trees can be used appropriately for hammocks & camp gear. Campers will have access to a clean bathroom and private outdoor shower.
A modernized, yet simple, building contains a flushable toilet with a private outdoor shower that’s tucked away. It is spacious with room to keep things up and dry.
Our location has electricity & water. Electric outlets are minimal, with the ability to charge phones & power tools, in a single location. The water is well water and is drinkable, yet you may wish to bring your own.
Food
Meals will not be included in this workshop so participants will need to provide their own food. There are several local restaurants and grocery stores nearby the workshop site.
Each is responsible for their own meal preparation, unless decisions are made to share or combine. An hour for lunch is provided, allowing adequate time for a quick nap, a trip into town, fast food, cooking over the fire, or utilizing the grill. There is no official kitchen on site, but there is a small operational microwave, and a few pieces of kitchen camp gear available for use. Coolers are welcome and encouraged.
Local Places to Eat: McHenry’s (food & pub), Keystone Inn (country buffet, known for chicken) Hardee’s, McDonald’s, Subway, Johnny’s BBQ
Recreation & Surroundings
Bring a camp chair for some quality R&R. Build a community camp fire, while reflecting on the day. Enjoy the grassy area to throw a ball, walking trails through the woods, blackberry bushes, slightly traveled road that’s great for a leisurely walk, and the open field in the distance to spot deer, crane, & rabbits in the early mornings.
Family & Groups
Ask about discounts. We encourage group & family activities because it enhances learning among your support group. Email me at alex@thiscobhouse.com for custom group/family invoice.
Children/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. Previous workshop parents have brought playpens, pop up tents, outside toys, and so forth. Children are welcome to explore through “hands-on” learning. It’s okay if they play in the dirt.
Prices
Price: $499

Additional Discounts: 10% for family and friends participating together.
Teens accompanying a parent/guardian are half price. Children under 13 accompanying a parent/guardian are free.

Email me to register with the group or family discount. For regular registrations, please follow the “Sign Up Now” button above.
If you have any other questions about the workshop, please feel free to email me at alex@thiscobhouse.com
If you have a large party of people registering, they can all register separately, or contact me for a custom invoice.

4-Day Natural Building Introduction & Earthen Floor Workshop
2022-10-29 08:00 - 2022-11-06 18:00 (Europe/Malta) | thrive – Malta, Thrive Malta, Paradise Gardens, Triq Marsalforn, Xaghra, XRA2708, Malta
Learn how to make an Earthen Floor!
On October 29-30 and November 5-6, 2022 we will run another permaskills Natural Building Workshop in Gozo (Malta). This workshop will provide you plenty of opportunities to get hands-on experience in Natural Building, all the skills and especially the confidence you need to make an Earthen Floor for yourself. We will also be talking about active and passive heat management through floor heating and thermal mass. Experience sustainable community building and non-violent-communication. Earn a Natural Builder Certification and enjoy the beautiful islands of Malta in between the workshop weekends.
For more information, please go to https://permaskills.org/natural-building-workshop/
For registration, please go to https://thrivemalta.com/cob

Learn to Build with Cob
2022-10-28 08:00 - 2022-10-30 15:00 (America/Denver) | University California Riverside Palm Desert, 75080 Frank Sinatra Drive, Parking Lot B, Palm Desert, CA, 92211, United States
Join us on the Campus of University of California Palm Desert Campus for a 3-day cob class where we will continue working on our materials yard project. During previous courses this year, students have been working on curvy walls to make a materials yard out of 4 unconnected structures. This is an ongoing natural building project that is the beginning of establishing a permaculture demonstration site on the campus. We have several orgs involved in the umbrella project including UCR Palm Desert, DiHG Eco-Prise, Inc., UC Naturalists, UC Climate Stewards, UCCE Master Gardeners, Riverside County Department of Waste Resources and more. During this course you will learn to mix cob out of sand, clay and straw and build with it. You will also learn how to mix and apply a finishing plaster. We will work on some finer details of natural building as well such as how to create features like cubbies and arches as well as how to install lentils for windows and doors. Susan infuses permaculture design into every class so there is always lots to learn and experience. Looking forward to seeing you soon!

