2009 August 1

Whidbey Island, Wa

Be part of history!This will be the FIRST code approved and permitted cob structure in Island County to date.
Spend 9 days in a beautiful location learning one of the simplest building methods on the planet. In this workshop, participants will learn the art of building with the earth and will leave with the confidence to build their own natural home or shelter. Mornings will be packed with hands on building, and afternoons will be a mix of more building, tours and relaxing. In the evenings there will be presentations and time to enjoy good food, music and the exploration of ideas with new friends. We will be building an 80-100 square foot cob vegetable stand from the ground up using a variety of techniques from foundation to roof. In this way, everyone will gain a sense of integrating the materials of sand, clay, soil and straw into the whole building process. We will be using local, abundant materials and discussing how to find these materials in most any location. We will also emphasize using human powered building techniques so participants will know what to do when oil and gas are scarce.We will work as a community team, taking care of our bodies and having fun.This workshop will be a key component in a world with fewer fossil fuels. Through this experience, participants will walk away with a sense of empowerment to build in a natural way.

Cost  $850

$25.00 discount if paid in full by June 15.
$25.OO if two or more people sign up together. (Each person receives discount.) Total possible discount $50.00 per person.

Teens 12-18 $400.00

Children 5-11 $150.00

Questions?Please email: ancientearth@whidbey.com or call: 360-331-7621

Boonvile, CA

Instructor: Michael G. Smith, Darryl Berlin, and friends

http://www.emeraldearth.org/

Tuition: $760

*Cost:* $760 includes camping and 3 delicious organic meals per day. 10%
discount for full payment by June 29 and for Mendocino County residents.

This comprehensive workshop will give you hands-on experience in up
to 10 different natural building techniques including cob, straw bale,
slipstraw or light straw-clay, slip-and-chip, clay wattle, earthen
plasters, hand-made paints, and more. The workshop aims to familiarize
students with the basic family of natural building materials: clay or
earth, straw, wood, and stone, and what can be accomplished with each
alone and in combination with the others. At least half of each day is
spent in hands-on building with a high ratio of experienced instructors.
Lectures and discussions cover passive solar and other design principles
for energy-efficient, compact natural homes. There will also be an
extensive tour of the most complete natural building demonstration site
on the West Coast, with an emphasis on ecological materials harvesting,
off-grid electrical generation, greywater reclamation, composting
toilets, and more. Evening slide presentations and videos, a sauna and a
dip in our pond, and wood-fired pizza from our earthen oven round out
this 8-day intensive experience.

Grafton, New York — late summer 2009

Two-day hands-on workshop on natural plasters with a focus on their application in straw bale construction.  For all skill levels.  You will leave with a basic understanding of prepping, mixing and applying a variety of natural plasters.  We will address topics including various mixing methods, tool use, properties of plaster components, material estimation, and how to approach different scale projects.  This workshop couples well with the Straw Bale Workshop.  Lunches included.  Cost:  $200-250.  Contact:  (518) 229-1339 or jonah@hvnb.net .  Website:  http://www.hvnb.net

New Cuyama, California

Part 2 – Sustainable Aid: Overseas Development Work – With Robyn Francis, international permaculture designer and teacher. Builds further on the skills-set of Part 1 for those working or intending to be involved in overseas aid and development work. Key issues facing the 2/3rds world are addressed together with Permaculture strategies to facilitate solution processes. Topics include survival security (food, water, shelter), health and nutrition, environmental health, kitchen garden and local food security programs, appropriate low-tech options, and integrating permaculture with traditional production systems in humid and arid tropics, facilitation processes for community directed program development, project appraisal and evaluation, disaster preparedness, post disaster relief and recovery, research, working with development agencies and NGO’s, and issues of personal security in overseas field work. Activities include discussion, case studies, presentations, participatory processes, role play, group projects, practical and experiential activities. This course can be very challenging on a deep personal level, and will provide an invaluable basis for either working in the field or with support foundations and organizations. Details on cost and registration process coming soon! To join the initial interest list, contact: Kolmi Majumdar, info@quailsprings.org

http://www.quailsprings.org