Workshops and Events
Cob Hill 21-Day Natural Building Certification Course - Saturday June 1st - Saturday June 22nd 2024
This action-packed, hands-on/feet-on workshop is for adults who wish to begin their learning journey toward helping others realize their natural building dreams as part of a build crew or to supervise their own home build! Natural building is tough. Are you tougher? Find out during 21 days at Cob Hill Natural Building School, as Cat Taylor teaches the techniques and skills you will need to get from the foundation to the roofing system.
Hands on experience covering
site selection
home designing
passive solar
soil testing
foundations
dig a rubble trench
pier and beam
stack a stone stem wall (dry stacking)
cob building
bale cob
straw bale
palletable cob
timber framing
windows and doors
LSC - light straw clay insulation
roof designs
living roofs
roof sheathing
tree felling
log peeling
log milling (saw mill)
earthen plasters
Shou Sugi Ban(Japanese art of waterproofing wood)
Leading a team
Real time home build experience
class time
basic electric
basic plumbing
facts and myths in natural building
common mistakes in natural building
choosing build style
project planning
budgeting
acquiring materials
purchasing property and permits
correct placement of building
water catchment
composting toilets
Primitive tent camping sites are available near the build including access to hot showers, plus 3 plant-based meals a day are included in your tuition! You will need to bring your own camping gear, contact us if this is an issue. (See FAQ section of naturalbuildingorg.com) Prospective attendees, please be advised that we are unable to accommodate guests, children or pets on site for the duration of the workshop; however, there are nearby lodging options available for them including Daingerfield State Park, as well as two boarding options within 30 minutes of Cob Hill.
The $1890 tuition includes a $200 deposit to secure your spot that is is non-refundable unless NaturalBuildingOrg has to cancel the workshop for some unforeseen reason. If registration includes two or more people there is a $50 discount per person. Active duty military personnel and honorably discharged veterans with valid ID or DD214 may select the appropriate tuition tier to receive 20% off, and eligible Cob Hill Lifetime of Learning (L.o.L.) Members can register as such by selecting that tuition tier. If you do not pay in full, the balance will automatically be charged to your card 45 days prior to start date unless you cancel prior to that. You can prepurchase Cob Hill Natural Book on registration for $30. Please see also our Payment and Refund Policy at NaturalBuildingOrg.com.
Cob Hill 10-Day Natural Building Techniques - Saturday 21st September - Tuesday 1st October
This action-packed, hands-on/feet-on workshop is for adults and youth ages 12 and up accompanied by parents who intend to build their own cob home! Test your grit during 10 days at Cob Hill Natural Building School, as Cat Taylor teaches the techniques and skills you will need to get from the foundation to the roofing system. We will learn about various building styles: cob; bale cob; palletable cob. We will also cover many other natural building concepts like: site placement and preparation; dig a rubble trench; stack a stone stem wall; tamp subfloors; set windows; build up our walls and of course cob, cob, cob!
Hands on experience covering
soil testing
foundations
dig a rubble trench
pier and beam
stack a stone stem wall (dry stacking)
cob building
bale cob
palletable cob
timber framing
windows and doors
roof designs
living roofs
roof sheathing
tree felling
log peeling
log milling (saw mill)
Shou Sugi Ban(Japanese art of waterproofing wood)
class time
site selection
home design
passive solar
earthen plasters
straw bale
LSC - light straw clay insulation
basic electric
basic plumbing
facts and myths in natural building
common mistakes in natural building
choosing build style
project planning
budgeting
acquiring materials
purchasing property and permits
correct placement of building
water catchment
composting toilets
Primitive tent camping sites are available near the build including access to hot showers, plus 3 plant-based meals a day are included in your tuition! You will need to bring your own camping gear. (See FAQ section of naturalbuildingorg.com) Prospective attendees, please be advised that we are unable to accommodate guests, unregistered children under 12 or pets on site for the duration of the workshop; however, there are nearby lodging options available for them including Daingerfield State Park, as well as two boarding options within 30 minutes of Cob Hill.
$1165 tuition includes a $200 non-refundable deposit to secure your spot. Only if NaturalBuildingOrg has to cancel the workshop for some unforeseen reason will this deposit be refundable. Save $100 automatically if your registration includes two or more people. Active duty military personnel and honorably discharged veterans with valid ID or DD214 may select the appropriate tuition tier to receive 20% off, and eligible Cob Hill Lifetime of Learning (L.o.L.) Members can register as such by selecting that tuition tier. If you do not pay in full, the balance will automatically be charged to your card 45 days prior to start date unless you cancel prior to that. You can prepurchase Cob Hill Natural Book on registration for $30. Please see also our Payment and Refund Policy at NaturalBuildingOrg.com.
Internship Program
This internship is a great opportunity to be fully immersed in the day to day challenges a natural builder faces from the site selection, construction and the finishing touches of a home.
This registration is an interest in the program and does not guarantee acceptance. There will be an interview process to complete.
Click on the workshop title for more information.
