Listed Chronologically

Building with Cob and Finishing with Earth Plaster
July 15 - 17
Arenas Valley, New Mexico

Get your hands dirty and dig your fingers deep into the mud while building a Cob Wall. Participants will learn mixing proportions and cobbing techniques while hand-sculpting a wall from the ground up.

Interactive tour of Cob Buildings, built by Jeff, in various stages of completion. Buildings have earthen floors and an array of natural plaster colors and finishes. The undulating walls flecked with mica, embody a sense of place and movement. The plasters were created using several techniques from hard troweling to buffing with yogurt lids, to create a smooth and refined surface.

Hands-on Earthen Plaster experience, participants will learn how to mix and apply earthen plasters to a cob wall. Instruction on mix proportions, as well as several application techniques will be covered. Participants will also be able to help create sculptural reliefs on an exterior wall.

See clayfestival.com for more information.

Adobe Building / Mud Immersion
July 15 - 19
Cliff, New Mexico

• Explore the fundamentals, the versatility and the Southwest traditions of building with Adobe

• Learn about traditional adobe building techniques, using materials indigenous to the local region

• Experience poured mud and learn Adobe mixture techniques

• Make wild-crafted Adobe bricks and a clay pinch pot

• Take a guided walk along the Gila River, up to the Woodrow Ruins, & experience local Gila clay & native flora and fauna

• Be prepared to work with mud and clay!

See clayfestival.com for more information.

Construction Skills for Women
July 20 - 22
Peterborough, ON, Canada

This workshop will be held over four non-consecutive weekends for a total of 8 learning daysThis workshop involves you in all the steps of framing and finishing a small building. You’ll measure, mark, cut and assemble floors, roofs, walls, doors, windows and siding… all in a supportive atmosphere with two experienced women carpenters to lead and direct you. Endeavour’s Construction Skills for Women workshop will give you the skills and confidence to create your own small building and tackle other building/repair projects.

See endeavourcentre.org for more information.

Complete Cob Building Course
July 15 - 18
Dorset, UK

Everything you need to know to build your own cob house of cob garden studio or home office.

See www.cobcourses.com for more information.

Cordwood Workweek
July 15 - 19
West Chazy, NY

The Cordwood Workweek combines all of the features of the three-day Cordwood Workshop (See August 30-September 1) and the One-day Earthwood Techniques workshop (See September 2), but there is more time for individual hands-on instruction and consultations. The discussions and site work are more detailed, yet the pace is more relaxed. After lunch on Wednesday, for example, we tour one or two cordwood homes on the way to Chateaugay Lake, then relax with swimming, kayaking, hot-tubbing, conversation, and individual consultations on the deck at Mushwood. Textbooks, included with registration, are Rob’s Essential Cordwood Building and Earth-Sheltered Houses.  One set of textbooks is given per couple.

See http://cordwoodmasonry.com/events/  for more information 

Earthbag Superadobe Dome Building Workshop
July 18 - 26
West Sussex, UK

An eight day Earthbag workshop (Some call it Superadobe, except we keep our earthbag technology as natural as possible, built using mostly earth and a pegging system with no barbed wire..! cement and barbed wire used ONLY where absolutely necessary.)
where you will get to build and start to plaster a complete earthbag dome with 3 ..! vaulted arches, which will later be used as a bathroom dome with two hot tubs… to be followed by the 6 day plastering workshop. Taught by architect and earthbag author Paulina Wojciechowska.

See www.facebook.com for more information.

Italy Design/Build:
Masonry Restoration
July 16 - 31
Ossola Valley, Italy

Spend two weeks in the Italian Alps helping restore 500 year-old vernacular stone buildings and learning design skills necessary for this restoration and for any restoration you may subsequently tackle on your own. Yestermorrow has collaborated with the Canova Association since 2010 in the preservation and adaptive re-use of abandoned stone buildings throughout the Ossola Valley, north of Lago Maggiore and Milan. Projects have included a small water-powered mill, a barn, a communal laundry, a stone oven and a vaulted cantina. Much of our work is focused on restoring the abandoned village of Ghesc.

No prior skills are required to take the course, which is taught in English, and an ability to engage in modest hiking is desirable. The masonry work is tailored to each individual’s physical ability. This course is a combination of masonry construction, historic preservation, adaptive re-use, natural building techniques and the application of the design/build philosophy.

See yestermorrow.org for more information.

Roundwood Timber Framing Course
July 16 - 19
Hampshire, UK

wo practical, hands on courses in building with roundwood timber with traditional tools and techniques, working with local wood sourced from our site. Timber like this, used in the round, marries strength and beauty to create buildings that can either stand alone or sit comfortably alongside more traditional structures. Step by step, the courses will take you through the process of raising your very own roundwood timber structure and will include both theory and practice.  From selecting your timber and peeling the bark, to visiting a completed project and raising the frame, these two complimentary courses will inform and inspire you to create a beautiful natural building, designed to blend into its surroundings.

