We have been conducting workshops since 2002, and are excited to be offering a wide variety of workshops and learning opportunities, both online and in person, and in collaboration with others.
Earthen Walls
4 day workshop covering different techniques of building with earth.
There are many ways of working and building with earth to create everything from homes to ovens to garden walls to finishes on existing structures. In this class we will use the same basic materials; clay, sand and fiber, to create a variety of different types of earthen building systems, including:
Cob
Adobe
Light straw clay
Redwood bark clay
Wattle and daub
The course is appropriate for both first-time builders and for professionals in the building trade who are interested in natural materials. We will discuss how to find and choose appropriate soil for construction and how to create various mixes.
We will also discuss what your options are for using these materials with the current building codes and how to get permits.
This course is primarily a hands on course, where we learn by doing.
LOCATION: Potter Valley, Ca
All meals provided starting with lunch on Saturday, through lunch on Tuesday.
Camping available on site.
Natural Building Camp on the Mendocino Coast
The Learning/ Building: This is a hybrid model of a cross between a workshop and a work party, with the focus on learning through doing. In the May Natural Building Camp we will be focusing on wall insulation, primarily in the form of redwood bark clay infill. We will also do some straw clay infill, mix a batch or two of cob, and other earthen building materials. We aim to provide space and time for experience in hands-on work practice. This is a workshop/work day hybrid model that aims to be a low-cost way for participants to access teachers and basic building information in multi-day program. The focus will be on hands-on building, with less emphasis than a traditional workshop on classroom style learning.
Location: Caspar is a picturesque, artistic, farm-based community by the sea on the Mendocino Coast. Breathtaking vistas of the ocean are at every turn. Parks, hiking, surfing, kayaking, foraging, and being in the redwoods.
The Project: West is an artist and builder who designed and is constructing their own home (with help, of course), on 1 acre about 1 mile from the Pacific ocean. The modern yet simple structure was framed with local timber using mortise and tenon joinery in 2023. The next phase of the project is the redwood bark clay wall infill, and earthen plasters and floors.
Accommodation
Camping at a local veggie farm by the sea walkable to the project site and walking distance to the beach.
Relax after a day of work in the wood-fired hot tub or outdoor solar shower. Happy Goats on the property for milking and petting. A hoop-house kitchen is available for preparing dinners. Fresh veggies are offered for participants.
Other options: This is a popular tourist destination, so there are many hotel and airbnb options for those wanting and affording more comfort and amenities.
Meals included
A simple breakfast and lunch will be provided.
These will be vegetarian, mostly organic, locally grown veggies, grains and eggs. Food allergies and needs will be accommodated.
Cost
This covers the cost of camping, facilities and food (2 meals/day) & helps pay the teachers and cook.
Sliding scale $65-95 per day or $260-380 per camp
Work-trade may be available.
Advance registration is required. Please indicate in the form below any questions or email westsidetinybuilds@gmail.com.
You can see photos from the project here: @westsidetiny on Instagram.
To register click here.
BUILD OUTSIDE THE BOX- MASTERMIND COURSE
USE DISCOUNT CODE COB100 FOR A $100 DISCOUNT!
This is a new course I am excited to be part of! Classes are taught by 12 people; builders, designers, scientists and teachers each who cover one type of building system. These Masterminds have also written technical standards for the use of alternative materials and been instrumental in getting them into the building codes.
The course comprises 10 classes on individual wall systems from cob to rammed earth to strawbale and hempcrete. A bonus class on nature-based solutions serves as an introduction to the systems that make these types of structures come alive and nurture their residents.
Classes by renowned natural builder and designer, Sigi Koko, cover the big picture including climate, building envelope, thermal mass vs. insulation and passive solar design.
A follow-along workbook helps students identify their motivations for embarking on their projects and prompts them to identify the solution(s) that will address their needs. A supportive online community is embedded in the course where students can learn from each other, connect, encourage, assist, refer, and discover new techniques. Live sessions with the Masterminds address challenges and new possibilities while also serving as a forum for lively discussion and Q&A. You will have access to all the online content for life.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS
Cob Oven Workshop
This Cob Oven Building workshop is designed to teach you the skills needed to build your own oven in your backyard, as well as encouraging a new way of relating to our food and the process in which it is cooked and created. The process of building as well as cooking in a wood fired oven encourages us to redevelop our relationship to the way we eat and cook, encouraging us to engage in the journey of the creation of a meal.
Using clay, sand and straw, we will explore the entire construction process. The class is primarily hands on, involving building an oven from start to finish. We will also go over all the other aspects of the building process, including soil analysis, options for variations on the oven design, moisture protection, heating and insulation for the oven, as well as how to fire and cook in the ovens.
COST: Before September 15th $300 - After September 15th $350
LOCATION: Potter Valley, Ca
All meals provided starting with lunch on Saturday, through lunch on Sunday.
Camping available on site.
REGISTRATION
Thanks for your interest in joining us for a workshop. You can start your registration process by filling out the form below, or use the form to send us a message with any questions about the workshops. We will be in touch shortly!
