Natural Building Workshops 2017 The Listing

Review our workshops by:

• Location: Sussex, England, Alicante, Spain, and Poland
• Workshop type: Straw Bale, Earthbag, Decorative Clay Plastering, Designing Your Natural Home or Planning Your Dream Natural Home

Click on each workshop name to see the full details.

Workshops by Location and Dates

England

Held in a beautiful rural location in Forest Row, Sussex, just 30 minutes drive from Gatwick Airport. These workshops are mostly taught by architect and earthbag author Paulina Wojciechowska.

• 10-15 May – Earthbag Dome Workshop – £295
  A six day workshop where you will get to build and start to plaster a complete earthbag dome with vaulted arch entrance.
• 18-23 May – Straw Bale Workshop – £365
  A five day workshop where you will hands-on practice all the techniques of straw bale construction, with an introduction to clay plastering.
• 26-31 May – Decorative Clay Plastering Workshop  with our guest teacher from the US Athena Steen from the Canelo Project – £485
  A six day workshop with one of the founders of the natural building revolution! Come and learn from Athena how to make your dream natural home look stunning with beautiful natural colours using a wide range of clay plaster, lime, paint and carving techniques, as well as learning about the different types of clay mixes.
• 16-22 June – Planning Your Dream Natural Home Workshop – £395
  A six day workshop to learn how to go from your initial ideas to being ready to build! Includes how to choose your site, work with authorities, design your home, and understand all the building technologies to successfully manage and take part in the construction.
  
• 25 June – 3 July – Earthbag Dome and Clay Plastering Workshop – £345
  A seven day workshop where you will get to build and plaster a complete earthbag dome with vaulted arch entrance.
• 6-11 July – Straw Bale Workshop – £365
  A five day workshop where you will hands-on practice all the techniques of straw bale construction, with an introduction to clay plastering.
• 14-19 July – Decorative Clay Plastering Workshop – £295
  Come and practice how to make your dream natural home look stunning with beautiful natural colours using a wide range of clay plaster, paint and carving techniques.
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• 30 September-1 October  – Designing your Natural Home – £195
  A weekend of  learning how to progress your ideas into a real design, including the construction of a small straw clay model. – (Limited to 6 people).  Basic accomodation available for £10/night.
• 11-12 November  – Designing your Natural Home – £195
  A weekend of  learning how to progress your ideas into a real design, including the construction of a small straw clay model. – (Limited to 6 people).  Basic accomodation available for £10/night.

Spain

Our Spanish workshops are held in a beautiful olive grove in the mountains, a hour’s drive from Alicante, and are taught by Antony

• 6-14 May – Straw Bale and In-depth Clay Plastering, Workshop – 395 / 495€
  Come to the sunny Spanish mountains for a 6 or 8 day workshop to gain hands-on practice of all aspects of straw bale construction, and clay plastering to finish the walls and natural floor of an existing naturally built house.

Poland

Our Polish workshops are located on beautiful meadowland, on the grounds of a large sculpted straw bale house, near lake Hancza, in the village of Przelomka, taught by Jarema Dubiel.

• 24-30 August – Straw bale Workshop – 200€

Workshops by Type

Straw Bale Workshops

A fun, hands-on workshop where you will get to build and plaster a complete structure made from straw bales…

• 6-14 May – Straw Bale and In-depth Clay Plastering, Workshop – Alicante, Spain – 395 / 495€
• 18-23 May – Straw Bale Workshop – Sussex, England – £365
• 6-11 July – Straw Bale Workshop – Sussex, England – £365
• 24-30 August – Straw Bale Workshop – Przelomka, Poland – 200€

Earthbag Workshops

Come and build a complete earthbag dome with arched entrance in just 5 days!

• 10-15 May – Earthbag Dome Workshop – Sussex, England – £295
• 25 June – 3 July – Earthbag Dome and Clay Plastering Workshop – Sussex, England – £345

Decorative Clay Plastering Workshops

Come and practice how to make your dream natural home look stunning with beautiful natural colours using a wide range of clay plaster, paint and carving techniques.

