2009 Earthwood Hands-On Workshops (updated May 26, 2009)

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If you're planning a Cordwood, Timber Framing or Earth-Sheltered project, why not attend one of our hands-on workshops? We offer the opportunity to work on a real project. Bring your ideas and enthusiasm to share with other students. 

New this year: A Combined 5-day workshop at Del Norte, CO, September 23-27, 2009, will include Timber Framing for the Rest of Us, the Living Roof and Cordwood Masonry.

All workshops are limited to 16 students, except Earthwood Techniques, limited to 18. 

In light of these economic hard times, we are keeping our tuition costs the same for the 4th year in a row.

 

 

Regional Workshops in 2009

LaFarge, Wisconsin

June 23-25, 2009

3-day Cordwood Workshop

6 spaces left

LaFarge, Wisconsin

June 26, 2009

1-day Earthwood (Underground)

Available

Pagosa Springs, CO

September 23-27, 2009

5-day Comprehensive Colorado Workshop

Available


Note: The Colorado workshop also includes Timber Framing and Earth-sheltered housing.

2009 Workshop Calendar At Earthwood: West Chazy, New York MAP

May 16-18, 2009

Timber Framing for the Rest of Us

3-day Timber Framing Workshop

Completed

May 22-24, 2009

Cordwood Masonry

3-day Cordwood Workshop

Completed

May 25, 2009

Earthwood Techniques

1-day Earthwood (Underground)

Completed

July 13-17, 2009

Cordwood Workweek

5-day Cordwood Workshop

6 spaces left

Sept.4-6, 2009

Cordwood Masonry

3-day Cordwood Workshop

Available

September 7, 2009

Earthwood Techniques

1-day Earthwood (Underground)

Available

Tuition rates for all workshops are listed on the Register for Workshops page. Accommodations available at extra cost.

Workshop Descriptions

Cordwood Masonry - Three Days  Morning sessions include cordwood theory, slide presentations, explanatory tours, and discussion of the three styles of cordwood construction: built-up corners (stackwall), round houses, and cordwood as infilling within a post-and-beam framework. The kinds of wood and how long to dry them is covered, as well as various alternative mortar mixes. Installing doors and windows is detailed, as is cordwood masonry "special effects." At Earthwood, students examine several different kinds of cordwood masonry buildings. Afternoons are reserved for practical, hands-on work sessions. The third afternoon affords an opportunity for students to consult with Rob about their plans, while Jaki maintains order on the worksite. This workshop gives the student a strong introduction to this ancient building technique. Textbook: Cordwood Building: The State of the Art. The 2009 project will be working on a cordwood sauna near Earthwood. 

Earthwood Techniques (Underground) - One Day (May 25 & September 7 in NY; June 26 in WI)  Low-cost foundations and earth-sheltering methods used at the Earthwood house are emphasized, accenting surface bonded wall construction and plank-and-beam roofing. The five elements that affect load calculations are discussed. Alternative foundations, drainage and waterproofing, insulation, structural considerations and the masonry stove are all covered. An explanatory tour of the Earthwood house is included, as well as a step-by-step slide presentation documenting the construction of Earthwood from floating slab foundation to earth roof.  Textbook: Earth-Sheltered Houses. This is a very full day, consisting of mostly classroom instruction. Like all of our workshops, sessions are punctuated by Jaki's excellent coffee and tea breaks featured home-baked goodies, and her hearty vegetarian lunches. (In NY only. We provide coffee breaks and lunches at other workshops, too, but not Jaki's.)

Timber Framing for the Rest of Us (May 16-18 only, now completed) This workshop was based on the methods that Jaki and I have used to erect the frames of Log End Cottage, Log End Cave, Earthwood, Mushwood, and several outbuildings, the same methods use by contractors, farmers, and owner-builders for a hundred years or more. You will not learn crafty but time-consuming mortise-and-tenon joints here. Other good building schools, such as Fox Maple, Heartwood, and Yestermorrow, teach these traditional skills. Rather, this workshop accents the use of inexpensive metal fasteners made for the purpose, in combination with good building quality. The textbook is Timber Framing for the Rest of Us. The project for the 2009 workshop was a 6-poster sauna frame.

Cordwood Workweek - Five Days, July 13-17, 2009 The Cordwood Workweek combines all of the features of of the three-day Cordwood Workshop and the One-day Earthwood Techniques workshop, but there is more time for individual hands-on instruction and consultations. The discussions and site work are more detailed, yet the pace is more relaxed. After lunch on Wednesday, for example, we tour the Mushwood Cottage at Chateaugay Lake and a post-and beam cordwood home, then relax with swimming, hot-tubbing, conversation, and consultation on the deck at Earthwood. The workshop project will be work at a neighbor's new cordwood home. This is our best cordwood workshop of the year.

 

2009 Regional Workshop Descriptions

Wisconsin 3-day Cordwood Workshop, June 23-25, 2009. Each day of this comprehensive workshop follows our usual pattern of four hours of cordwood theory and four hours of hands-on instruction. The classroom portion will be in LaFarge, Wisconsin, near Viroqua, about 30 miles east of LaCrosse, or 70 miles NW of Madison. The hands-on part will be after lunch each day at home in nearby Viola.