2-Day Cob Oven
2022-10-15 - 2022-10-16 | Mud Dauber School of Natural Building, 8813 Lindley Mill Road, Snow Camp, NC, NC, 27349, United States
Cob ovens are an inexpensive type of wood-fired oven. They can be used to make delicious pizza, bread, roasted veggies, baked beans, etc…. anything you can do in a conventional oven, but with more evenly-distributed heat, better flavor, and more opportunity to make baking into a fun event.
In addition to constructing a complete, basic oven, we will simultaneously be building a connected countertop. The countertop will be a great introduction to building with cob, and combining it with strawbales in a hybrid system.

HANDS-ON:
* installing the subfloor insulation layer, and the thermal mass subfloor
* installing the firebrick floor
* constructing the thermal cob dome
* installing an insulation dome
* mixing and applying a scratch plaster
* building a cob and strawbale countertop base
DISCUSSION:
* different options for cob oven design (chimneys, size variation, sculptural layers…)
* how to fire and use a cob oven! (we will use one for a pizza dinner!)

DAILY SCHEDULE

7:30-8:30 Breakfast
8:30-12:30 Morning work session
12:30-2:00 Lunch + Discussion
2:00-5:30 Afternoon work session
5:30-6:30 Shower, relax
6:30 Dinner! (no dinner on Day 2)
____
Other schedule items:

Day 1: 8:30 AM Orientation, 6:30 PM PIZZA PARTY!

Introduction to Cob and Straw Workshop
2022-10-10 09:00 - 2022-10-14 16:30 (America/New_York) | CA
Dates: October 10 – October 14, 2022 (YES. We are still having the workshop as scheduled.)

Location: Greeneville, Tennessee

Come and join us in beautiful eastern Tennessee for our next Introduction to Cob and Straw Workshop! We will be constructing a straw-clay house. A perfect project for beginners and experts alike! You will get the knowledge to build cob and straw-clay projects scaling from smaller things, such as cob ovens and benches, up to large projects like homes and buildings.
This 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 cob and straw building fundamentals. We will be constructing the walls on a new straw-clay building, mixing and applying lime plaster, building with cob, and studying Natural Building together each day. After this workshop, you will have the basic experience and confidence to design and build your own simple cob and straw constructions or buildings.

Hands-On Work Topics:
– How to make cob (learn how to make cob with a the tarp method)
– How to make straw-clay (learn how to easily make straw-clay for wall packing)
– Selecting and testing soils for cob and straw-clay (learn several ways to test your soil composition)
– Building straw-clay walls and cob walls
– Lime Plaster (learn how to mix and apply lime plaster)
– Creating window and door frames (how to install frames into cob and straw-clay walls)
– Rammed Earth Demonstration (building rammed earth forms and compaction process)

Classroom and Discussion Topics:
– Site selection and design (includes Passive Solar design principles)
– Materials and tools (covers traditional and modern cob building toolset and materials)
– Building Solid Foundations (Learn all about constructing proper building foundations)
– Drainage principles (Important: water can be cob’s worst enemy)
– Basic Electrical and Plumbing integration for cob and straw homes
– Installing windows and doors
– Roofing and Bond Beams
– Natural plasters and finishes (Vapor Permeable / “Breathable” finishes)
– Overview of Natural Building materials

This workshop is a unique experience for people to learn about building cob homes and 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 don’t cover this many topics. But here, you will learn all the core lessons needed to start building from this one workshop!
Plus – there will be many hours of discussions about building cob and straw homes and natural building throughout the workshop. Its a great way to get your questions answered and brainstorm your building ideas!
The workshop will be held at a private property in Greeneville, Tennessee.
Each 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!

The 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, LLC, which is dedicated to teaching people about cob and earthen building techniques. Alex has a background in business and advertising, and 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.
Free Bonus!
Everyone who signs up for the workshop will receive a printed copy of Alex’s book, “Build a Cob House: A Step-By-Step Guide”, and the downloadable PDF version, FREE! We only make printed copies for workshop students, so this is your chance to get one. We will be using the book as a lesson guide throughout the workshop too so you can follow along with your book in hand.

Listen to the great things that our workshop participants are saying!

“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!” Tony Romo, Texas

“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!”
Marybeth Babos, Tennessee
Lodging
There 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.
Nearby are the Meadow Creek Moundation Lodge in Parrottsville, TN, and the Hot Springs Resort in Hot Springs, North Caolina.
Campers will have access to a private compost toilet and a private outdoor shower.
The workshop location has running water available, but no electricity yet. Please bring your own solar generator if needed.