• 26-31 May – Decorative Clay Plastering Workshop , with Athena Steen from the Canelo Project, Sussex, England – £485
• 14-19 July – Decorative Clay Plastering Workshop – Sussex, England – £295

Planning Your Dream Natural Home Workshops

A six day workshop to learn how to go from your initial ideas to being ready to build! Includes how to choose your site, work with authorities, design your home, and understand all the building technologies to successfully manage and take part in the construction.
16-22 June – Planning Your Dream Natural Home Workshop – Sussex, England – £395

Designing Your Natural Home Workshops

A weekend of learning how to progress your ideas into a real design, including the construction of a small straw clay model.

• 30 September-1 October  – Designing your Natural Home – £195
  A weekend of  learning how to progress your ideas into a real design, including the construction of a small straw clay model. – (Limited to 6 people).  Basic accomodation available for £10/night.
• 11-12 November  – Designing your Natural Home – £195
  A weekend of  learning how to progress your ideas into a real design, including the construction of a small straw clay model. – (Limited to 6 people).  Basic accomodation available for £10/night.

Workshops coming soon:

10th - 18th February 2014 in Thailand

Building an Earthbag, sandbag Dome...

Fantastic low tech skills for Building for disaster relief... and disaster resistant houses.

....best for areas prone to flooding, and hurricanes. 

Taught by architect and earthbag author
Paulina Wojciechowska.
10th – 18th February 2014.
An 8 day workshop in Chaing Mai, Northern Thailand.
Earthbag buildings offer a very low cost of construction and far greater resistance to natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes, making them an ideal building method to introduce into many regions in Asia.
The workshop will be lead by Earth, Hands and Houses founder Paulina Wojciechowska, a qualified architect who has over 17 years of experience building with earthbags in communities all around the world. Paulina worked alongside Nader Khalili at Cal-Earth in 1996 and is the author of “Building with Earth”, one of the leading earthbag construction books.
The workshop is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience of all stages of constructing a large 4 metre diameter earthbag dome in a beautiful location in Northern Thailand, and will include:

• Learning about earthbag and sand bag  structures that can be constructed in areas prone to flooding and hurricanes.
• designing a house that can withstand floods and hurricanes.

• Theory of earthbag stucture foundations.
• Building an earthbag dome from an existing concrete base.
• Creating earthbag walls using both single bags and earthbag tubes.
• Different techniques using arches and lintels to construct doorways and windows within the earthbag structure.
• Ensuring the structure is stable through the correct use of buttressing and corbelling based upon the nature of the earth used to fill the bags.
• The theory and some short practice of clay plastering techniques applicable to earthbag dome structures.

Earthbag Workshop cost (8 days) : 360 euros 
Other important practicalities:

• This workshop is part of a series being run by our host, Maggie McKerron. Please see [http://maggimck.wordpress.com/2013/09/16/workshops-in-chiang-dao-thailand-2014/ ] for details of the other workshops Maggie is running which you may also wish to attend.
• Food will be provided for an additional cost of approximately 6 euros per day with shared kitchen duties.
• Free camping will be available on site.
• The best way to travel to the workshop is to fly or take a train to Chaing Mai in Thailand and then travel one and a half hours by bus or taxi to the workshop site.

After this workshop there will be an opportunity to stay on as a volunteer and participate in finishing the dome.
This is more than just an earthbag workshop – it will be a wonderful opportunity to enjoy an amazing 9 days of learning and relaxing amongst like minded people, some who may become your friends for life!

For more details see  www.earthhandsandhouses.org
email info@EarthHandsAndHouses.org
call Paulina on +44 1825 713349

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PAST WORKSHOPS

22 - 29th October 2013, 

Building with Straw bales

 (a workshop taught by Paulina)

Taurus Mountains of South Turkey
In the Mediterranean forest of Dutalan, 60km from Antalya in Turkey. 

A straw bale and clay plastering workshop.

