Cob Pallet Wall Workshop: Hands-On Natural Building
Jul
12
to Jul 13

Cob Pallet Wall Workshop: Hands-On Natural Building

Join us for an exciting 2-day hands-on workshop where we’ll construct cob pallet walls for a 24x32 foot post-and-beam barn! This is a unique opportunity to learn how to transform reclaimed pallets into a sturdy, insulated, and beautiful earthen wall system—a powerful technique in natural building.

Why Pallet Walls?

The pallet wall system is a perfect blend of sustainability, affordability, and functionality. By repurposing discarded shipping pallets, we create a strong yet lightweight framework that allows us to build high-quality, low-cost structures with minimal environmental impact. Pallet walls provide the perfect "skeleton" for infill materials like cob, straw, or light clay, making them a versatile choice for natural builders.

What You’ll Learn:

✅ Pallet Wall Framing – How to frame windows and doors within the pallet system.
✅ Wall Foundations – Understanding the essential groundwork to ensure strong, long-lasting cob walls.
✅ Mixing & Applying Cob – Get your hands (and feet) dirty while learning to create and apply the perfect cob mix.
✅ Thermal Mass & Breathability – Why earthen walls create healthy, comfortable living spaces.
✅ Natural Building Techniques – Blending tradition with innovation to build structures that are beautiful, sustainable, and functional.

Why Join This Workshop?

  • Experience the magic of working with mud, connecting with ancient and modern building wisdom.

  • Gain practical skills you can apply to your own natural building projects.

  • Be part of a community that values sustainable, low-impact building techniques.

Accommodation:

Participants are welcome to camp on-site for the duration of the workshop for an additional $15 per night. To make your stay more comfortable, our Yurt will serve as a community space, offering:
🏕️ Access to a shower
🔥 Indoor kitchen with a propane stove
❄️ Big refrigerator to store your food
🚽 Compost toilet
📚 Cozy space for relaxing, reading natural building books, and connecting with others

This shared space allows you to fully immerse yourself in the experience, enjoy meals together, and deepen your connections with fellow workshop participants.

Workshop Details:

📅 Dates: July 12th and July 13th (8:30am to 5pm each day)
📍 Location: Brooktondale NY
💰 Cost: $350 (includes delicious homemade organic lunches)

How to Register:

To secure your spot or for any inquiries, please email MatteoLundgren@gmail.com. Spaces are limited, so sign up early!

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2 part Natural Building Workshop: Log Cabin Sauna and Strawbale Wall Changing room
Jun
29
to Jun 30

2 part Natural Building Workshop: Log Cabin Sauna and Strawbale Wall Changing room

Are you ready to immerse yourself in the art of natural building? Students will learn by doing, constructing a log cabin sauna using local spruce trees in the round, building a strawbale wall changing room, experience mixing and applying natural plasters (clay and lime) and an earthen floor. Join the Fingerlakes School of Natural Building for an unforgettable two-part workshop where you'll learn hands-on techniques to construct a rustic log cabin sauna.

Dates:

  • Weekend 1: June 29th - 30th

  • Weekend 2: July 27th - 28th

Location: Cob Family Farm, South Road Brooktondale NY

In this unique workshop, participants have the flexibility to sign up for one or both weekends, tailoring the experience to suit their interests and schedule.

Weekend 1: Log Cabin Sauna & Strawbale Wall Framing
Students will learn about joinery while we raise the walls of the log cabin sauna. Students will also learn basic framing skills for a strawbale wall system using innovative box columns and box beams and how to properly stack strawbales in a wall. Additionally, you'll gain valuable skills as we tackle basic framing for the roof.

Weekend 2: Strawbale Wall Finishing & Light clay straw & Earthen Floor
In the second weekend, students will learn how to mix and apply an interior clay plaster and exterior lime plaster for the Strawbale walls. Students will learn some stone masonry techniques to construct a thermal bank for the wood stove, ensuring optimal comfort and efficiency within the sauna. Students will also apply and learn the basics of laying an earthen floor in the changing room. We will also be doing a light clay straw ceiling insulation. This weekend will also include carpentry skills as we do finish details in the sauna.

Teachers: Our lead instructors: Jamie Carestio and Nate LaFond: Owners of the Natural Building Collective “Live Edge Building and Design” and Matteo Lundgren of “Cob Therapy”

Our enthusiasm for natural building is contagious. Our teaching style focuses around empowering participants to really “go for it” and learn by doing. Throughout the workshop we will weave stories of the natural world and dive deeply into “The Why”

In this workshop you will have ample hands-on experience with guided instruction from Jamie Carestio and Nate LaFond, professional timber framers and strawbale builders along with Matteo Lundgren. We will cover the whole range of comprehensive information on the world of Natural Building.

Details:

  • Dates: Weekend 1 (June 29th and 30th) Weekend 2 (July 27 and 28th)

  • Location: Brooktondale New York

  • Time: 9am to 5pm each day

  • Cost: $275 per student for each weekend (Discount for signing up for both weekends)

  • Accommodation: Participants are welcome to camp on-site for the duration of the workshop and organic homemade lunch will be provided on each work day. If you would prefer to rent our 30ft diameter Yurt or our Tiny house for the Weekend please inquire through email.

How to Register: To secure your place or any inquiry in this fun Sauna Building workshop, please email MatteoLundgren@gmail

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