2022 WORKSHOPS
Rocket Mass Heater and Natural Building Workshop
July 9-13- Willits, Ca
Earthen Floors and Plasters Workshop
Sept. 12-16
Learn to Build a Wood Fired Cob Oven
Exact dates TBA
SEE BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS
Rocket Mass Heaters and Introduction to Natural Building
Taught by Sasha Rabin and Michael Smith
July 9-13 - 5 days
At Abuelas Gardens, in Willits, CA
For more information, or to register go to https://www.abuelagardens.com/copy-of-july-workshop
Like two jam-packed workshops in one! Come build a rocket mass heater, a super-efficient wood-burning stove that stores heat in the thermal mass of an earthen bench. Learn about the many exciting RMH variations and possibilities: batch vs. downdraft! cooking! water heating! hypocaust floors!
At the same time we will be exploring a range of high-insulation and thermal mass natural building systems including cob, straw bale, light straw-clay, and slipsquatch (redwood bark and clay.) We will also install the drainage layer and the first pour of an earthen floor.
Students will rotate daily between several hands-on projects so that they get to know each of these techniques. Daily lectures cover the theoretical knowledge you will need to design your own project: how a RMH works; dangers, do’s, and don’ts; thermal properties of natural building systems; and how to combine them all into an energy-efficient passive solar home.
Taught by Sasha Rabin and Michael Smith
July 9-13 - 5 days
At Abuelas Gardens, in Willits, CA
For more information, or to register go to https://www.abuelagardens.com/copy-of-july-workshop
Like two jam-packed workshops in one! Come build a rocket mass heater, a super-efficient wood-burning stove that stores heat in the thermal mass of an earthen bench. Learn about the many exciting RMH variations and possibilities: batch vs. downdraft! cooking! water heating! hypocaust floors!
At the same time we will be exploring a range of high-insulation and thermal mass natural building systems including cob, straw bale, light straw-clay, and slipsquatch (redwood bark and clay.) We will also install the drainage layer and the first pour of an earthen floor.
Students will rotate daily between several hands-on projects so that they get to know each of these techniques. Daily lectures cover the theoretical knowledge you will need to design your own project: how a RMH works; dangers, do’s, and don’ts; thermal properties of natural building systems; and how to combine them all into an energy-efficient passive solar home.
Earthen Plasters and Floors
Taught by Sasha Rabin and Michael Smith
Sept. 12-16 - 5 days
At Abuelas Gardens, in Willits, CA
For more information, or to register go to:
https://www.abuelagardens.com/copy-of-rocket-stoves-july-2022-2
A great opportunity to develop your skills and understanding of earthen finishes, including:
• straw-clay base coat plasters for sculpting and protection
• endless variations of clay finish plasters for durability and beauty
• durable, water-resistant earthen floors
These techniques are suitable for natural buildings including straw bale and cob, as well for “eco-renovation” of conventional homes, where they can add natural beauty, thermal mass for increased energy efficiency, and health-enhancing moisture modulation. Plus they are fun, artistic, and inexpensive!
Each day includes many hours of hands-on skill building, with an emphasis on proper tool use, recipe development and testing, and site organization for efficiency and flow. Learn to find, test, and ecologically harvest your own clay; how to choose the most appropriate finish option for your building project; how to prepare various wall surfaces to improve adhesion; and how to design your home to make the plasters last.
Taught by Sasha Rabin and Michael Smith
Sept. 12-16 - 5 days
At Abuelas Gardens, in Willits, CA
For more information, or to register go to:
https://www.abuelagardens.com/copy-of-rocket-stoves-july-2022-2
A great opportunity to develop your skills and understanding of earthen finishes, including:
• straw-clay base coat plasters for sculpting and protection
• endless variations of clay finish plasters for durability and beauty
• durable, water-resistant earthen floors
These techniques are suitable for natural buildings including straw bale and cob, as well for “eco-renovation” of conventional homes, where they can add natural beauty, thermal mass for increased energy efficiency, and health-enhancing moisture modulation. Plus they are fun, artistic, and inexpensive!
Each day includes many hours of hands-on skill building, with an emphasis on proper tool use, recipe development and testing, and site organization for efficiency and flow. Learn to find, test, and ecologically harvest your own clay; how to choose the most appropriate finish option for your building project; how to prepare various wall surfaces to improve adhesion; and how to design your home to make the plasters last.
Learn to Build a Wood Fired Cob Oven
Taught by Sasha Rabin and John Orcutt
To register, or for more information, cantata Sasha at sasha@quailsprings.org
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. Using clay, sand and straw, we will explore the entire construction process from foundation to roof. The class is primarily hands on, involving building an oven from start to finish. (The foundation will already be built, but we will talk about how to do it, and what is needed). 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. We will also discuss how to cook in your oven.
Workshop includes:
- Lunch Saturday and Sunday
Taught by Sasha Rabin and John Orcutt
To register, or for more information, cantata Sasha at sasha@quailsprings.org
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. Using clay, sand and straw, we will explore the entire construction process from foundation to roof. The class is primarily hands on, involving building an oven from start to finish. (The foundation will already be built, but we will talk about how to do it, and what is needed). 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. We will also discuss how to cook in your oven.
Workshop includes:
- Lunch Saturday and Sunday