This is a rare opportunity to learn how to build straw bale walls around a wooden hexagonal structure that supports a reciprocal roof. 

 In a 2 part workshop we’ll learn how to; raise straw bale walls with hazel pinning, tying walls, making a wall plate and compressing a wall, Installing door frames and window frames, as well as making clay plaster, recognizing clay, preparing clay plaster, the application of 3 different layers of earthen clay plaster, preparing wheat paste for stabilizing the final layer, sculpting, painting with clay paint and make light straw clay insulation. 

 Hands-on and some theory. 
  
Cost: 395 Euro 
(food: approx. 6 Euros per day, accommodation: free camping)

for more information 
email: earthhands@gmail.com
or call : +44 (0)1825 713349.

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Workshops for 2013

for more information email: info@EarthHandsAndHouses.org, or 
call Paulina on 01825 713349.  

www.earthhandsandhouses.org




UK, Essex, nr. Stanstead 
In a semi-rural location where camping is free with basic facilities. 

28 May-2 June, Building with Earthbags. Domes and arches. 

This is an Earthbag workshop, learning to build a root cellar, or any earthen dome structures for emergency and sustainable living. Building an arch and a very small dome made out of earth filled bags, and plastering/sculpting the dome with an earthen plaster. Hands-on and some theory. 
Cost: £260 without meals, or £320 with meals (Taught by Paulina) 

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UK, Hoathly Hill Community, E. Sussex 
In the gardens of the community.

 Weekend 21,22,23 June,  Building with Straw bales.

Mid Summer Straw Bale Building and Celebration.    

Come and join us for a fun weekend of learning natural building, camping with campfires and a mid summer celebration.
This is a straw bale workshop, building a round house, which will include a straw bale wall system that will be strengthened with hazel pinning, tying the walls, making the wall plate and compressing the wall as well as plastering/sculpting the walls with an earthen plaster. Hands-on and some theory. 

Cost: £ tba without meals, or £tba with communally cooked meals (Taught by Paulina) 

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Poland, North-Easterly Poland, nr. Lake Hancza, Przelomka. 
Taught by Paulina and Jarema 

27th July - 30th July, Building with Earthbags - Domes and arches. 

This is an Earthbag workshop, we will be building a root cellar, or a meditation dome, learning to build earthen dome structures for emergency and sustainable living. Building an arch and a very small dome made out of earth filled bags. Hands-on and some theory. 
Cost: 160 Euro 

1st – 3rd Aug, Clay plastering workshop. 

This workshop will teach how to recognize clay, how to prepare clay plaster, two different layers of earthen clay plaster, preparation of wheat paste for stabilizing the final layer, sculpting, painting with clay paint, and light straw clay insulation. 
Cost: 110 Euro 

4th August, Lime plastering. 

Plastering with Lime, clay finished walls. 
Cost: 30 Euro 

All courses in Przelomka include free basic camping facilities or make your own arrangements. (Accommodation: There is accommodation in the neighborhood for 6 to 20 Euros per night. Food: this is usually prepared together and the cost is shared) 

Discount for ALL 3 workshops - 270 Euro (Lime plastering is FREE if you attend the other two workshops)

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Workshops in Poland,  taught by Jarema

Poland, Nowe Miasto, near Olsztyn. 70 km from Warsaw. 

7-9^th May –Survival workshop.  

Three days learning Survival skills such as building of shelter, learning about herbs and other useful information regarding hygiene, and natural medicines.  This course is for beginners. 

Cost: 100 Euros. 

Poland, Nowe Miasto, near Olsztyn. 70 km from Warsaw. 

 30^th May – 1^st June. Clay plastering workshop.

This workshop will teach you how to recognize clay, how to prepare and apply clay plaster, two different layers of earthen clay plaster, final smooth plaster with a range of two colours, preparation of wheat paste for stabilizing the final layer, sculpting, painting with clay paint, lime plaster.
Cost: 150 Euro.

