Learn to build Your Own cob house

From Earth. From Scratch. With Your Own Hands.

A 35-day immersive cob building workshop where you learn to create a complete, beautiful, affordable and ecological home from raw, natural materials.

Hands-on learning, so you leave with a clear, practical understading of sustainable, low- impact construction and what it actually takes to build a house with earth.

LOCATION:

Mafra, Portugal

on a beautiful farm close to the ocean and the enchanted surfertown Ericeira

Accommodation:

The Forrest is a place where we live a species appropriate life. we value natural tendencies, rawness and honesty. several species like horses, cats, dogs, small wild animals and a couple of humans live closely together respecting each other’s needs so we can all thrive. nature is our teacher.

Accommodation is simple and close to nature, with camping as the main option included in the workshop fee. On our beautiful farm, home to various animals we offer outdoor showers, compost toilets, a shared outdoor area for meals and gatherings, and a basic outdoor kitchen for weekend use. There is an option to upgrade to a caravan, bring your own van or rent something closeby.

join for 2 - 5 weeks

get in tough to know which weeks are the best for you!

COURSE DETAILS

week 1

foundation

Building a rock stemwall + the 1st coat of earthen floor.

week 2, 3

Building the house structure

Making cob, building walls with cob, inserting windows, shelves and all the elements of the house.

week 4

Sculpting & earthen plaster

Create the details, decorations, earthen plaster and finishes

week 5

Closing the Buidling

Reciprocal green roof & 2nd floor coat

CONTENT

– Foundations & drainage systems

– Building a natural rock stem wall

– Soil analysis and understanding building materials

– Making test bricks

– Finding the correct cob ratio for different soil types

– Choosing the best building location according to permaculture principles

– Mixing and making cob

– Building cob walls

– Integrating windows, doors, and shelves

– Installing electrical wiring and plumbing within cob walls

– Sculpting with cob

– Preparing and applying earthen plasters

– Pouring an earthen floor

– Wall-to-roof connection techniques

– Building a roof frame

– Installing a green roof covering

– other earthen building techniques