Food
Meals 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.
Each 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!
Recreation & Surroundings
Greeneville 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.
Family & Groups
Ask about discounts. We encourage group & family activities because it enhances learning among your support group. Email me at alex@thiscobhouse.com for custom group/family invoice.
Children/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.
Prices
Price: $499

Additional Discounts: 10% for family and friends participating together.
Teens accompanying a parent/guardian are half price. Children under 13 accompanying a parent/guardian are free.

Please email me to register with the group/family discount. For normal registration, please click the “Sign Up Now” button above.

If you have any other questions about the workshop, please feel free to email me at alex@thiscobhouse.com
If you have a large party of people registering, they can all register separately, or contact me for a custom invoice.

3-Day Cob + Straw Immersion
2022-10-07 - 2022-10-09 | Mud Dauber School of Natural Building, 8813 Lindley Mill Road, Snow Camp, NC, NC, 27349, United States
Our Immersion is our most popular course, and is designed to provide an understanding of some common natural wall systems: cob, strawbale, and slip-straw. The course emphasizes hands-on learning, and working with multiple wall systems will provide you with insight into which will fit your potential projects best.
To supplement our hands-on work sessions, we’ll tour many of the demonstration buildings on our campus to share a variety of options regarding roofing, foundations, and finishing work. For key topics not covered in hands-on work, we will have discussions/Q+A sessions (see topics below).

HANDS-ON:
* mixing cob by foot, and by machine
* building with cob
* installing a small strawbale wall and preparing it for plaster
* mixing and installing slip-straw within a stud framework
* mixing and applying clay plasters
* installing windows
DISCUSSION:
* “Rubble Trench Foundations”
* “Cob vs. Strawbale: the thermal spectrum + hybrid designs”
* CAMPUS TOUR! – We’ll get to tour all the campus buildings while discussing building methods, plus general Q+A

Expect to leave the workshop with the confidence and knowledge to take on your own natural building project!

DAILY SCHEDULE

8:00-9:00 Breakfast
9:00-12:45 Morning work session
12:45-1:45 Lunch
1:45-5:30 Afternoon work session
5:30-6:30 Unscheduled (shower, relax)
6:30 Dinner! (no dinner on final day)
____
Other schedule items:

Day 1: 9:00 AM Orientation

Day 2: 4:30-5:30 Q+A

Day 2: 6:30 PM Pizza Party Dinner!

Day 3: 4:30 PM Closing Circle

Artistic & Finish Earthen Plaster Workshop in the Azores Islands (Portugal), Session #1
2022-09-25 08:30 - 2022-10-02 17:30 (Europe/London) | Quinta da Vida Beleza, Lagoa, Azores, 9560-418, Portugal
HOST & LOCATION
Our Host Claudine Désirée founded CruzinCobGlobal in 2015 when she began a 5-year GlobalBikeCobTrotter Tour through Europe, Africa, South America and the US. CruzinCobGlobal is the international version of CruzinCob, which was born in Santa Cruz in 2004.
This workshop will be held at Quinta da Vida Beleza in the Atalhada neighborhood of Lagoa. The Quinta or Farm was born in January 2020 when Claudine, our Host, acquired this 2-acre piece of land nestled in a quiet, agricultural zone just a 7-minute walk to the natural swimming pools and snorkeling waters of the Calhau, and a short bike ride to Lagoa and Ponta Delgada along the coast.
The land is brimming with bananas, guavas, kumquats, and granadilhas, vegetable gardens, a chicken family of 30 and 3 guardian cats: Viva, Joia and Xica. Over the last 2 years there have been 6 cob workshops that have built a sauna, 2 cottages, a 2-story house, an oven & benches and, most recently, a beautiful elegant rocket mass heater family-size couch. The land is now a unique Ecovillage and Education Center for all kinds of Workshops with camping areas, 3 compost toilets, 3 outdoor showers with hot water, 3 outdoor fire-heated bathtubs, an outdoor kitchen & eating area and a huge yoga/dance/meditation deck overlooking the property.
The weather in this zone of Lagoa is warmer & drier than the other parts of the island. This and its proximity to the capital, the airport, the surfing beaches of the South & North Coast, the Hot Springs, and the nicest black sand beaches on the island make Lagoa a very coveted spot.
During the longer workshops, weekends are free for students to visit the island by bus, bike, rental car, hitchhiking or by foot. While São Miguel is large enough to keep you busy with a variety of hiking, hot springs, water sports and cultural adventures, students can also choose to fly or take a boat to the other islands for something different.
This home away from home will welcome you with comfort and conviviality as you live in community for the duration of the workshop, an integral transformative part of your experience.

