The dream of a natural home can come closer to reality by building skills towards taking it on as owner builder. Elke has been teaching cob and other skills for more than ten years and many of her students are now teachers themselves. As an instructor Elke believes in the power of hands-on learning, working on real projects and building relationships.
Below you will also find workshops facilitated by others who work with similar intention.
Join us to build your toolkit for a more sustainable life!
This course is designed for Home-owners, Realtors, Builders and Artists. If you want to be inspired to build a “Hand-sculpted House” out of natural materials this course if full of unique and innovative design and construction methodologies. From earthen construction to strawbale design….with stone, mosaic, water catchment, and integrating altnernative energy systems you will be taken through a visual narrative with time for discussion on design, material, and cost choices. References to regulatory authorities, engineers, and natural builders are available in the course.
LOCATION: O.U.R. ECOVILLAGE (*food and accommodation available onsite by reservation)
TOPICS:
Materials from Nature
Passive solar design tools
Steps to building a natural house
Design tips to start your own Design
DESCRIPTION: The first step to making the dream of a natural house your reality is creating a design. From choosing a good site, basics of passive solar design, space saving strategies… to choosing the appropriate materials for your project- we will present ideas, exercises, and information, share experiences and support your personal process. A packed weekend course to get you started.
Build a studio or cabin in 5 days: a workshop for gardeners, artists, and home owners
Dates:
Spring: May 12-16. 2010
Fall: Sept. 10-12 & 18/19 (two weekends)
Call it a studio, a meditation hut, a garden shed, or anything else you like: many jurisdictions allow you to build a small structure without requiring a building permit. 100 square feet is a common size limit (do check with your municipality before you start).
In 5 days we will build a complete small straw bale building and you will have the skills to practice on your own.
Here’s how we do it:
Day 1: prepare base, intro to Straw bale building, prepare bales
Day 2: stack bale walls
Day 3: Top plate, roof framing, roofing
Day 4: pre-finish bale walls, trim, and prepare earth plaster
Day 5: Plaster
(Day 6: go home and start your own!)
Participants will work hands-on on all parts and will receive a step by step reference to take home.
Straw bale building is applicable in many locations- offering good insulation properties, compatibility with natural finishes and the beauty of thick walls. If you are looking to practice on a small straw bale structure before launching into a full size home this is a great opportunity to refine your skill.
Costs: O.U.R. Alumni receive 20% off workshop fees
Make your home a natural beauty! Plasters can be applied to earthen walls, over base layers onto Straw bale and Light clay infill as well as drywall. This can be a do-it-yourself method for improving your indoor climate: clay plasters absorb humidity from the air and release it when the conditions are very dry. They also absorb odors. Colors are added to taste and other effects can be achieved by using different finishing techniques.
Natural plasters are made from clay, sand and fine fibre with the addition of other ingredients. They are available pre-mixed from natural home building suppliers but can easily be mixed from scratch. Learn recipes, mixing and application methods for plasters and natural paints, and save by doing it yourself.
Participants of this workshop work and learn with the natural building skillbuilders, our intern group. We work on real buildings, giving you an experience of real scope of work.
Cob in the VillageJune 28- July 3, 2009 at O.U.R.Ecovillage
5 days of cob building with the goal to complete the walls for the new cob bathhouse. A high energy workshop offering real skills toward building your own cob building. Learn how to evaluate materials, basics of designing for cob, mixing techniques, wall building, arches, sculpting and fastening doors, windows and roofs. We have beautiful finished buildings on site to study and learn from.
We spend time to discuss related issues, design, managing your project and how to deal with building codes.
Working with cob is building community as well: you meet likeminded people and support each other and explore your creativity in a fun and safe environment.
Our facilitators are experienced builders who guide the process and maintain a positive atmosphere for learning.
O.U.R.Ecovillage is a great place to attend a workshop: we offer local food, camp and guest house accommodation, extensive gardens many other activities and the experience of communal living.
If you are interested in hosting a workshop talk to me. Your project will have to suit the needs of facilitating a group.
Natural House Design: 2 day and one evening format that fits for a weekend This workshop can be held in a livingroom or a hall. A good offer for an organisation interested in promoting natural building awareness.
Cob building: from 4 days to weeks
Natural Building: Make the connection between the materials. Suitable for a hybrid project
Natural finishes: Cob or Strawbale houses as well as natural renovation can be explored