See www.sustainability-centre.org for more information.

Traditional Timber Frame Systems
July 26 - Aug. 1
Mendocino, California

This workshop will focus on basic round pole timber framing, an attractive structural skeleton that can accompany natural building wall systems. Includes: Design Overview, Structural considerations, Aesthetic considerations, How to interface timber frames with cob, straw bale & clay wattle., A discussion on preparing logs , Peeling, Washing, Relief cuts, Curing, Mortise & tenon joinery, Layout and set up, Cutting tenons, Cutting housings, Cutting mortises , Honing and fitting joints , Pegging joints with hardwood dowels, Cutting & fitting braces, Assembling & raising a “bent” frame

See www.abuelagardens.com for more information

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Hempcrete Construction Intensive Workshop
July 29 - Aug. 1, 2019
Kingston, ON, Canada

At our Hempcrete Construction Intensive Workshop you will learn everything you need to know to create a remarkable home insulation material from the hemp plant and to install it in your building!  Hempcrete is an exciting addition to the construction palette in North America! Hempcrete (or hemp-lime) construction uses chopped hemp hurd (the woody core of the hemp plant) mixed with hydraulic lime to create an insulation material with excellent thermal, moisture-handling, fire-resistance, non-toxic and structural properties. Hempcrete is also a carbon sequestering material. Over the four days of this intensive workshop, you will learn about hempcrete theory and design in two classroom sessions, and get plenty of practical, hands-on learning experience on a small hempcrete building.

See endeavourcentre.org for more information

An Introduction to Timber Framing
July 30
Suffolk, UK

The basics of timber frames spelt out. Terms, traditional techniques/tools AND locally sourced timber. Start at the beginning with mortise and tenons, studs, soleplates, wallplates, jowls, pegs, braces and tie beams. Whether you're a home-owner, or thinking of building  - this course provides a great understand of how a timber frame is constructed.

See orchardbarn.org.uk for more iinformation.

Natural Building Intensive
August 6 - 30
Peterborough, ON, Canada

Endeavour’s one-month Natural Building Intensive puts you at the heart of a natural building project.You will learn about the design and construction of modern natural buildings, using materials sourced from the local environment to create healthy, affordable and energy efficient shelter.You will work with teachers and practitioners who are leaders in the field and work with fellow participants who are motivated and enthusiastic.Join us for an experience that will give you the skills to tackle your own natural building projects!

see endeavourcentre.org for more information.

Everything Earthen
August 10 - 15
Rockaway Beach, Oregon

5th Annual! Experience cob and so much more. This is an in-depth overview of how to source, process, mix, and transform common earth materials into beautiful housing and art. Learn how to create walls from cob/adobe, wattle and daub, rammed earth, straw clay, wood chip clay, straw bales, and more. Learn to mix and apply plasters of cob (adobe), cement, and lime. Also discover mixing and application of earthen paints and lime paints. Hands-on instruction, lectures and slides.

See www.earthenhand.com for more information.

Straw Bales, Cob, and Earthen Floors
August 18 - 22
Mendocino, CA

Description: This workshop will focus on clay and straw, two of the most versatile natural building materials.

In the first part of the workshop, you will learn to:

• Build a highly insulating and fire-resistant straw bale wall

• Mix clay soil, sand and straw into cob 

• Sculpt cob into beautiful, durable walls

• Sustainably harvest and test clay soils 

• Determine the best cob mix for your soil

• Understand the difference between insulation and thermal mass and how to use them together to make an efficient passive solar home

 The extended practicum will focus on faster ways to mix and build with cob using machines, sculpting cob details, and how to install an earthen floor.

See www.abuelagardens.com for more information.

Intermediate Cobber Certification Training
August 18 - Sept. 22
Nevada City, CA

The 28-day Course will offer practical learning by building a 150 sq. ft curvilinear building. The Course starts with the Cob Walls during Weeks 1-3 (the Foundation will already be built), which include a door, opening and fixed windows, shelves, artistic inserts like bottles, driftwood, branches, etc., electrical and plumbing infrastructure, sculpting and the roof connection elements. We will also pour the first 2 layers of floor over the gravel underlayment and apply one coat of earthen plaster on the interior and exterior wall.

See cruzincobglobal.org for more information.

Build a Small Timber Frame
Structure
August 21 - 25
Red Wing, MN

This class is designed to build the skills and confidence needed to tackle a small building. No experience required, we will cover safe work practices and teach proper operation of hand and power tools. The class focuses on traditional building methods supplemented with modern tooling. We employ square rule methodology to layout timbers. Then, we cut, and raise a small timber frame structure using traditional tools.