Wisconsin (June 26, 2009) 1-day Earthwood Techniques.  Everything else except cordwood! See description in previous section above, this page. Same location as Wisconsin Cordwood Workshop.

 SW Colorado 5-day Cordwood Workshop (and more!), September 23-27, 2009.This will be our most comprehensive workshop ever! It will take place at a ranch near Del Norte, Colorado, about an hour's drive east of Pagosa Springs along CO State Route 160. (The nearest airport is Alamosa). The project will be a small earth-roofed, timber framed, cordwood masonry guesthouse. Hands-on work will take place in all three disciplines for the first time at any Earthwood workshop. Timber framing, possibly some surface-bonded block wall construction, and living roof techniques will occupy the first two (or three) days, and cordwood masonry will occupy the last two (or three) days. This guesthouse will be substantially completed during the workshop, and there will still be time for the important classroom instruction. And we'll spend at least one evening at a local hot springs. Our hosts are Kim Cellura and Mike. Kim created and operates the Peace of Art Cafe in Del Norte, a beautiful cordwood masonry building with lots of artistic special design features. Our son and his wife will not be hosting as previously announced, due to a change in their college education location, but we are extremely fortunate to have Kim and Mike take over as hosts. We have known them for several years, they are very knowledgable, and are excited to have this workshop at their ranch. Camping and guest houses are available. A complete info package will be sent upon registration.  Sign up soon for this one, as it is almost certain to fill up. We have not done a cordwood workshop in the Southwest for quite a number of years.


Accommodation at Earthwood 

                          La Casita

There are three guesthouses at Earthwood. Cordwood Cabin (La Casita) is quite small, about 100 square feet of interior space, and features four of the world's largest log-ends, at 52" diameter. Straw Bale Cottage (not illustrated) is about 25% bigger and has some very interesting design features, including a large bottle-end panel, a "truth" panel, and cordwood walls. Either of these guesthouses is $35 USD per night (one or two people). Minimum booking is 2 nights. Beds have a bottom fitted sheet, pillows and pillow covers. Bring your own top bedding or sleeping bags. These guesthouses have kerosene lamps and candles for light. There is an outhouse, wash hand basin, solar shower and new "Mess Hall" building (cordwood and screened) for cooking and eating. We do not offer camping, but there are campgrounds nearby. We do have space for one fully self-contained camper/RV at $10 USD per night, no hook-ups. Call ahead at 518-493-7744 to confirm accommodation availability. To avoid booking conflicts, accommodations must be fully paid in advance. No pets or kids, please. Click on Register for Workshops for availability. See next entry for information about the new Stoneview guesthouse.

                      Stoneview Guesthouse

Stoneview Guesthouse. Our new octagonal guesthouse is called "Stoneview" because it overlooks the megaliths. This guesthouse is much larger than the others at about 320 SF of interior space, and can accommodate up to 4 people. There is an interior bathroom with shower, composting toilet and wash-hand basin. There are electric lights ... and a woodstove for heat, if needed. This guesthouse was built by students at our Timber Framing for the Rest of Us and Cordwood Masonry workshops. Stoneview features a lightweight living roof and many beautiful bottle-end design features. We think it is the most charming building on campus. The per night charge for Stoneview is as follows, with a minimum booking of three (3) nights: One or two people: $50 per night total. Three people: $60 per night. Four people: $70 per night. There are two double beds. The building is suitable for a family of 3 or 4, or two couples. 

How to Register

Registration for each workshop will be limited to the first 16 people. Payment: At least one half of the total workshop tuition must accompany the Pre-Registration application. The balance (if any) must be paid prior to the start of the workshop. Formal registration will take place at the classroom from 8:00 to 8:30 A.M. on the day of the workshop. A 50% deposit accompanying the Pre-Registration Form holds your place. 

Cancellations

Cancellation refunds, less a $40 registration fee, will be made if you notify Rob or Jaki Roy at Earthwood Building School at least three (3) full weeks in advance of the workshop. Call 518-493-7744 for cancellations. Email cancellations are not accepted. 

Included: Textbooks, Lunches, Gloves
Rob's Cordwood Building: The State of the Art is included in tuition for all cordwood workshops; Rob's new Earth-Sheltered Houses for the Earthwood Techniques (foundations and earth sheltering) workshops; Timber Framing for the Rest of Us has a textbook of the same name. (All 3 textbooks will be provided for the Colorado 5-day Combined workshop.) If you have already purchased the textbook from us, another book from our list of equal value may be substituted. Books are sent when you register, so that you can read them ahead of time, your homework assignment! At cordwood workshops, good quality rubber coated cloth gloves, excellent for cordwood masonry, are now given to students at formal registration. A "couple," for registration purposes, is defined as two people building together. One textbook is supplied per couple. Lunches are supplied for all workshop dates.

Information Package Upon receiving your Pre-Registration Form (click on Register for Workshops at top of page), we will send you a receipted acknowledgement of your registration, and an Info Package consisting of exact course schedules, a detailed map, and information about the area and also about B & Bs, motels, and campgrounds. Tuition does not include accommodation.

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