Start Date: as soon as you want…

Silk Hope, NC

Instructor Danielle Acres

danielleacres@gmail.com

http://earthenacres.wordpress.com/

I am looking for an intern who will work alongside me on the construction of a small 2 story cob cottage. The first floor is almost complete and as the work on the second floor begins there is the opportunity for in depth learning about cob building as we build up the walls, incorporate straw bales, windows, shelving, second story flooring, a small balcony, and then build a living roof. Meals and campsite will be provided in exchange for 25 hours of work each week.

Also, if there is an interest in learning about human scale organic vegetable production, perennial gardening systems, or wild edible and mushroom foraging, there is plenty of that going on here that you can take part in. There are also plans in the works for other building projects, as we will be building an outdoor kitchen and an outhouse. So if you have a passion for natural building there are opportunities here for learning/experimentation.

Contact me to learn more and chat about building!

Ithaca, NY

Instructor: Erica Ann

http://dayonedesign.org

Tuition: $75

Amending your soil with Bio-Char is the next big thing in terms of carbon sequestration and increasing crop yields. Using a 55-gal drum, clay, sand and straw, you can learn to build your own Bio-Char Kiln. This hands-on two day workshop will go through the entire process of building the kiln (using cob and adobe techniques) for producing your own charcoal. The following Tuesday there will also be a workshop covering the process of preparing your charcoal for addition to your garden and all the benefits of using Bio-Char. Some experiment with us!

http://www.mamaroja.blogspot.com

Tuition: $825

We will be offering an 8-week in-depth internship program to individuals interested in getting hands-on experience in organic gardening, natural food production, earthen and natural building, seed saving, and community living.

This will be an opportunity for personal growth through shared learning in which interns will cooperate in the different aspects of a dynamic sustainable community. The internship will be a chance to take responsibility for providing for ones basic needs in a positive working environment of like-minding people.

Topics of Focus:
Organic Gardening:
Composting and Soil Amending, Bed-Making, Planting, Seed Saving, Companion Planting, Natural Pesticides, Harvesting, and more…

Natural Building
We will be building a small Earthen Cottage from start to finish: Adobe Brick-Making, Foundation, Design Principles, Wall Construction, Plaster and Painting, Roofing, and creative use of site-found and salvaged materials…

Extended Sustainable Ideas:
Food Product Making, Jarring and Preserving, Alternative Refrigeration, Milk-Product Creating, Fermentation and Cultivating Micro-organisms, Animal Husbandry, Alternative Energies, Reforestation, and there will also be plenty of space to explore projects of personal interest and intrigue.

Also, there will be opportunities for practicing Yoga, Meditation, Massage (Thai and Swedish), Medicinal Plant Searches, Nature Hikes, Waterfall and River Swimming…

Birdsong Hollow Woodbury, Tennessee

This workshop is designed to prepare you to build you own cob home from start to finish. Includes hands-on experience building a natural stone foundation, cob walls, plaster, plumbing, electricity, and roof. We will also cover important topics like selecting your building site, finding materials, testing your cob mix, using a tractor to mix cob, passive solar design, dealing with the building department and more! Price includes food (with vegetarian and vegan options), camping, hot private showers, swimming and lots of fun. Group and work-trade discount opportunities are available.

Cost: $850

(850) 982-2597

http://www.barefootbuilder.com/upcoming.htm

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

Mayne Island, B.C.

Cobworks is currently interviewing for 4 apprentices to work with us this summer. Apprentices will take all of the Mayne Island summer courses as well as work on individual projects with Patrick Hennebery. During the summer, apprentices will learn to: build dry-stack stone foundations, work with a minimal amount of concrete, select and collect sustainable roundwood from forest and beaches, run a small bandsaw mill, turning logs to lumber, design and build a greywater system for a cob house, learn to safely operate power construction tools, build a round log frame building, participate in 2 cob workshops [bench/garden wall and 400sq,ft.house], finish a cob bath house using earthen plasters and natural finishes, learn a quick and strong notching method for round post and beam construction, install an earthen floor, and work in an organic garden and learn basic permaculture principles. Participants will camp in community at Fernhollow Campground on Mayne Island. All food will be local and organic when possible. Apprentices will share in food prep and community living. For more information or to request an interview, please email pat@cobworks.com