Learn to build beautiful, durable, long-lasting natural structures using little more than the earthbeneath your feet. In this six day intensive course, we'll explore all aspects of building including foundations, walls, roofs and finishes.
Focused specifically on cob - a millennia old material made from clay, sand and straw that is built without using forms and can be sculpted to form curves, archways, niches and just about anything else you can imagine - we'll also explore other 'recipes' for hybrid natural building materials that are appropriate in different circumstances. Cob structures can literally be built for free and if well protected with a good foundation, roof and plaster finish, they can easily last centuries. And beyond just hands-on work with these materials, we'll discuss all of the other considerations that go hand in hand with home construction and homestead development including siting, passive solar design, water and wastewater systems, electricity and most importantly, permaculture.
>> Mark Krawczyk is a permaculture designer, natural builder, traditional woodworker and ecological landscaper who resides in Burlington, VT, USA. He has worked with leaders in these fields throughout North America and the UK. He is a member of Seven Generations Natural Builders collective, owns and operates 'Keyline Vermont' - a sustainable farm design consulting business maintains a small woodworking/chairmaking company - RivenWoodCrafts and is the co-founder of the local permaculture and sustainability-focused community group Burlington Permaculture.
