Salt Spring Island, BC

Instructor Robert Laporte

http://www.econest.com

Tuition $500

Module 1: Clay/Fiber Construction
Clay/fiber analysis, mixing and placement
Framework, formwork & teamwork
Site organization & material handling
Participants will build the clay/straw walls of a cottage

Durham, NC

Instructor Greg Allen

http://www.carolinacob.com

Tuition: work trade

I am relatively new in the field of natural building (a 2008 apprenticeship graduate from Cob Cottage Company). I spent last year designing/building a gardener’s cottage at a farm in Carrboro, NC. This spring I will be starting a new project in Durham at a co-housing community, building a sacred space in which two community shamans can perform their work.

I will be running weekend workshops almost every weekend, teaching students about each step of the process from excavation to finish details (check out www.carolinacob.com). Between weekends, I will be working on the project alone. I’m looking for a builder (or non-builder) who is passionate about natural materials, who would be interested in building alongside me, and assisting me in teaching the workshops.

I will be living in a tent near the building site, and cooking my own meals outdoors. I don’t have any means to pay you with anything but knowledge and experience, but you would be able to set up a tent and cook with me (meaning that you needn’t pay rent anywhere). The project will start in April and run roughly through mid-June. You could apprentice for part or all of this time (at least 6 weeks, please).

E-mail me at gjallen2@gmail.com or call 315-657-3980 and leave a message if I’m not there. Thanks for your interest!

This workshop is a 10-day intensive designed to prepare you to build a cob home.

• Get hands on experience in each stage of construction so you can go home with the confidence and skills to build your own house.
• Alternating work and class lecture will cover safety, financing, building siting, planning, permitting, foundations, walls, windows, doors, roofs, plasters, floors, sculptural work, electricity and plumbing.
• Use a range of cob construction techniques from hand and foot mixing to tractor-cob.
• Bring your building plans, designs and ideas to discuss with experienced builders with an eye toward framing a do-able project and realistic expectations.

What to expect at this cob workshop:

Accommodations weather and meals:

You will be tent camping on rural land about 5 minutes from town. You can expect hot days and cool nights. This project will be among the first buildings on the site of Mariposa Ecovillage. There are composting toilets and hot showers. We provide simple hearty meals of fresh whole foods and eat three meals a day together. The food will be vegan and vegetarian. We will provide coffee and tea with breakfast in the mornings. If you have any special dietary requirements please let us know ahead of time and we will almost certainly be able to accommodate you.

If you prefer not to camp you can rent a bed in our bunkhouse for $10/night. Please let us know well in advance if you want to reserve a bed. There are also reasonably priced hotels in the vicinity.

Family Friendly Cob Classes

Our July workshops will include special accommodations for families with children including natural building projects, crafts, and educational activities on the site and at the adjacent Wildcat Bluff nature center. Our onsite kids-camp director will co-ordinate childcare turns with parents to allow maximum participation in hands-on and lecture sessions. Youth will have the option of working with the adults and playing with the kids.

Workshop Location & Time:

Mariposa Ecovillage, Amarillo, Texas

Summer 2010 Contact us for timeframes.

Request Cob Workshop Registration Information:

Send an email to: events@nbnetwork.org and we’ll give you everything you need to register for this workshop!

You’ll start fairly early in the morning and take an extended lunch break. There will be lecture classes and demonstrations during breaks in the building and slide shows, videos, and camp fires at night.

HomeGrown HideAways: Berea, KY.

Instructor Jeff Bousquet

www.HomeGrownHideAways.org

Tuition: $225

This workshop is a simple garden wall that demonstrates EarthBag basics including sourcing of materials, design specifications, and filling, stacking, tamping, and mortaring of filled bags. We will also be incorporating fenestrations, arches, and decorative glass.

HomeGrown HideAways: Berea, KY.

Instructor Josh Bills

www.HomeGrownHideAways.org

Tuition: $225 + Textbook

In conjunction with Appalachia-Science in the Public Interest, the Ky Solar Partnership, and the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development, HomeGrown HideAways is pleased to offer a hands-on Solar Water Heater Installation workshop. This workshop will be presented in accordance with NABCEP standards and follow the NABCEP Solar Thermal Task Analysis. Pre-Requisite and Textbook Purchase Required. More Details Coming Soon!

HomeGrown HideAways: Berea, KY.

Instructor Nathan & Jessa Turner

www.HomeGrownHideAways.org

Tuition: Free

HomeGrown HideAways will be part of the Berea Solar Tour, sponored by Appalachia – Science in the Public Interest, the Ky Solar Partnership, and Sustainable Berea. Come see the results of the summer workshop series and speak with educated professionals about all things sustainable. Learn what you can do to make a difference in your household!