No experience needed. We supply the community tooling, instruction, and material. Along with your positive attitude, willingness to learn, you will need to bring the following:

See www.andersontimberworks.com for more iniformation.

3-Day Cordwood Workshop
August 30 – September 1
West Chazy, NY

Morning sessions include cordwood theory, slide presentations, explanatory tours, and discussion of the three styles of cordwood construction: built-up corners (stackwall), round houses, and cordwood as infilling within a post-and-beam framework. The kinds of wood and how long to dry them is covered, as well as various alternative mortar mixes. Installing doors and windows is detailed, as is cordwood masonry “special effects.” At Earthwood, students examine several different kinds of cordwood masonry buildings. Afternoons are reserved for practical, hands-on work sessions at Ravenwood, 17 miles away, where a tour of the beautiful Ravenwood home is included. The project is cordwood infilling within a timber frame. This workshop gives the student a strong introduction to this ancient building technique. Textbook: Essential Cordwood Building.

See http://cordwoodmasonry.com/events/  for more information  

1-Day Earthwood Techniques Workshop
September 2
West Chazy, NY

Low-cost foundations and earth-sheltering methods used at the Earthwood house are emphasized, accenting surface bonded wall construction and plank-and-beam roofing. The five elements that affect load calculations are discussed. Alternative foundations, drainage and waterproofing, insulation, structural considerations and the masonry stove are all covered. An explanatory tour of the Earthwood house is included, as well as a step-by-step slide presentation documenting the construction of Earthwood from floating slab foundation to earth roof. Textbook: Earth-Sheltered Houses. This is a very full day, consisting of mostly classroom instruction. Like all of our workshops, sessions are punctuated by Jaki’s excellent coffee and tea breaks featured home-baked goodies, and her hearty vegetarian lunches.

See http://cordwoodmasonry.com/events/  for more information 

Adobe, Cob, Wattle and Daub, Arches, & Clay Plasters
Sept. 6 - 12
Mendocino, CA

More fun with clay, straw, and sticks! Building on what we learned in the previous workshop, we will branch out into other earthen wall systems and begin the finishing process.

• Make adobe blocks from clay soil mixed with straw or other fibers

• Build different styles of earthen arches, with and without forms

• Make several types of wattle and daub, a sculptural, thin earthen wall made of sticks, clay and straw

• Learn the steps to turn a raw earthen or straw bale wall into a finished, durable wall by applying plasters made of clay and lime.

• Understand how to connect multiple natural wall systems together in a strong, efficient hybrid home

The extended practicum will include more wall building and much more experience with earthen plasters.

See www.abuelagardens.com for more information.

Complete Earthbag Tiny House Build
Sept. 7 - 14
Bottom Leaf Intentional Community
near Asheville, NC

During this workshop, we will build an entire house from the ground up. The build will last from five to eight days, depending on how fast it goes. Participants should leave with all of the skills needed to build their own home. Participants will get hands-on experience with earthbag, cob, bottlewall, earthplaster, and more. We will also discuss house design, site selection, roof and foundation types and much, much more!  

See morgancaraway.com to sign up.

Earthbag Dome Building
Sept 12 - 15
Rockaway Beach, Oregon

In just four days learn the basics of dome building with flexible form rammed earth. We will complete a small building together, and share the technical details of how to set one up yourself. Hands-on instruction, slides, and guided design work.

See www.earthenhand.com for more information.

Essential Hempcrete Construction
Sept. 21, 2019
Peterborough, ON, Canada

Hempcrete (or hemp-lime) construction uses chopped hemp hurd (the woody core of the hemp plant) mixed with hydraulic lime to create an insulation material with excellent thermal, moisture-handling, fire-resistance, non-toxic and structural properties. Hempcrete is also a carbon sequestering material. In the Essential Hempcrete workshop, you will find out how hempcrete is made, see a slideshow of various Canadian and international hempcrete building projects, and gain an understanding of how, why and where hempcrete is an appropriate material choice. In the classroom, we will look at the costs, material sourcing and building science of using hempcrete on new building projects and renovations.

See endeavourcentre.org for more information.

Complete Cob Building Course
August 23 - 26
Dorset, UK

Everything you need to know to build your own cob house of cob garden studio or home office.

See www.cobcourses.com for more information.

Roundwood Timber Framing Course
Sept. 2 - 5
Hampshire, UK

wo practical, hands on courses in building with roundwood timber with traditional tools and techniques, working with local wood sourced from our site. Timber like this, used in the round, marries strength and beauty to create buildings that can either stand alone or sit comfortably alongside more traditional structures. Step by step, the courses will take you through the process of raising your very own roundwood timber structure and will include both theory and practice.  From selecting your timber and peeling the bark, to visiting a completed project and raising the frame, these two complimentary courses will inform and inspire you to create a beautiful natural building, designed to blend into its surroundings.