THE PROJECT
During the 7 days, the Fine & Artistic Earthen Plaster Workshop Session #1 will apply the finish coat to either the sauna (7m2) or the small bungalow (10m2) (depending on number of registered students) as well as experiment with sgraffito and other artistic techniques on the inside & outside walls. Below are the structures that will be plastered.

INSTRUCTOR

Marla Azoulaï
Born and raised in France with Egyptian/Jewish roots and a Nomad at Heart, Marla discovered and fell in love with natural building in 2017 in India and in 2018 with CruzinCobGlobal in the Azores. She has since then been continuously learning and practicing, while developing her specialty in artistic designs with cob and fine plasters. She has attended and assisted CCG workshops and built many houses, ovens & benches in South America, the US and Europe, using a variety of earthen building modalities. Her educational background is in the Fine Arts , and for this reason she finds that plastering is the most creative and satisfying part of natural building, and has recently decided to dive deeper into that practice.
Greatly inspired by the talented Athena Steen and Jonathan Martens in France, she started to experiment with sgraffito and play with textures and colors in order to turn earthen walls into beautiful pieces of art! You can see some of her masterpieces on this page and in the Gallery below.
Additionally, Marla finds that working with clay and especially plastering have a very soothing, meditative effect and hopes to transmit the love and passion that she has for it to others! This will be her first workshop as CCG Instructor and we are grateful to have her on board!

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
This workshop will give the students the opportunity to discover the arts of earthen renders by creating beautiful finished plasters made out of locally sourced and natural materials, namely clay, sand, and natural fibers.
Throughout the week the students will have the chance to :
–learn about the different components and proportions of an earthen plaster mix
-experiment with different plaster tests and learn how to analyze them
-prepare lots of different plasters
-learn and practice how to prepare an earthen wall before plastering
-learn and practice how to apply an earthen plaster using different techniques and tools
-learn about the properties of clay and basic principles of granulometry through theoretical classes, in order to understand the structural properties of all the components
-learn and experiment with creative techniques such as sgraffito, to make colorful patterns out of earthen plasters.
Providing plenty of time for hands on practice, this workshop is suitable both for beginners and experienced people. It doesn’t matter whether you have never used a trowel in your life or if you want to deepen your practice and knowledge.

DAILY SCHEDULE
6:30-7:30 Yoga/Movement Practice/Meditation (optional)
7:30-8:30 Breakfast
8:45-1:00 Morning Session
1:00-2:30 Lunch & Rest
2:30-5:30 Afternoon Session
6:30-7:30 Dinner

WHAT TO BRING
Students will need to come to workshop prepared by bringing the following items:
1 or more trowels (details will be sent to registered students)
work clothes
work gloves
hat/sunglasses/sunscreen
good moisturizer
water bottle
notebook/pen/camera
personal music playlist for working
We also recommend that you you read the book “Earth render: the art of clay plaster, render and paints”, by James Henderson and/or any other relevant natural plaster books.

MEALS & ACCOMODATIONS

Students will receive three delicious vegetarian/vegan meals a day prepared by a local chef, beginning with Dinner on Sunday, April 10 and ending with Lunch on Sunday, April 17th.
There will be room for 7 campers at 7€/day. Tents can be rented for 2€ and 5€/day (see below). People who prefer to rent a private or shared room in a house will need to contact Claudine as soon as possible, so she can secure the house. There is a two-bedroom 2-story house a short walk from the Quinta that has one room with a queen-sized bed and one room with two double beds. These two rooms share a beautiful oceanview balcony on the second floor. There is wifi, a full kitchen, and a patio. Another person can choose to sleep in a walled off section of the living room on a bed as well. Rates depend on how many students will share the house.
There is also a wonderful local hotel called “Arcanjo Hotel” with oceanfront rooms also very close to the Quinta. And there are several Airbnb accommodations.
Students staying off property will share meals on the Land, an important community time for the group.

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

Students need to fly into the PDL airport from Lisbon, London, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Boston or New York. SATA/Azores Airlines, TAP, RyanAir and Delta fly into PDL. You will need to have a Covid test done wihin 48 (Antigen) or 72 (PCR) hours before flying and fill out a SafeAzores questionnaire online with a QR code.
Once you arrive, there are cabs for 15€ (daytime) or 18€ (nighttime) that will take you to the Quinta. If several students arrive on the same flight or around the same time, I am happy to coordinate you so you can share a cab. And if I happen to be nearby I am happy to come get you. If you are adventurous and with a pack, you can also walk the spectacular 12 km (7.5 miles) to the land through Ponta Delgada along the coast.
Directions will be sent in Welcome Letter.

