Natural Building workshops/forums

[Amanda_931]

The cob-list posted two recently.

The first one, Somewhere not too far from Austin, might even be free.

"Hello Fellow Cobbers
With so much interest in cob these days, it seems like an
appropriate time
to kick things into gear. Terri Finch-Koinuma and I have
decided to host a
cob forum to bring together Central Texans who want to talk
about and work
with cob. The main purpose of this event is to discuss how
to make building
with cob more feasible for both the owner-builder and those
who require a
professional builder. A description of the forum is
attached. We hope many
of you will be able to join us for some good cob talk out
at Terri and
Ari's cob and soon-to-be straw bale homestead.
Let us know if you have any questions.
Gayle


Gayle Borst, AIA
Stewardship, Inc.
512-478-9033
512-478-6851 fax
gayle@StewardshipArchitecture.com
www.stewardshiparchitecture.com"

The second one is quite inexpensive, as such things go, in Pasadena.

COB OVEN BUILDING WORKSHOP
Fun with mud!

WHEN:  Sunday, June 5
WHERE: Path to Freedom - Sustainable Resource Center
              631 Cypress Ave, Pasadena, CA  91103 / 626.795.8400
TIME:  10am - 6pm
FEE: $65 (or more if you can afford it)

RSVP:  Please reserve and prepay (we accept credit cards) @
www.pathtofreedom.com/outreach/workshops/coboven.htm  

EVENT DESCRIPTION:  Building with earth is as easy as mud pies and dirt cheap!  

Learn how to build a simple fully functioning sculpted oven. This earthen
sculpture will be built using inexpensive materials: sand, clay, straw, water
and a few simple techniques.

You will learn about materials selection and evaluation, mixing and cobbing
techniques, and designing. Cob has been used for millennia. With recent rises in
the price of lumber and increasing interest in natural and environmentally safe
building practices, cob is enjoying a renaissance. This ancient technology
doesn't contribute to deforestation, pollution or mining nor depend on
manufactured materials or power tools. Earth is non-toxic and completely
recyclable.

The workshop will be a mix of hands-on (and feet in!). Please wear clothes that
you wouldn't mind getting dirty.  Course is as physical as you choose; activity
is hands-on, cooperative, and enjoyable. Space is limited.

BRING: A hat, suntan lotion, towel, slip-ons, perhaps a change of clothes and
food & beverages to share.

INSTRUCTOR: Ray Cirino, of Cobanation, is an experienced and innovative cobber.
He will share his love and enthusiasm of cob, demonstrating his own unique and
whimsical design.

Contact information there is dervaes@pathtofreedom.com

[Amanda_931]

And for those not too far from Bath NY, there's a big, expensive, week-long affair at the end of June, beginning of July.  The registration is about to close, IIRC.

These are the times I wish I didn't have four cats and four dogs.

Pictures last year looked WONDERFUL.  Rob Roy was there (and should be again) and they were moving BIG ROCKS.  All kinds of things were going on.

snipped and edited a bit from their news release.

PeaceWeaver News  Release
Thunder Mountain, Bath, New York  14810
607-776-4060            _www.peaceweavers.com_ (http://www.peaceweavers.com/)
 

.....
2005Â  Northeast Regional Natural Building Colloquium in Bath, NY
The 2005Â  Northeast Regional Natural Building Colloquium, Building With
Spirit, will be held June  25 - July 2 at the PeaceWeaver Retreat Sanctuary in
Bath, NY.  This second annual event will gather over thirty of the foremost  
designers, builders, educators and innovators in the fields of natural building  
and sustainable living to share their knowledge and hands-on skills.  

Natural Building refers to construction using a  variety of natural materials
including but not limited to straw bales, unmilled logs, rammed earth, cob,
adobe, earthbags,  thatch, cordwood, bamboo, slate and more.  Natural building
often incorporates the use of renewable energy as  well.
......

To those interested in building a natural home or addition, Building With
Spirit offers the  opportunity to get hands-on experience with many techniques,
including timber  framing, straw bale, cob and cordwood construction.  This year's Colloquium will also feature  a special emphasis on earthen plastering and
natural finishes.

Additional demonstrations and presentations will focus on  permaculture,
solar and wind energy, adobe, earthen floors, thatching, slate  roofing, passive
solar design, monolithic stone raising, bamboo, and log cabin  construction.  
The Colloquium's program includes a workshop on the ins  and outs of
contracting with natural designer/builders and working with local  code
officials to
successfully build an alternative structure.  

...Typically one can  attend this
kind of event only out West.  But we've found that there's a great demand
for
this type of information,  not only here in western New  York, but throughout
the entire northeast.
....

For more information on Building With Spirit or to register,  visit
_www.peaceweavers.com_ (http://www.peaceweavers.com/)  or call the  PeaceWeavers
at  
607-776-4060.