See www.sustainability-centre.org for more information.

Earthbag Dome Building Workshop
Sept 12 - 15
Rockaway Beach, Oregon

In just four days learn the basics of dome building with flexible form rammed earth. We will complete a small building together, and share the technical details of how to set one up yourself. Hands-on instruction, slides, and guided design work.

See www.earthenhand.com for more information.

Complete Cob Building Course
Sept. 16 - 19
Dorset, UK

Everything you need to know to build your own cob house of cob garden studio or home office.

See www.cobcourses.com for more information.

Complete Cob Building Course
Sept. 27 - 30
Dorset, UK

Everything you need to know to build your own cob house of cob garden studio or home office.

See www.cobcourses.com for more information.

Introduction To Renewable Energy Workshop
October 5, 2019
Peterborough, ON, Canada

This workshop is the perfect introduction to the world of renewable energy, designed to help you figure out the best path to finding yourself living a renewable energy lifestyle.

• Off grid and grid tied systems – Which is right for you?

• Photovoltaics (PV, or “solar electricity”) – How it works and what components go into a system?

• Wind energy – How it works and what components go into a system?

• Micro hydro – How it works and what components go into s system?

• Micro-FIT and Net Metering – How do utility companies deal with renewable systems?

• Doing an energy audit – How much power do you need and what size system is required?

• Living with renewable energy – Lifestyle, maintenance and monitoring

See endeavourcentre.org for more information.

Batch Rocket Thermal Mass Heaters
October 11 - 17, 2019
Mendocino, CA

• Learn the important points to clean combustion

• Why Batch Heaters? Differences and similarities between Batch Rocket 

Mass Heaters and classic, J-tube RMH

• Learn how thermal mass improves heating and how, with the bell system, 

thermal mass can be utilized flexibly and easily

• Build a Batch Box RMH and fire it!

Natural Building Course
October 14 - 27, 2019
Hamburg, Germany

We are trying to create an example of environmental and social utopia to show the world another way of living. Take the earth under your feet and turn it into the most stunning structures! Natural building is a creative, completely organic and long lasting form of building. It takes us back to the roots of connecting with our Earth, our community and other natural materials that we find in our local surroundings. With this technique we can create structures that are unlike anything you can find in modern architecture. We can build completely unique art forms that are functional and in harmony with ourselves and our environment, using curves, arches, domes and much more.

See www.mindfulness-project.org for more information.

Carpentry For Women Workshop
October 19 - 20, 2019
Peterborough, ON, Canada

The Carpentry for Women workshop creates a friendly, inviting space for women who would like to learn the basics of carpentry. In the comfort of a women-only space, experienced carpenters Jen Feigin and Deirdre McGahern will introduce you to the world of measuring, marking and layout, hand and power tools. Over two days, you will gain confidence in basic carpentry as you work on a take-home project. There will be plenty of time to practice with tools and to become familiar with terminology. You’ll learn about tool safety, how to choose and buy tools, selecting and purchasing materials for projects, making sketches for projects and choosing non-toxic, healthy finishes.

See endeavourcentre.org for more information.

Permaculture Design Course
November 3 - 17
Maricopa, CA

Immerse yourself in permaculture in action with this 14-day learning journey! Share in the joy of community learning together and changing the world. Take home the ability to design and apply natural principles to create stable and resilient systems that provide food, water, shelter and energy needs while regenerating ecology, community and economy. The Quail Springs Permaculture Design Course (PDC) includes the 72-hr Permaculture Certification through Permaculture Research Institute.

Permaculture is a conscious integrated design system based on ecology and sustainability principles to create resource efficient and productive human environments and reduce our footprint on the earth. Permaculture provides a framework for consciously designed landscapes that mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature that provide diversity, stability, and resilience. These systems yield an abundance of shelter, water, energy, and food for the provision of local needs.

See www.quailsprings.org for more information.

Design Your Own Sustainable Home Workshop
November 16 - 17, 2019
Peterborough, ON, Canada

The workshop is designed to be an un-biased look at all the options available to the prospective owner-builder, and to assist you with tools to help you assess and choose your way to the house of your dreams. You will leave this workshop ready to handle all the competing claims and information you will face by focusing on your personal goals and aspirations and creating a road map for how best to meet them. At the heart of the workshop is a Criteria Matrix that has been crafted to help you organize your priorities and to set goals for the project that ensure the outcomes you are after.

See endeavourcentre.org for more information.

See On-Going Workshops for more listings.