Poland, Karczak / Podlasie

16-18^th June,  Building with Straw bales, 

This is a straw bale workshop which will teach you how to build earthbag foundations, Straw bale walls with hazel pinning, tying the walls, making the wall plate and compressing the wall.
Cost: 150 Euro.  

21-23 June,  Clay plastering workshop. 

Clay plastering the straw bale walls. This workshop will teach how to recognize clay, how to prepare clay plaster, three different layers of earthen clay plaster, preparation of wheat paste for stabilizing the final layer, sculpting, painting with clay paint. And lime plastering.
Cost: 150 Euro. 

Poland: in Pupki near Olsztyn.

28-30^th June,  Natural building workshop, 

which is An Introduction to:

·        Earthbag Building

·        Cordwood building

·        Cob and wattle and daub, filling in a timber structure post and beam barn.

We will be spending a day on each technology.

Cost: 150 Euro.

Poland: in Pupki near Olsztyn.

3 -5^th July, Clay plastering workshop. 

 This workshop will teach how to recognize clay, how to prepare clay plaster, three different layers of earthen clay plaster, preparation of wheat paste for stabilizing the final layer, sculpting, painting with clay paint. And lime plastering.
Cost: 150 Euro. 

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Taurus Mountains of South Turkey    (a workshop taught by Paulina)

In the Mediterranean forest of Dutalan, 60km from Antalya in Turkey. 

22 - 29th October, Building with Straw bales

A straw bale and clay plastering workshop - this is a rare opportunity to learn how to build straw bale walls around a wooden hexagonal structure that supports a reciprocal roof. In a 2 part workshop we’ll learn how to; raise straw bale walls with hazel pinning, tying walls, making a wall plate and compressing a wall, Installing door frames and window frames, as well as making clay plaster, recognizing clay, preparing clay plaster, the application of 3 different layers of earthen clay plaster, preparing wheat paste for stabilizing the final layer, sculpting, painting with clay paint and make light straw clay insulation. Hands-on and some theory. 
 Cost: 395 Euro  
(food: approx. 6 Euros per day, accommodation: free camping)

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Northern Thailand near Chaing Mai,
On a beautiful site looking up at the mountain Chiang Dao. 

10 - 18th February 2014

Building a large Earthbag house dome 

Building with Earthbags, or Superadobe. A rare opportunity to build a 4m diameter dome which will be used as a guest house. The workshop will include foundations, making the dome and arch, and some clay plastering. After this workshop there will be an opportunity to stay on as a volunteer and participate in finishing the dome. 
Cost: 360 Euros

for more information email: info@EarthHandsAndHouses.org, or 

call Paulina on 01825 713349.  

xxx

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Workshops for summer 2012

UK, East Sussex
email: info@EarthHandsAndHouses.org
or call Paulina on 01825 713349 for more details.

Hadlow Down, East Sussex.
4th-5th April 2012 (Easter holidays)-(in the woods)
Plastering and sculpting a hot tub.

[cost:£10/day, children Free, Bring your own packed lunch to share]



Forest Row, East Sussex
19,20th May 2012 - Building a bread Oven made of clay.

[cost:£30/day or £55, children Free, Bring your own packed lunch to share]



Cowden, East Sussex
16,17th June 2012- plastering and sculpting an existing earthbag dome. Learning how to make a plaster using clay, sand and straw, sculpting and making smooth plasters for the fine finish.

[cost:£20/day, children Free, camping field available, shared food and cooking]



UK, Forest Row,
nr. East Grinstead and Gatwick, East Sussex

Located on a farm where camping is free with very basic facilities.
2-7 June, Building with Earthbags. Domes and arches. Building a root cellar, learning to build earthen dome structures for emergency and sustainable living. Building an arch and a very small dome made out of earth filled bags, and plastering/sculpting the dome with an earthen plaster. Hands-on and some theory. Taught by Paulina.

Cost £240 without meals or £300 with meals

email: info@EarthHandsAndHouses.org
or call Paulina on 01825 713349 for more details.



