Workshop Schedule
Cobworks offers a number of workshops throughout the year in various locations. We're always adding new workshops and events, so be sure to check back often.
I am announcing that Cobworks will not be instructing any workshops this summer due to health reasons. Thank you for all your support and complimentary emails. I will still be available to answer all your cob questions and the Morelos, Mexico workshop in February/March 2012 is still on. We will see what the new year brings.
Patrick Hennebery
Cob Homes Tour- Summer 2011
Ever wondered what it would be like to live in an earthen home? You can find out this summer by visiting 5 to 7 sites [as time allows] with a tour led by Patrick Hennebery. He can answer all your cob questions and you also get to meet the owners.
Cobworks will be hosting these tours on Mayne Island this summer. The first one will be Sunday, July 24th and the second one is Sunday, August 21st. We will meet at 640 Horton Bay Road at 11:30 and go to 4:30. The summer ferry schedule is not out yet so times may change slightly. Please bring a lunch. This will be a driving tour but we can pick you up at the ferry if you walk on. The cost is $20 per person and children are free. To register please email pat@cobworks.com. Thank you for your interest.
Cob in Morelos, Mexico Feb 20 - Mar 20 2012
Well it's official: Cobworks is hosting a cob workshop in Morelos, three hours south of Mexico City. We will be building in Miacatlin for Hector and Igor Trejo. These brothers along with 2 friends took our Baja 2007 cob workshop and have since acquired land and are ready to start building. The project is an 800 sq.ft. house for Hector, which will feature earthen floors, full kitchen, bathroom and 2 bedrooms. With this workshop you will gain many of the skills and confidence to begin planning and build your own cob home. Wood is very expensive and prone to termites, so we will focus on using much recycled and local materials. We will also be looking at latex cement on a hyperbolic parabola frame for the roof. This system uses much less materials than conventional roof designs. See LATEX CEMENT HABITAT by George Nez for more info. We have local residents who will also be working alongside us, as we relearn these ancient earthbuilding skills. Also a great chance to practise your Spanish.
During the month long course, participants will learn how to:
- locate and identify materials
- build a stone and urbanite foundation
- design and layout a cob home
- install doors and windows
- mix and build with cob [the owners are excited about bobcat cob]
- build a Rumford fireplace and earthen oven.
- design a roof for the structure
There will also be daily theory classes where we will cover:
- composting toilets and greywater systems
- codes and permits
- plumbing and electrical
- heating, cooling and earthen floors
- roof designs
- earthen plasters and natural finishes
- a general Q&A session
Miacatlàn is a city in the Mexican state of Morelos. www.tourbymexico.com/morelos/miacatla/miacatla.htm is a great site.
The city serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name. The population of the town is 27,000. The toponym Miacatlàn comes from a Nahuatl name and means "place of abundant reeds for arrows". This is probably in reference to the two lakes in the municipality, Lake Coatetelco and Lake El Rodeo.
The camping on site will be secure, have showers, washrooms and an outdoor kitchen. Local, organic [when available] and wholesome meals will be provided on all workshop days. Depending on the group, side meat dishes may be provided. Please let us know of any dietary restrictions so we can accommodate you. Stores, internet access, shopping, ATM and laundry facilities are all close by. Days off will be free to explore many of the local archaeological sites and abundant natural beauty of the area. Aside from learning about cob, this will be a wonderful opportunity to live in another culture, study a second language and meet like minded people who can help you on your own cob project. Oh yeah, it also takes a goodly slice out the cold winter blues.
If you have any questions please contact me at pat@cobworks.com or phone 250 539 5253. The price of the month long workshop is $1500 US or $2500 for couples. This includes camping, workshop meals and instruction. From the airport at Mexico City, you will have a 1 hour bus ride to Cuernavaca, where we will meet you. You can register by sending a certified cheque or money order for $750 US per participant, payable to:
Patrick Hennebery
S-10 C-103
Mayne Island,B.C.
V0N 2J0 Canada
The remainder of the fee can be paid on arrival. Looking forward to meeting a new crew and cobbling with all of you. I am planning on arriving early and enrolling for 2 weeks at one of the many Spanish Language Schools in Cuernavaca. Hasta luego.
Patrick
P.S. Recommended reading- THE HAND SCULPTED HOUSE by Ianto Evans, LITTLE HOMES ON A SMALL PLANET by Shay Soloman and A PATTERN LANGUAGE by Christopher Alexander.
Cobworks Webinar
Have you ever thought about taking a Natural Building /Cob workshop? What exactly is a cob house? Can I build my own cob house? Can a cob house have plumbing, electrical and heating like a "conventional" house? How much does a cob house cost?
These are some of the many email questions answered everyday. Perhaps it's time to take a webinar course with Patrick Hennebery of Cobworks on Mayne Island, British Columbia. He has built 25 cob homes and taught over 40 natural building workshops since 1997. In the first 1.5 hour seminar, there will be a overview slideshow of beautiful cob homes Cobworks has built. After the show, questions will be answered personally by Patrick. In the following months, some individual topics covered will be:
- passive solar siting, foundations & drainage
- identifying materials, mixing & wall construction
- earthen floors and natural plasters
- post and beam frames, roof designs & cob/wood carpentry
- heating with rocket stoves, woodstoves, Rumford fireplaces & ovens
- composting toilets and greywater systems
- codes, permits & acquiring land
- rough local lumber & recycled materials
- each cob house built will be featured along with all the individual costs of construction
- personal interviews with cob homeowners
- virtual cob tours
- apprentice ship program at Deaconvale Farm
To register please click on COBWORKSWEBINAR.