PAYMENT & REGISTRATION

Tuition & Meals for the 7-Day workshop is 650€. Camping is an additional 7€/day if you bring your own tent. I have 2 smaller 1-2 person tents for 2€/day and 2 family-size 2-room tents that can sleep 4 people for 5€/day. They come with inflatable mattresses and, if needed, a pillow, sheets and a blanket.
Locals can choose to just come for the day and lunch/snacks (10€/day). Please inquire with Claudine.
There are 2 work trade positions which will give the student 10€ off/day for working 75 minutes a day helping with breakfast or site preparations.
To guarantee your spot, either pay in full or make a 50% deposit. Payments will be non-refundable after March 1, 2022. Any cancellations between March 1-13 may be approved to be used as a credit for another workshop within 2 years, depending on the circumstances of the need to cancel (with proof). After March 13 there is no refund or credit possible.
Payments can be made in USD at the current conversion rate with Venmo, Zelle or Paypal to claudinedesiree@gmail.com. Payments in Euros can be made using Transferwise or as regular European inter-bank transfers.
Students will be sent a Welcome Letter 2 weeks before the workshop with any additional information, especially concerning the recommended trowels.

LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING YOU HERE!!!!

5-Day Cob + Straw Immersion
2022-09-20 - 2022-09-24 | Mud Dauber School of Natural Building, 8813 Lindley Mill Road, Snow Camp, NC, NC, 27349, United States
Our Immersion is our most popular course, and is designed to provide an understanding of some common natural wall systems: cob, strawbale, and slip-straw. The course emphasizes hands-on learning, and will focus most heavily on cob wall-building, balanced with the construction of some simple strawbale and slip-straw walls. Working with multiple wall systems will provide you with insight into which will fit your potential projects best.
To supplement our hands-on work sessions, we will also visit some local, natural homes, and speak with the owner/builders. Additionally, we’ll tour many of the demonstration buildings on our campus to share a variety of options regarding roofing, foundations, and finishing work. For key topics not covered in hands-on work, we will have discussions/Q+A sessions (see topics below).
Expect to leave the workshop with the confidence and knowledge to take on your own natural building project!

HANDS-ON:
* mixing cob by foot, and by machine
* building with cob
* installing straw bales and slip-straw within a structural wood frame
* preparing a strawbale wall for plaster
* mixing and applying clay plaster
* installing windows/doors
DISCUSSION:
* “Rubble Trench Foundations”
* “Simple Roofing Options”
* “Cob vs. Strawbale: the thermal spectrum + hybrid designs”
* CAMPUS TOUR! – We’ll get to tour campus buildings while discussing building methods, plus general Q+A
* LOCAL HOME TOUR! we will visit 2 strawbale homes – the homeowners will discuss: “the owner/builder experience”, “timber framing”, and “off-grid technologies”

DAILY SCHEDULE
8:00-9:00 Breakfast
9:00-12:45 Morning work session
12:45-1:45 Lunch
1:45-5:30 Afternoon work session
5:30-6:30 Unscheduled (Shower, relax)
6:30 Dinner! (no dinner on Day 5)

Earthen Plasters and Floors
2022-09-12 - 2022-09-16 | Abuela Gardens, 4649 Bear Canyon Rd., Willits, CA, 95490, United States
A great opportunity to develop your skills and understanding of earthen finishes, including:

straw-clay base coat plasters for sculpting and protection,
endless variations of clay finish plasters for durability and beauty,
durable, water-resistant earthen floors.

These techniques are suitable for natural buildings including straw bale and cob, as well for “eco-renovation” of conventional homes, where they can add natural beauty, thermal mass for increased energy efficiency, and health-enhancing moisture modulation. Plus, they are fun, artistic, and inexpensive!
Each day includes many hours of hands-on skill building, with an emphasis on proper tool use, recipe development and testing, and site organization for efficiency and flow. Learn to find, test, and ecologically harvest your own clay; how to choose the most appropriate finish option for your building project; how to prepare various wall surfaces to improve adhesion; and how to design your home to make the plasters last.
Instructors include Michael G. Smith and Sasha Rabin. See web site for details, instructor bios, and discounts.
