2010 August

Warren, VT

Instructor Ace McArleton, Jacob Deva Racusin

http://www.yestermorrow.org/courses/detail/strawbale-design-build?StartDate=2010-08-27&SortColumn=StartDate&SortDir=ASC&CategorySlug=natural-building

Have you always wondered about strawbale construction? Heard it is only for hot and dry climates? Think again! With their combination of insulation and thermal mass, plastered strawbale walls can be perfect for cold – and even wet – climates if they are designed and built according to a set of time tested principles. This course balances sessions in the classroom and on a demonstration project so you will learn to think your way through a bale house while gaining a feel for the nature of straw, clay and lime as building materials.

Warren, VT

Instructor Ace McArleton

www.yestermorrow.org

Finishing walls with natural, nontoxic products imparts a number of benefits to a building, whether you are working on a plastered strawbale wall, or interior gypsum wall board. The ingredients are simple and safe, the process is creative and fun, and the possibilities are endless! In this course, we will look at the art, science and practice of making your own paints, washes, and other finishes with clay, lime, casein, wheat paste, mica, sand, pigments, oils and other natural materials. Students will be introduced to a variety of materials and their working properties, as well as gain a solid understanding of the basics of where and how to apply these products to different wall systems. This class will be mostly hands-on, with discussion ongoing throughout the course.

Dominican Republic

Instructor Kyle Bergman

http://www.yestermorrow.org/courses/detail/design-build-in-the-dominican-republic?StartDate=2010-08-26&SortColumn=StartDate&SortDir=ASC

This 18-day design/build adventure will focus on building a unique community project in a rural part of the Dominican Republic. The class begins with a group design process culminating in a single design emanating from the collective ideas of the participants. The remainder of the course is an intensive sprint to build what has been designed, utilizing local, environmentally appropriate materials, while allowing the design and building processes to continually inform one another. This class will take place in a remote context; with rustic lodging, limited or no electricity, lots of nature, and tons of hard work. It will be the experience of a lifetime, providing an immersion into a unique Afro-Caribbean island culture, while fostering community development through hands-on action that meets the needs and furthers the goals of a grass roots organization. Tuition includes travel within the Dominican Republic, camping facilities, and all meals. Visit the Yestermorrow website for project details.

Warren, VT

Instructor Ace McArleton

http://http://www.yestermorrow.org/courses/detail/natural-design-build?StartDate=2010-08-26&SortColumn=StartDate&SortDir=ASC

This course provides students with a comprehensive exploration of all facets of creating an energy efficient, climate-specific natural structure. In this two-week intensive, we will engage in studio sessions, hands-on construction experience, lectures, slide shows, and site tours. In the studio, students will develop a comprehensive design of a project through the creation of drawings of elevations, sections, plans, and scale
models. In the shop, students will build a variety of insulative wall systems, examining critical details such as doors and windows, wall to roof connections, air sealing, framing options, plastering, and much more. Topics include straw bale construction, fiber-clay infill and other natural wall systems, clay and lime plasters, natural roof options, alternative foundations, water and energy conservation systems, permaculture and building-site relationships, and social and cultural contexts. Emphasis will be paid to designing and detailing
for success in cold, wet climates.

Warren, VT

Instructor Hilton Dier III, John Ringle

http://www.yestermorrow.org/courses/detail/solar-design?StartDate=2010-08-26&SortColumn=StartDate&SortDir=ASC

This workshop will present the basic design, theory and methods required to maximize the solar potential of your present or future home. Day one will use lectures, slide shows and tours to show how to use passive design for home heating, cooling and day lighting. Day two will cover the basics of photovoltaics for home power. The course will expand your understanding of how to use the sun’s energy to brighten your life, heat your living spaces and water, and recharge your batteries for a more natural, comfortable and economical home.

Warren, VT

Instructor Gaelan Brown

http://www.yestermorrow.org/courses/detail/diy-alternative-hot-water-system?StartDate=2010-08-26&SortColumn=StartDate&SortDir=ASC&CategorySlug=solar-design

The French farmer/inventor Jean Pain became famous for his innovative ideas about the interrelationship between agriculture and energy production. One of his concepts, the Pain Mound, focused on the use of woody biomass as an effective compost material while collecting heat from the composting process. This course will consist of the construction of a Pain Mound hot water system in the same location as a prototype built in 2009, incorporating the existing plumbing and water-lines but using fresh biomass material.

Warren, VT

Instructor Skip Dewhirst, Seth Kelley

http://www.yestermorrow.org/courses/detail/timberframing?StartDate=2010-08-26&SortColumn=StartDate&SortDir=ASC&CategorySlug=solar-design

Over the last two decades, the historic craft of timberframing in residential construction has experienced a revival. Students will learn the fundamentals of designing and constructing a timberframe using mortise and tenon joinery. Layout techniques, tool use and sharpening, and joinery cutting methods are taught as we work on a small timberframe project. Evening lectures will address the history of the craft, finishing techniques, and mechanical systems for timberframe houses. We will also touch on frame design, joinery choices, and integration of frame and house design. This course will focus on traditional hand-cut joinery and tools and will also demonstrate some of the power tools used by modern timberframers. The class will raise the structure on the final day.

Start / End Date 11/13/2010-11/14/201

Warren, VT

Instructor Marc Rosenbaum

http://www.yestermorrow.org/courses/detail/introduction-to-passive-house?StartDate=2010-08-26&SortColumn=StartDate&SortDir=ASC&CategorySlug=solar-design

Passive House is a German approach to building design and construction that has resulted in some of the lowest energy use buildings in the world. Buildings need to meet strict criteria of energy usage, including total primary energy, and must be tested to be extremely airtight. In climates similar to Germany, all the heating energy is delivered by the fresh air ventilation system. In this course we’ll look at the principles behind the Passive House, present the Passive House Planning Package analysis tool, and look at some examples of construction details and finished buildings. The course will be given at a relaxed pace that allows plenty of time for discussion – this is not a substitute for the nine day Passive House Consultant training.