This course is designed for both first time builders, as well as professional builders and contractors who want to delve more into building with natural materials.

Lectures & Discussion Topics

• Introduction to natural building
• Natur
  
  l building materials
• Building with bales
• Building with earth
• Passive solar design
• Foundations and roofs
• The economic context of natural building
• Finishes for natural buildings

Hands-On Techniques

• Cob
• Straw bale
• Light straw-clay
• Clay wattle
• Poured adobe floors
• Earthbag
• Earth plasters

In the intensive we focus on the natural materials most commonly used in construction:  clay soil, sand, stone, fibers, and bamboo.  With a thorough understanding of these materials you will be able to determine their appropriate application in a particular context.   We will explore several techniques, including cob, adobe block, light straw-clay, wattle and daub, and plasters.  We will discuss how to find and choose appropriate soil for construction, how to create various mixes, and how to integrate natural building with wood framing.  For the hands-on portion of this course we will construct the walls of a composting toilet, using a mix of the above techniques.

As a complement to the hands-on portion of the course, we will include discussions of the theoretical aspects of natural building.  Subjects include building design and siting, passive solar design, foundations and drainage, earthen floors, appropriate roof design, and wiring and plumbing for natural structures.  We will also take a field trip during the course to see other natural building projects.