Clay/Straw Workshop

The four-day, hands-on workshop is at the heart and core of the EcoNest mission, "to co-create living sanctuaries." You will come together with people of all ages and walks of life, from across the continent, and over a four-day period you will complete the clay/straw walls of the sponsor's home. There is no prior building skill required for taking this workshop; however, if you have building skills they will be put to good use.

Not only will you learn and have fun doing it - you will make a difference. When the workshop ends on Sunday you will leave behind a most worthwhile contribution - the walls of an ecological home.

You will become a valuable link in the EcoNest network and when, in turn, you come to build your own EcoNest, your home will receive the benefit of many loving hands as you become the sponsor of this experience for others.

While the EcoNest team will be your guides, clay, straw and timber will be your teachers. The more you touch and shape these living materials, the friendlier they become and the more you will feel connected to nature. You are a part of nature and the instinct to create shelter is in your genes. Tapping into this instinct is spontaneous and energizing when we are outdoors and building with unprocessed natural materials. Building shelter is a rite-of-passage and this workshop is a step along that journey which can significantly improve the quality of your life.

Who Should Attend this Workshop?

The 4-day workshop is the basic introduction to clay/straw building and to the EcoNest Company. This program will give the attendee a broad understanding of natural and health enhancing building with plenty of hands-on experience. This is a good workshop for anyone who is interested in ecological building in general and who wishes to become familiar with the EcoNest building system.

This course is a prerequisite if you are interested in:

Gaining hands-on learning with clay/straw building
What it feels like to experience building a home with a team of like-minded people
Having an EcoNest built for your family
Embarking on training to become a Certified EcoNest Affiliate
Interviewing to become an EcoNest Company Apprentice

What you will learn

Clay: Learn why unprocessed clay is unrivaled as a technologically advanced building material and how to evaluate the clay content and quality in a soil. Students will develop knowledge about the nature of clay, its thermal properties and its role in protecting, finishing and creating a healthy indoor climate.

Straw: Learn how versatile this material can be. From wall insulation to plaster reinforcement to beautiful tatami flooring and roofing, straw has traditionally been an integral part of the building process. Students learn about the various types and uses of straw while building walls with clay and straw.

Formwork: Students fabricate, install, strip and move the lightweight forms used to build the monolithic clay/straw walls.

Mixing Clay/Straw: Utilizing modern technology and specialized equipment, students will mix several tons of clay /straw. Students learn the different density recipes for north, south, east, and west walls.

Loading and tamping: Students learn proper technique to place, pack and reinforce clay/straw.

Material handling: Successful construction involves moving materials and sequencing different operations intelligently. Students learn to conserve energy, find and respect their rhythm, and enjoy the work! Learn how to do less and accomplish more.

Embodied Energy: The energy used to extract, process, package, transport and install a building material is an important basis for determining its ecological performance. In a world with dwindling resources it is important for builders to understand the ecological impact embodied in the choice of building materials and systems. Students will explore various construction techniques in terms of ecological impact.

Natural Building Science I: The students will be introduced to the theory and philosophy of building biology, and the inter-relationship between human health, the built environment and ecological impact.

Please note: If you are working with a builder who does not have experience with clay/straw construction, your builder should register for the Builder Training Program.

Instructors

Robert Laporte and EcoNest Team Members

Workshop Fee

$495 per person, $890 for a couple

Workshop Dates and Locations