Poland, Pupki, 20km from Olsztyn

In beautiful countryside, where we run a straw bale wall raising 2 yrs ago, we will be adding another straw bale wall to an existing one under the roof of a timber frame barn. The course is taught by Jarema Dubiel.

23-25 June, Straw bale wall rising, with hazel pinning, tying the walls, making the wall plate and compressing the wall. Mostly hands on.
Cost: 150 Euro including free vegetarian lunch and basic sleeping accommodation.

27-29 June, Clay plastering the straw bale walls. This workshop will teach how to recognize clay, how to prepare clay plaster, three different layers of earthen clay plaster, preparation of wheat paste for stabilizing the final layer, sculpting, painting with clay paint, and light straw clay insulation.
Cost: 110 Euro including free vegetarian lunch and basic sleeping accommodation.

If you would like to attend all 2 courses the cost is reduced to 250 Euro
(This includes lunch for 6 days and basic accommodation for 8 nights)



North-Easterly Poland, nr. Lake Hancza, Przelomka.
Taught by Paulina and Jarema

21-24 July, Building with Earthbags - Domes and arches. Building a root cellar, or a meditation dome, learning to build earthen dome structures for emergency and sustainable living. Building an arch and a very small dome made out of earth filled bags. Hands-on and some theory.
Cost: 150 Euro including free basic camping facilities

27-29 July, Clay plastering. This workshop will teach how to recognize clay, how to prepare clay plaster, two different layers of earthen clay plaster, preparation of wheat paste for stabilizing the final layer, sculpting, painting with clay paint, and light straw clay insulation.
Cost: 110 Euro including free basic camping facilities.

31 July – 1 August, Lime plastering. Plastering with Lime a clay finished straw bale wall.
Cost: 30 Euro including free basic camping facilities

All courses in Przelomka include free basic camping facilities or make your own arrangements. (Accommodation: There is accommodation in the neighborhood for 6 to 15 Euros per night. Food: this is usually prepared together and the cost is shared)
Discount for ALL 3 workshops - 260 Euro (Lime plastering is FREE if you attend the other two workshops)

email: info@EarthHandsAndHouses.org
or Call Paulina on +44 (0)1825 713349 for more details.

Workshops for the summer 2011

Workshop dates 2011.
www.earthhandsandhouses.org


UK, Sussex (near Gatwick), Balcombe
28May – 2nd June
Building with Earthbags. Domes and arches.
Building a root cellar, learning to build earthen dome structures for emergency and sustainable living. Building an arch and a very small dome made out of earth filled bags, and plastering/sculpting the dome with an earthen plaster. Hands-on and some theory. Taught by Paulina,
Cost: 240pounds or 300pounds with all meals.


Poland, Near Plonsk, 60km from Warsaw
In a beautiful pine and birch woodland, where there are already straw bale and Earthbag houses, we will be building an extension to an existing timber house made of straw bales with Earthbag foundations. The course is split into 3 stages of the building process taught by Jarema Dubiel.

17-18 May – Earthbag foundations for the straw bale walls. The earthbags will be filled with sand, clay or gravel.
Cost: 70 Euros (includes free lunches).

20-22 May – Straw bale wall rising, with hazel pinning, tying the walls, making the wall plate and compressing the wall. Mostly hands on, but some theory.
Cost: 130 Euros (includes free lunches).

25-27May – Clay plastering the straw bale walls. This workshop will teach how to recognize clay, how to prepare clay plaster, three different layers of earthen clay plaster, preparation of wheat paste for stabilizing the final layer, sculpting, making a truth window, painting with clay paint, and light straw clay insulation.

Cost: 110 Euros (includes free lunches).

Cost For all 3 courses: 275 Euros.
The cost includes Very basic shelter and a vegetarian lunch.


Poland, North-east, near Goldap
In a newly formed eco-village this will be the first straw bale house.
This building course is a segment of a 3 week permaculture course, (more details will follow). This building course is split into 3 stages of the building process, taught by Jarema Dubiel.

