Clay+Sand+Straw=Home / Natural Building Intensive Course
Learn to build beautiful, durable, long-lasting natural structures using little more than the earth beneath your feet. In this five 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 sitting, passive solar design, water and wastewater systems, electricity and most importantly, permaculture. For additional information on this course please contact workshop@ecoart.gr
Workshop dates and locations:
Spring – Summer 2023, Lefkas, Greece Book Now !
Registrations are open.
TBA : Workshop dates are constantly updated, please visit this webpage again for more upcoming workshops or subscribe to our newsletter
What to Expect:
Be prepared for anything. That includes rain, sun and of course, getting muddy. Much of the work will require at least some physical exertion, but we strongly encourage participants to only work as much as they are comfortable. As much as possible, we will work to provide relaxed, comfortable accommodations. Basically, prepare yourself for a working camping trip that’s going to be loads of fun!
Daily Schedule:
In our experience, a somewhat unorthodox daily schedule works very well for building courses due to the physical nature of the coursework. Here’s the proposed schedule, which may change somewhat if we collectively decide to modify things:
8:00-9:00 am –breakfast
9:00-10:30 am – early morning work / lecture session
10:30-11:00 am – morning break
11:00 am-12:30 pm – morning work 2
12:30-3:00 pm– lunch
3:00-4:30 pm – afternoon work/ talk session
4:30 -5:00 pm – afternoon break
5:00 -6:30 pm – work
6:30 pm – dinner
Evenings may include lectures. slide shows, videos, music, etc. If you have anything (a song, skill, talent, etc.) you would like to share with the group, please do bring it along
Accommodation / Food:
Three delicious vegetarian meals per day are offered to course participants free of charge. Please let us know if you have any food allergies or dietary preferences/restrictions so that we may cater to them. Camping is also available free of charge. If you don’t plan to camp you have to arrange your own accommodation. A list of nearby rooms for rent will be provided upon request. As far as camping amenities go, we’ll be well set up.
Arival/Deparure:
Students are encouraged to arrive one day earlier so as to have time to set up before the commencement of the workshop. Departures are scheduled early on the day after the workshop concludes or as arranged with host.
What to Bring:
Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
Sturdy shoes & rubber gloves
A good hat
Any tools you think may be useful – we’ll be prepared though
Interesting books
If you are camping, plan to bring all of the basic things you’d take with you on a camping trip:
Tent
Sleeping bag/sleeping pad or inflated mattress
Headlamp/flashlight
Sunscreen
Toiletries and towel
Course pricing / bookings:
100 euros (Deposit to lock in booking)
600 euros (Regular price for this course)
Contact workshop@ecoart.gr for discount opportunities!
Interested in hosting a workshop?
If you want to have an experience of a lifetime and host a workshop too, contact:
workshop@ecoart.gr