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Building a cob wall.

2009 WORKSHOPS:

All Workshops provide an exciting opportunity to learn: through hands-on practice, presentations, teamwork and the fun of working as a group. Below is a list of upcoming workshops. Except where noted, fees include the use of camping facilities and 3 vegetarian meals daily. To register for a workshop please send a $200 deposit to the workshop instructor. Payment methods: Cash or postal money orders only. The balance is payable upon arrival. Do not make travel arrangements until the course has been confirmed.

2009 Workshops

May 13-18

Instructors: Pat Hennebery and Kit Maloney

For more information or to reserve a space please contact pat@cobworks.com.

Cob and Glass Bath House

Lake Elsinor, CA

$495 USD

Join us for a fun week with our friends at Pine Manor Retreat (pinemanor.com) where we will build a cob and glass mosaic bath house. During the week long workshop we will learn the basics of cob, including sculptural elements, archways and niches. We will also install windows that will then be surfaced with mosaic coloured glass. There are several other earthen buildings at Pine Manor for us to view as well. All meals and lodging will be provided.

 

June 1st-August 30th

Instructors: Patrick Hennebery & co.

For more information or to request an interview, please email pat@cobworks.com.

Cobworks Apprenticeship Program

Mayne Island

$4000

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. Patrick has built 25 cob homes to date, as well as numerous cob walls, benches, ovens, Rumford fireplaces and rocket stoves. He works mainly with round logs, beach wood, recycled and locally milled material. One of his favorite topics is how to build a home where none of the materials has travelled more than 10 miles! Patrick has lived and built on Mayne Island for 26 years.


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
-Work in an organic garden and learn basic permaculture principles


Participants will camp in community at Fernhollow Campground on Mayne Island. There is a covered kitchen with a gas stove as well as a wood fired shower and composting toilets. All food will be local and organic when possible. Apprentices will be share in food prep and community living.


Mayne Island (mayneisland.com) is a small 8 square mile coastal community with a fulltime population of approx. 900. It is situated between Vancouver and Victoria in the Gulf of Georgia and is accessible by B.C.
Ferries[bcferries.com] from both cities. There is a small village, Miners Bay, with stores, gas station, Internet access and restaurants. Oh yea, there is also a pub.

June 19-22

Instructors: Kit Maloney and Jamie Ferguson

For more information or to reserve a space, please contact Kit at lunakits@yahoo.com.

Kate’s Cob: Garden Wall and Bench

Mayne Island

$350

Join us as we revisit “Kate’s Cob” on Mayne Island. We will add a garden wall, arched entrance and bench alongside her beautiful cob house that we began building in 2003. This 4 day workshop will focus on the basics of cob. There are also opportunities for sculptural details and niches.

 

June 21-26

Instructor: Pat Hennebery

For more infomation or to reserve a space, please contact pat@cobworks.com.

Building with Roundwood

Mayne Island, B.C.

$700

During this week long workshop we will construct an 8-sided building with log rafters on a reciprocating roof. We will also layout and pour the foundation pads for the posts. This is a simple, quick and inexpensive, yet strong method of construction suitable for homes, cabins, barns or workshops. Most of the materials will be wood from the beach. In the 6 days we will cover: materials and availability, Simple and strong notches, fasteners, foundations, roof designs, wall infill materials, tools and safety.


Participants will camp at Fernhollow Campground. All meals are provided and will be local and as organic as available. The program will be instructed by Patrick Hennebery, who has lived and built on Mayne Island for 26 years.


July 5 -18

Instructors: Pat Hennebery & co.

For more information contact pat@cobworks.com.

Cob and Community

Mayne Island

$1500

Please join us for another cob house project on Mayne Island, B.C! This house will be approx. 400 square feet with a post and beam frame made out of beach logs. We will also build all of the the window and door frames. Participants will learn every aspect of cob construction: identifying materials, foundations, design and siting, mixing, building techniques, niches, sculptural elements and attachments. Participants will have the unique opportunity to tour some of the completed Mayne Island cob houses. We will also answer many questions about natural building during our theory classes: grey water, composting toilets, passive solar, heating, permits, electrical and plumbing, living roofs, earthen floors etc!

Working and living together as a small community is fun! Shared meals and evening tours are a great way to make new friends. (The kind of friends who will help you when it is time to build your own dream cob}! Meals are always yummy vegetarian, and as organic and local as possible. Participants will camp at Fernhollow Campground.

This workshop will give you the skills and confidence to take on your own cob project.

Instructor: Patrick Hennebery has completed 25 cob homes. He is also a carpenter, timber framer and “scrounger extraordinaire” of used and recycled materials. He has been building on Mayne Island for 26 Years.

 

July 31st to August 3rd

Please call Tracy @250-629-6930 fo more details or tracy@cobworks.com

Cob courtyard and bench

Pender Island

$350.00

Come and learn the basics of cob and so much more.

You will learn mixing cob, applying, trimming, openings and the intricate details of a cob bench.

There will be plenty of hands on learning, plus time for theory and disscusions.

August 22-30, 2009

please visit
www.elkecole.com/touch_earth.html
for details

Touch Earth Touch Spirit

Building Cob in the Land of the Hopi

near Flagstaff Arizona

with Elke Cole

 

Mid September to End October 2009

visit Elke's website
for more info and to apply

Natural Building volunteer camp Tanzania 2009

6 weeks

Building Ubuyu 1, a home for children for Baobab Home

Elke Cole and volunteers work and learn with local builders.

For more listings of natural building workshops: cobworkshops.org

 

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