26-27June – Earthbag foundations for the straw bale walls.
Cost: 70 Euros (includes free lunches).

29th June – 1st July. - Straw bale wall rising, with hazel pinning, tying the walls, making the wall plate and compressing the wall. Mostly hands on, but some theory.

3rd – 5th July, - Clay plastering workshops; how to recognize clay, how to prepare clay plaster, three layers of earthen plaster, preparation of wheat paste for stabilizing the final layer, sculpting, making a truth window, painting with clay paint, and light straw clay insulation

Camping field and tee-pee available for free.
Vegan food, (ask for details).


Poland, North-east, Przelomka
(22-24 July), Building with Earthbags. Domes and arches.
Building a root cellar, learning to build earthen dome structures for emergency and sustainable living. Building an arch and a very small dome made out of earth filled bags

(29-31st July), Plastering/sculpting the dome with an earthen plaster.

Cost: one 3-day July workshop 140Euros, two 3-day workshops 240Euro.
(Concessions available)
Accommodation: There is a camping field available for free, or make your own arrangements.
Meals not included.


Poland, Near Warsaw
(25 -28 August). Straw bale workshop. Straw bale wall raising will include how to divide straw bales, learning which straw is good for building with, fixing the wall to the foundation, stabilizing the bale walls, making a straw bale wall plate, first layers of plaster.
Cost: 150Euro.

(2nd – 4th September), Clay plastering, the only workshop this season on how to plaster a straw bale wall. The workshop will include: theory, how to recognize clay, how to prepare clay plaster, three layers of earthen plaster, preparation of wheat paste for stabilizing the final layer, sculpting, making a truth window, painting with clay paint, and light straw clay insulation.
Cost: 120 Euro.
Accommodation: There is a camping field available for free, or make your own arrangements.


South of France
(18-28 October) (approximate dates)
Building with Earthbags. Domes and arches. – building a large 5m house dome with smaller niches.

www.maspinet.com
(More information to come)

EARTHBAG building workshop in Sussex UK. May 28-2nd June 2011

Earthbag- Building
WORKSHOP May/June 2011
Sandbags/ Earthbags/Superadobe and Clay

www.EarthHandsAndHouses.org

Building an earthen dome,
which can be used as a root cellar, a meditation dome,
a sleeping pod, a sound room, a fertility chapel, etc..
Learn to Build

Earthen dome structures for
emergency and sustainable living

28th May – 2nd June (Bank holiday weekend)
Building with Earthbags- a dome and an arch, plastering the dome & sculpting with clay.

Location:
Near Balcombe, West Sussex. (near Gatwick Airport)
Content:
Building an arch and a very small dome made out of earth filled
bags (Earthbags, Superadobe etc..), and plastering/sculpting the dome with an earthen plaster. Hands on and some Theory.

Building with materials that you are standing on

Taught by:
Paulina Wojciechowska, who is an architect and author of ‘Building with Earth, a guide to Flexible-Form earthbag construction’, has been studying, building and teaching natural building since 1996.
Simon Welsh, writer performer, speaker…
will assist & host the workshop.

Minimum 10 persons for the workshop to run.

Cost:
Earthbag course + plastering (6 days):
£300 incl. food
£240 excl. food
Camping free

Food:
communal vegetarian/vegan cooking
or make own arrangements.

The first Earthbag, Superadobe workshop in Sussex England

In 3 days 20 lovely people built a 2 metre internal diameter earthbag, superadobe dome with an entrance vault. We used approx.300 metres of polypropylene tube bag.

Below are a few pictures showing the construction process:

-A small drainage channel



-setting out of the earthbag dome



-A form was used to make an arched entrance







Aniko shaping the earthbag





-James and Marcin making the form


-The amount of clay used to fill the bags


-Vaulted entrance to the earthbag (earth filled bags) dome root cellar


The completed dome


part of the earthbag workshop group


The next two days were plastering the dome.


The earthbag dome after 5 days.





Part of the earth, straw clay, plastering group.




THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING SUCH A GREAT GROUP!!!