Mission Our workshop mission is to educate the general public about the many benefits of building with earth in urban settings. Our workshops are geared for both novice and advanced builders. Each workshop offers plenty of hands-on experience, and participants will leave with confidence to start their own earth building project at home. |
Cob An old english word for lump or mass, Cob is a earthen mixture of clay subsoil, sand and straw. Traditionally used to for home construction, cob is an extremely strong and durable building material. Made out of clay rich subsoil, cob is very malleable and can be formed into any shape imagined. This allows you to create hand-sculpted, walls, benches, ovens, fireplaces, etc. Being a non-toxic, all natural and sustainable material, cob promotes green building practices. Cob can also be applied to almost any surface, making it ideal for sculpting over armatures or directly onto walls. This allows you to transform any pre-existing wall or object into a personalized, work of art. Since cob does not need to be fired, you don’t need a kiln, making it an eco-friendly alternative to conventional ceramic tile or sculpture. |
Earthen Plasters Traditionally used to cover earthen or straw bale walls, earthen plasters have become a popular alternative to conventional paints. Besides having a soft, velvety appearance, earthen plasters can reduce noise and control atmospheric moisture. There are many types of earthen plasters, all having distinct looks. The plasters are basically composed of clay and sand but some recipes call for binders like wheat paste or fillers like marble dust, mica or chopped straw. Some earthen plasters are thick and can be sculpted while other are very thin, which is great for smooth, polished finishes.With proper preparation,earthen plasters can be applied over any pre-existing surface, making them a quick and beautiful way to bring earth into you home.
|
 |
Urban Earth Solutions Home - Earth Building - Workshops - Consulting - Sculpture - Ovens - Contact - Links |
 |
"Promoting urban eco-living through the art and science of earth building."
Earth Building Workshops
Learn how to build your own low cost wood-fired oven out of earth.
Fun to make and even more fun to use, earth ovens bake like expensive commercial wood-fired ovens while costing a fraction of the price. Ideal for baking breads and pizzas, earth ovens use radiant, conductive and convection heat simultaneously - producing crunchy, caramelized crusts with moist goodness on the inside.
Built out of unfired clay, they can be hand-sculpted into beautiful works of art, making a beautiful addition to any backyard or patio. To learn more about earth oven, check out the ovens page.
Earth Oven - May 10th & 11th
@ Billick Rock Art - Davis,CA
Saturday & Sunday 9:00am - 2:00pm
Cost:$85.00
This special weekend workshop will be power packed, as Urban Earth Solutions joins forces with esteemed artist Donna Billick at her home studio in Davis. Working in mosaic, ceramic and terrazzo mediums, Billick is an established artist who has been a strong figure in the community art build movement. Most noted for her large-scale mosaic sculpture and murals, Billick's public art works can be seen throughout California.
During the weekend we will cover all aspects of oven construction including, gathering raw material, building foundations, applying protective plasters and baking. The event will also include a demonstration in the studio on traditional mosaic techniques including design, fabrication and installation. Through out the weekend there will be slide talks on earth building and mosaic sculptural as well as in depth discussion on design and aesthetics.
The workshop is geared for people of all ages and skill levels. Children and families are encouraged to attend. The workshops are “hands-on” so be prepared to get dirty. This workshop includes light snacks but participants are responsible for bringing lunch and water. Camping is also available for those coming far or just want to sleep under the stars. Coinciding with the Davis Whole Earth Festival, participants can enjoy the rest of the after noon listening to music, dancing and eating good food.
Register Here
In Chico,CA
Saturday & Sunday 10:00am to 3:00pm
Cost:$75
This weekend workshop will cover earth oven construction from start to finish. Participant will learn basic oven building methods and techniques including: how to gather raw materials, build foundations and apply protective plasters. The workshop will also cover how to heat and bake with an earth oven. The workshops are labor intensive, giving ample “Hands-on” experience. Participants will walk away from the weekend feeling confident about building their own Earth Oven.
The workshop is geared for people of all ages and skill levels. Children and families are encouraged to attend. The workshops are “hands-on” so be prepared to get dirty.
Register Here
May 31st 10:00am - 3:00pm
@ The Urban Earth Project, Sacramento,CA
Cost- $45.00
This workshop is a great introduction to cob building and how it can be used in urban environments.
During the workshop, we will be exploring how to build sculptural walls and benches out of cob. Built on site, learn how to transform any space into an organic living environment designed specifically for your needs.
Participants will be learning basic cob building techniques. We will be working on several projects through out the day so that participants can experience all stages of construction, including foundations and finish plasters.
Register Here
coming soon to Sacramento
During this weekend workshop we will build a low cost wood-fired hot tub out of "cob" and other recycled materials. While construction the hot tub, participants will learn basic cob building techniques including: foundation construction, gathering raw materials and finish plasters. If you are interested in this workshop, please contact me so I can alert you once the dates are set.
Thanks!
|
To register for a class or workshop please e-mail us with the name of the workshop. We will respond with further details about the event and directions to the workshop location. If you do not hear back from us with in 24 hours, please call us at #530-848-8088. Space is limited, so to reserve your spot, we require that at least 50% of the workshop fee be paid in advanced. All paid fees are non-refundable unless the workshop has been cancelled. Thank you for your interest in earth building and we look forward to meeting you. |
 |