Earthworx's blog

Cob and Adobe Building workshops

ADOBE & COB
Cob is one of the oldest and most eco-friendly ways of building, and is accessible to people of all ages, abilities, means or backgrounds.

Cob Homes have seen a renaissance as a financially viable, relaxing, and enjoyable building-method where you get your hands and feet in touch with the Earth. It's also about the sheer beauty and infinite creative potential of building with cob.

A natural thermal insulator, cob is excellent at regulating temperatures; whether storing heat or keeping the building cool relative to outside temperatures.

People experience psychological well-being from living in natural structures. The natural tones and aromas of materials such as stone, wood, straw and earth affect us on a very basic instinctive level, and are life enhancing.

Earthworx will host a 5 day natural building materials workshop.

Making a difference!

During completion of each workshop, a structure will be built within the community to promote self-sustainability and reinforce the benefits of environmentally conscious building methods.

These workshops are designed to create a deeper understanding and knowledge of Cob and Adobe building methods, with plenty of hands-on practical experience to give you the confidence to design and construct your own Earth buildings and projects.

A 5 day workshop will include:

Space limited! Bookings essential!

Next workshop COMING SOON!

Workshop and Accommodation package available at the retreat.

For more details:

EARTHWORX is very excited to be kicking off the new year working in conjunction with Wild Coast Kitchen and country Lodge just outside of Port St John's . We will gradually be building on a model sustainable village on the farm overlooking the mighty Umzimvubu river. The idea is to involve as many people as we can in the workshops to promote permaculture and sustainablity.
We are hosting our first 5day workshop for the new year starting on the 7th of January. Space is limited. Book early or contact us for schedules for further workshops throughout the year.

A 5 day workshop will include
-an introduction to permaculture and design
-natural building techniques including wattle and daub, adobe and cob.
-community building and upliftment
-daily optional yoga and meditation

For more information and bookings contact Marinda directly.

During the workshop students have an option of staying here at the lodge or camping in our beautiful garden on the farm. All meals will be provided. Self-catering optional.

Earthworx workshops and the Kraal volunteer project will continue to be hosted by the Kraal Retreat in Mpande. That does not mean that Earthworx workshops will be restricted to the Kraal only. I intend to keep working on the volunteer centre at the Kraal, but also to be available for workshops and projects around South Africa for anybody with a genuine interest in Natural building and sustainability.
Natural plaster and paintsEarthworx office and volunteer center at the Kraal getting a faceliftMixing cobb for the Sweat LodgeBamboo frame for the sweat lodgeVolunteer flat at the Kraal getting a facelift

Over the last couple of months the Kraal Retreat,at Mpande, have been hosting my Eartworx workshops. We've had a tremendous response from the local community. It has been very successful and I hope to continue and expand my vision of uplifting the community in this area.
Being a retreat I thought it a good idea to incorporate the Mexican sweat lodge (Temazcal) at the Kraal.

Upon arrival back in South Africa I was anxious to get back into the mud. The rural Eastern Cape, where I mixed my first African mud, has since become my home. The Xhosa people have been using natural building for centuries. Adobe bricks and wattle and daub structures are still found all over the Transkei. My vision here is to learn and teach. Sometimes all we need in life is a new idea.Clay oven
One of my community workshop projects that have taken the interest of many Xhosa people in my community and surrounding communities, is the clay oven. Many people in rural Eastern Cape live without electricity, and cooking on open fires put a huge strain on firewood as a resource. The idea is to host workshops with volunteers wanting to learn as well as make a difference in the local community.At the same time interacting with the local community, making a difference, and leaving a positive footprint.
Workshops combining natural building with organic gardens and education in nutrition seem like a positive course of action to take in this area.

During the years I spent in Mexico a great love for vibrant colour and mosaic was ignited in my work. I started combining natural building with mosaic. The time I spent with the Nahuatl tribes along the Pacific coast of Mexico also turned out to be very inspirational. I gathered a wealth of knowledge and new (old) ideas from these beautiful people. What started out as mosaic art suddenly evolved into many new useful and sustainable projects.
Natural building techniques are easily integrated with natural living. Sustainability on the fast track to becoming a necessity has opened the door to natural building as a point of interest.
Not only the indigenous tribes of Mexico, but also the indigenous people all over the world,are becoming teachers to those of us who are returning to rural life, self-sustainability and natural building.Mosaic and mud.Mosaic, Mexico