Learn to build an Earthbag and Cob Cabin
- A start-to-finish series
Location: Newberry Cohousing
Register Now
Come experience the design and construction of an earthen building near forest park. Have fun combining resource-consciousness, creativity, and construction skills in this start-to-finish series of hands-on workskhops. Learn to build quickly with rammed Earthbags. Sculpt shelves and niches with Cob. integrate all the pieces of a dwelling. You will learn what you need to build structurally sound earthen dwellings using locally available materials. The design is a 16 ft x 12 ft ellipse with a loft and a usable living roof space.
Topics covered:
Earthbag and Cob walls Sculptural Cob Passive solar design Living (eco) roofs Earthen Plasters Earthen Floors Earthen Fireplaces Gravelbag foundations Innovative use of recycled, discarded and on-site materials
Scott Howard combines a relaxed teaching style with almost ten years of showing people how to build with earth. He founded Earthen Hand Natural Building in 2002, with the goal to build and promote artistic earthen architecture. He offers workshops about earthen building techniques locally and abroad.
Register for the full series = $800(this option no longer avail). You can also register for individual weekends = $225.
All workshops listed in this series are from 10 am to 6pm, with an hour lunch break.
Click here: To Register Now,
or contact the instructor about Registration, Work Trade, Group discounts, or other details: scott@earthenhand.com
1
Foundations & Walls - Earthbag & Cob
May 22-25 (Memorial day weekend)
Note that the 22nd is an optional day for participants.
Tuition: $325, Includes lunch.
Skills you will learn & practice: Siting a building, Passive solar design, Earthbag and gravel foundations, French drains, Earthbag & Cob wall systems, Integrating wood and earthen walls, Installing windows in earthen walls.
22nd: Lecture on the "Earthbag wall system". Install wood posts for future windows and door. Build with Earthbags/Gravelbags Learn about installation of plumbing and electrical conduit.
23rd: Lectures & Slides on "Earthen Building Today", the "Earthbag system". Complete a drainage trench behind the building and the french drain under the Earthbag foundation.
24th: Lectures & Slides on "Passive Solar Design in the NW", and "My Favorite Houses". Learn to mix Cob, and how to build Earthbag walls.
25th: Learn how to make your building 'plumb' and earthquake proof building with Cob and Earthbags.
2
Walls, Windows & Loft - Earthbag & Cob
We are offering this workshop twice - May 30-31 & June 20-21
If you register for the entire course, you may choose either weekend or come to both.
Tuition: $225, Includes lunch.
Skills you will learn & practice: Earthbag & Cob wall systems, Install windows in earthen walls, Create sculptural features with Cob (shelves, seats, etc.), Integrate wood and earthen walls.
Day 1: Lectures & Slides on "Permacultural Buildings", the "Earthbag system", and "Passive Solar Design in the NW". Build with Cob and Earthbags. Learn about window placement and installation. Put in window boxes, window sills, and loft beams.
Day 2: Cobbing. Install a window and wood posts.
June 7th, FREE WORKPARTY during the Village Building Convergence, "Building an Earthbag and Cob House"
Suggested Donation: $0-$25. Bring snacks to share.
All are welcome, Please RSVP. Skills you will learn: Basics of Cob and Earthbag building.
3
Earthen Fireplaces & Earthen Plasters
June 27-28
Tuition: $225, Includes lunch.
Skills you will learn & practice: Sculpture with Cob, Earthen Rumford fireplace design and construction, Earthen plaster and paint mixing and application. Integrating metal, wood and Cob.
27th: Lectures & Slides on "The mass-heating fireplace", and "Overview of natural finishes". Mix and apply plasters and paints. Do tests and experiment with guidance. Layout and begin work on the fireplace.
28th: Lectures & Slides on "The future of earthen building". and "Earth plasters for health". Assemble a Rumford fireplace and add sculptural detail to it.
4
Eco-roofs & Earthen Floors
July 18-19
Tuition: $225, Includes lunch.
Skills you will learn & practice: Eco-roof design and construction, Earthen floor design and construction.
18th: Lectures & Slides on "Natural floors", and "Biotecture". Install the Eco-roof and seed it. Complete a layer on the earthen floor.
19th: Lecture & Slides on "Making Cob durable". Complete another layer on the earthen floor. Celebrate!
Register Now
Enroll early before the course fills up!
Payment Guide:
We accept Check, Money Order, Cash, or Pay Pal.
1) Full Tuition fees for any or all, one, a couple, or a few workshops. (show your full commitment to come by making this payment today)
2) Reserve your spot for the series - $200 (non-refundable) (full balance due upon arrival)
3) Reserve your spot for one weekend - $100 / weekend (non-refundable) (full balance due upon arrival)
Entire Series (4 workshops, 10 days)= $800 Workshop 1 (4 days; May 22-25)= $325 Workshop 2 (2 days; May 30-31 or June 20-21)= $225 Workshop 3 (2 days; June 27-28)= $225 Workshop 4 (2 days; July 18-19)= $225
To Register:
Send your check or money order payment to us via:
Scott Howard
7155 SE Harrison St.
Portland, Oregon 97215
Make checks payable to: Scott Howard
OR
Use PayPal to make your payment.
After sending a payment, Please take a moment to compose an email to scott@earthenhand.com with the following information:
Which workshop are you signing up for? Name Physical address Which workshop(s) are you registering for? Where are you coming from & are you interested in camping facilities? Which method of payment have you selected? When was it sent? What was the amount sent?
Please wait to make travel arrangements until the week(s) prior just in case a workshop is cancelled.
Cancellation policy: We understand that in rare circumstances, people's plans must change. We are able to refund workshop fees as follows: We will refund your workshop fee minus $100 for individual weekend workshop registrations, or $200 for entire series registrations.
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