learning to build with earth

i recently completed an intensive ten day workshop on cob building- a method for building earthen structures.



bj, asher and i headed up to coquille, oregon between august 2 - 12. it was a big adventure on lots of levels: our first big outing with asher, our first big drive with asher, camping with asher, my first hands-on experince with natural building, and such beautiful country to explore on the oregon coast.

the workshop was really amazing. it was put on by the cob cottage company or run the north american school of natural building. these are the people who started the cob building renaissance in the us. we covered everything from siting to foundation, walls, natural plasters, floors and roofs.

one of the things i liked the most was the underlying philosophy what they're all about:
- use locally resourced natural materials whenever possible
- use human power rather than power tools
- anyone can learn and undertake cob building
- build inexpensively and focus more on living joyfully and in connection

i'm sold. and now i'm excited to learn more about other natural building techniques such as straw bale and timber framing. and i can't wait to get a chance to put what i learned to work building with cob.