Spring-Fall 2011 we’ve been building Querencia, Beth’s round, whimsical artist studio on the east side of the stream.  We will continue with finishing details in 2012.

Natural Building Weekend Workshops

May- October 2011 (completed)

2 more workshops- TBA in 2012.

Interested in learning how to build  a beautiful shelter from clay, straw and other earthen materials?

Join us for weekend workshops led by Natural Building architect/builder/teacher Sigi Koko of Down To Earth Design in 2012. Participants will mix clay with hands and feet, sculpt walls, paint with clay finishes, and add artistic touches with tiles, colored bottles, and raised relief sculptures.  The finished product will be a magical artist cottage built by a community of creative, caring souls.

 

No experience is necessary because there’s no “machinery” or dumpsters involved and a master teacher will be guiding us. We’ll  use ancient practices such as stacking straw bales and sculpting interior walls and benches out of clay shaped into “cobs”( English word meaning loaf).

Each workshop is a “barn-raising” in the traditional sense- everyone working together in harmony with our natural surroundings, dancing in the mud, laughing in the sun, proudly celebrating a group masterpiece. Group instruction and individual coaching ensure a successful and life-changing weekend.

Directions to the farm

Check out photos and stories from the weekend workshops so far:  

Cobbin’ Fun- Cob oven workshop

Adobe Floor Workshop

Strawbale/Clay Plaster Workshop  I and   II

Cob Workshop    I and     II and   III

Clay and Lime Plaster I and  II

Finish Clay Plaster

Further Progress Fall 2011

Decorating Querencia

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE WORKSHOPS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Click below on the individual workshops to learn more or sign up

20% discount  if you register for 3 or more workshops! (rebated at the end)

~ 2-day Cob Oven Workshop (May 7 – 8) -    Completed (see photos)

~ 2-day Adobe Floor Workshop (June 11-12)  Completed (see photos)

~ 4-day Strawbale and Clay Plaster Workshop (June 24-27)  Completed (see photos) and (more photos)

~ 3-day Cob Workshop (July 9-11)      Completed (see photos) and (more photos)

~ 3-day Clay Plaster (interior) and Lime Plaster (exterior) Workshop (July 22-24)   Completed  (see photos)and   (more photos)

~2-day Finish Clay Plaster (Sept 17-18) Completed (see photos)

~ 1-day Living Roof (Oct. 1)   CANCELLED due to inclement weather  (see photos of us doing it ourselves)

~ 1-day Natural Paints Workshop (winter 2012  date TBA)

~ 1-day Finish Adobe Floor (spring 2012 TBA)

Everyone is invited to join us the fun (no experience required).  Sigi Koko, natural building guru, will lead the workshops- teaching participants all about the principles and techniques of building a warm, dry, sturdy shelter from clay, sand and straw. There will be plenty of hands-on practice with each of the techniques. Delicious, locally grown meals for the hungry workers will be provided by “Earth Mother” Leenie Hobbie. And Taproot Farm will offer relaxing farm and river activities to celebrate each day of building.

Lodging- Camping available on the farm. Marriott hotel 30 minutes away.

Building with natural materials is good for the body, good for the earth, and good for the soul! Creating our Querencia is a dream come true…

Won’t you join us?!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TO REGISTER ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To register by mail, download the  Workshop Registration form

To use Pay pal, click below to pay.  To give us your registration info: either ask for a registration form by email (beth.reese218@gmail.com) or download one and send it by mail.  Thanks!

PayPal

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~PHOTOS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inspiration from Others:

 

 

COB OVEN workshop May 7-8, 2011