6-Day Cob + Straw Immersion

This course is offered twice:

May 9-14th, 2025 - *** ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT! ***
May 20-25th, 2025 *** 6 SPOTS LEFT ***

INSTRUCTORS: Greg + Danielle

STUDENT #: 15 students [maximum]

COST (includes meals):

$1230 Early Bird Rate (register 10 days in advance)
$1350 Regular Rate
5% discount for family + friends participating together!
10% discount for BIPOC participants

DESCRIPTION:

Our Immersion is our most popular course, and is designed to provide an understanding of four natural wall systems: cob, strawbale, slip-straw, and wattle & daub. Working with multiple wall systems will provide you with insight into which will fit into your own potential projects best. You will also get experience mixing and applying earthen plaster!

We emphasize hands-on learning, with most of each day spent on our work site. We will be building a sculptural cob garden wall on campus, which simulates the process of building a house while still allowing everyone to have enough space to work and learn. We’ll also be installing full strawbale walls in a pre-constructed wooden frame, plus demonstrating the slip-straw and wattle & daub wall techniques. On the final day, the group will apply clay plaster to some of these natural wall systems.

To supplement our hands-on work sessions, there will be time allotted for a local home tour, a tour of our natural cottages on campus, plus discussions/presentations on essential topics. We will also provide informational handouts to take home with you, and share digital presentation materials for your own future reference.

In addition to our scheduled learning time, there is a wonderful community aspect to our workshops. Three wholesome meals are provided each day, which are shared as a group in our community gathering space. Plenty of unscheduled, leisure time is available for relaxing.

Expect to leave the workshop with the confidence and knowledge to take on your own natural building project!

Click on the link below to see a sample of a detailed daily schedule.

Full 6-Day Schedule

HANDS-ON:
* mixing cob - by foot and with a mortar mixer
* building with cob
* installing a complete straw bale wall section
* mixing and installing slip-straw
* mixing and installing wattle & daub
* mixing and applying clay plaster
* how to install windows in cob vs. strawbale
DISCUSSION:
* “Rubble trench footings + other foundation options”
* “Cob to code” discussion with guest speaker
* “Clay vs straw wall systems: thermal mass, insulation, + design considerations”
* CAMPUS TOUR! - We’ll tour campus buildings, as a general Q+A
* LOCAL HOME TOUR! we will visit a local strawbale home to talk with the owner/builders
8:00-9:00 Breakfast
9:00-12:45 Morning work session
12:45-1:45 Lunch
1:45-5:30 Afternoon work session
5:30-6:30 Unscheduled (Shower, relax)
6:30 Dinner! (no dinner on Day 5)
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)
Lunch and dinner are hearty vegetarian meals, catered by local small businesses. Vegan and gluten-free options are available upon request.
For this longer course we’ll get to include a Cob Oven Pizza Night! 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 at the Mud Dauber campus, adjacent to our small homestead, in Snow Camp, NC.
We are 10 min away from Saxapahaw, 20 minutes from Siler City & Pittsboro, 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 your invoice. Your spot will be confirmed once we receive payment. Thank you!

Please read our Refund Policy here.