2-Day Cob Oven (off-site, at Fireside Farm)

DATES: June 27th-28th, 2026 *** FULL - WAITLIST ONLY ***

INSTRUCTORS: Greg + Danielle

STUDENT #: 15 students [maximum]

COST (includes meals):

$380 Early Bird Rate (30 days in advance)
$430 Regular Rate
10% discount for BIPOC participants

DESCRIPTION:

We’ll be building a cob oven at Fireside Farm, located about 20 minutes from our campus. A cob oven is a great beginner project for anyone interested in natural building, because it includes multiples techniques in a small, functional project. We’ll be making different cob mixes, laying fire brick, installing slip-straw, and even getting to apply some base coat earthen plasters by the end. The oven build will also include an attached countertop, which we’ll construct using a straw bale core covered with structural cob. Our work together will cover all of the functional oven layers and components that you need to know about to build your own oven someday - from a base insulation layer, to a protective plaster layer, and everything in between!

HANDS-ON:
- installing the subfloor insulation layer, and the thermal mass subfloor
- installing the firebrick floor
- constructing the thermal cob dome
- installing an insulation dome
- mixing and applying a base coat clay plaster
- building an earthen countertop, with cob and straw bales
DISCUSSION:
- “Different options for cob oven design” (chimneys, size variation, sculptural layers…)
- “How to fire and use a cob oven” (we will use one for a pizza dinner!)
SATURDAY:
8:00-9:00 Breakfast (at the Mud Dauber campus)
9:00-9:30 Orientation (at Mud Dauber)
9:30-10:00 Commute to Fireside Farm
10:00-12:45 Morning work session
12:45-1:45 Lunch (at farm)
1:45-5:30 Afternoon work session
5:30-6:00 Commute back to Mud Dauber campus
6:00-6:30 Shower, relax
6:30 Saturday pizza dinner! (no dinner on Sunday)
SUNDAY:
8:00-9:00 Breakfast (at the Mud Dauber campus)
9:00-9:15 Commute to Fireside Farm
9:15-12:45 Morning work session
12:45-1:45 Lunch (at Farm)
1:45-4:00 Afternoon work session
4:00-4:30 Closing Circle
4:30-4:45 Commute back to Mud Dauber campus
No dinner on Sunday***
Meals are included! Food is vegetarian, with vegan and gluten-free options available.

We provide a simple breakfast spread of fresh fruit, oatmeal packets, yogurt & granola, coffee, and tea. (Non-dairy oat and almond milk are available)

Lunches are hearty vegetarian meals, and will include some produce from the host farm. Vegan and gluten-free options are available upon request.

On Saturday, we’ll enjoy a cob oven pizza night at the Mud Dauber School campus! We always look forward to these fun evenings, making pizzas together in our community dining space.

*There is no dinner on the last day*
TENTING: Tent sites are available and included in the workshop tuition.
COTTAGE RENTAL: We have 7 tiny sleeping cottages available to rent - 5 with natural walls, and 2 wooden A-frames. Each cottage provides the basics- a mattress with fresh bedding, a lamp, and a fan. If you’re interested in a cottage, there is space to let us know on the registration form. Click here to see the cottage options.

Check out our FAQ page for more info about nearby towns.
This workshop is held off-site at Fireside Farm, around 20 minutes from our campus. We will start Saturday by meeting at the Mud Dauber Campus for breakfast and orientation, and then we’ll commute to the work site at the farm.
The Mud Dauber campus is on our small homestead in Snow Camp, NC.
We are 10 min away from Saxapahaw, 20 minutes from Siler City and Pittsboro, and 30 minutes from Carrboro/Chapel Hill, and one hour from the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).

REGISTER:

Click below to fill out the registration form and we’ll get back to you within 48 hours to confirm availability and send an invoice. We look forward to seeing you here!

Please read our Refund Policy here.