Cob Bench Workshop

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ATTEND ONE OR BOTH DAYS

• Sat. July 5
• Sun. July 6

DAILY SCHEDULE

• 9am - 12pm | Morning Session
• 12pm - 2:50pm | Midday Break  (byo-lunch + optional creek swimming hole visit) 
• 2:50pm - 7pm | Evening Session

WORKSHOP TICKET
Click here to register

• 1-day ticket = $90 (Attend Saturday or Sunday)
• Both days = $160 (Attend Saturday & Sunday)

Save $20 by registering before 6/21 and using discount code "EARLY" at checkout

Space will be limited to 15 attendees per-day to give everyone ample space to practice.

LESSONS COVERED

• Introduction to Natural Building
• Finding and testing clay soil
• Sourcing and preparing natural building materials
• Deciding which techniques are best for your project
• Preparing materials by hand and with machinery
• Hands-on practice: building with adobe and cob

SKILLS PRACTICED

• Testing soil content
• Mixing and applying cob (clay, sand, water, and fiber)
• Making adobe bricks and an earthen mortar
• Sculpting with cob
• Integrating glass bottles into cob 
• Collaborative building with community

WHAT IS COB?

Cob is both a material and a building technique in its own right. Cob stands on its own as a sculptable material for building freestanding walls or even entire structures. Whether you're patching up a daub wall or sculpting a cob bench, natural building techniques use earthen materials to create beauty, function, and connection to the land.

WHAT IS ADOBE?

Adobe is a time-tested natural building material made by combining clay-rich soil, sand, water, and straw into bricks, then drying them in the sun. Known for its strength, thermal mass, and simplicity, adobe has been used globally for thousands of years. In this workshop, we’ll make and build with adobe bricks and explore how to integrate them with cob systems. 

WHAT WILL WE BE BUILDING?
During this hands-on workshop, we’ll continue sculpting and refining a community-built earthen bench that we started during a workshop with Sasha @EarthenShelter that incorporates adobe, and cob. Newcomers are welcome and will be supported with the context and skills to jump right in. Stay tuned for a future workshop where we'll finish the bench with the final layers of earthen plaster.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Learn how to approach design choices and material considerations
• Gain confidence in mixing cob by hand and with machines, learning the proper consistency and techniques for application
• Practice applying cob, exploring methods to ensure a strong, long-lasting bond
• Leave inspired and equipped to apply earthen building techniques to your own projects

OVERNIGHT ACCOMODATIONS NOT INCLUDED

• Some camping spots are available with friends across the street, please reach out to INFO@MAMATREEOJAI.COM to inquire.
• The closest public campgrounds are Dennison Park in Upper Ojai and Steckel Park in Santa Paula.
• While we hope to offer on-site camping in the future, we are not yet permitted to host overnight guests. We encourage you to build community by carpooling or coordinating shared stays if possible.

LUNCH IS NOT INCLUDED
Participants will have access to shared fridge space and a shared outdoor propane cook stove and sink to cook their own lunch. Lunch can also be eaten or picked up from town (Ojai) during the 2hr and 45min lunch break.

Click here to register

If you have any questions regarding the workshop weekend, including accessibility and accommodation needs, please contact us at INFO@MAMATREEOJAI.COM