Work Trade Program
This is a work trade program where participants are expected to work 30 hours per week during non-workshop time and fully participate in workshops as required. This will be for a 3 month time period.
This registration is an interest in the program and does not guarantee acceptance. There will be an interview process.
Click on the workshop title for more information.
Weekend Warrior Project
This event is designed to give Veterans, Active Military and First Responders an introduction to building with natural materials and teaming up with like minded people.
Working with the soil has been scientifically proven to be an anti-depressant and working in nature with natural materials is very beneficial in increasing your self-worth, sense of community and purpose, and it’s a lot of fun.
While enjoying these and more benefits you will learn some of the basic skills of working with natural materials and how empowering and achievable it can be to build your own mortgage free home.
This is a great opportunity to get hands on before committing to a longer workshop.
This program is designed to establish our goal of heroes helping heroes.
The Art of Natural Building
This action-packed, hands-on/feet-on workshop is for adults or youth ages 12 and up accompanied by parents. This week long courses touches on many aspects and styles of natural building, allowing you to get creative and have fun with cob. Get your creative juices flowing sculpting and turning walls into works of art. This is a great course for those of you curious about natural building and wanting to experience a little more. This 7 days will touch on the basic knowledge you will need to create your own natural building.
Click on the workshop title for more information.
Natural Plasters and Earthen Floors
Sought-after natural builder and artist Athena Steen will show you how to beautifully plaster your walls and floors with natural clays. Educator, designer, builder for over 28 years of strawbale, adobe, and other natural buildings with artistic vision and sustainable design. Co-author of several books including, “The Straw Bale House”,”The Beauty of Strawbale Homes,” “Built by Hand,” and “Small Strawbale.” Co-director and founder of a small non-profit, The Canelo Project, dedicated to creative and simple living, growing and building practices that connect people, culture and nature. Visit caneloproject.com for more information on Athena.
Click on the workshop title for more information.
How to Build a Cob Pizza Oven
Join us for a fun filled 3 days of learning how to build your own cob pizza oven! This hands on, getting muddy workshop will give you the knowledge and confidence to go home and build your own unique and beautiful pizza oven!
Spaces are limited.
Natural Building Basics Cob Workshop
This action-packed, hands-on/feet-on workshop is for adults and youth ages 12 and up accompanied by parents who intend to build their own cob home! Test your grit during 10 days at Cob Hill Natural Building School, as Cat Taylor teaches the techniques and skills you will need to get from the foundation to the roofing system. We will learn about various building styles: cob; bale cob; palletable cob. We will also cover many other natural building concepts like: site placement and preparation; dig a rubble trench; stack a stone stem wall; tamp subfloors; set windows; build up our walls and of course cob, cob, cob!
Click on the workshop title for more information.
Natural Building Cob Certification Course
This action-packed, hands-on/feet-on workshop is for adults who wish to begin their learning journey toward helping others realize their natural building dreams as part of a build crew or to supervise their own home build! Natural building is tough. Are you tougher? Find out during 21 days at Cob Hill Natural Building School, as Cat Taylor teaches the techniques and skills you will need to get from the foundation to the roofing system. We will learn about site placement and preparation, dig a rubble trench, stack a stone stem wall, tamp subfloors, set windows and of course cob, cob, cob!
Click on the workshop title for more information.
Natural Building Basics Cob Workshop
This action-packed, hands-on/feet-on workshop is for adults and children ages 12 and up accompanied by parents who intend to build their own cob home! Test your grit during 10 days at Cob Hill Natural Building School, as Cat Taylor teaches the techniques and skills you will need to get from the foundation to the roofing system. We will learn about site placement and preparation, dig a rubble trench, stack a stone stem wall, tamp subfloors, set windows and of course cob, cob, cob! CLICK ON THE WORKSHOP TITLE FOR MORE DETAILS AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION.
Natural Building Cob Certification Course
This action-packed, hands-on/feet-on workshop is for adults who wish to begin their learning journey toward helping others realize their natural building dreams as part of a build crew or to supervise their own home build! Natural building is tough. Are you tougher? Find out during 21 days at Cob Hill Natural Building School, as Cat Taylor teaches the techniques and skills you will need to get from the foundation to the roofing system. We will learn about site placement and preparation, dig a rubble trench, stack a stone stem wall, tamp subfloors, set windows and of course cobbing! CLICK ON THE WORKSHOP TITLE FOR MORE DETAILS INCLUDING REGISTRATION.
How to Build a “Palletable Cobin”
SAVE $20 with coupon code MUD at checkout ‘til July 29. We will be building a livable structure from the ground up. Course will include every step of the process, from the foundation, framing, cobbing and finish plastering. The structure will be framed with pallets, insulated with straw and covered in an earthen cob plaster. These structures are quick, easy and cheap to build while the finished product is beautiful and functional. CLICK ON THE WORKSHOP TITLE ABOVE FOR DETAILS AND REGISTRATION.
Earthen Floors & Natural Plasters with Athena Steen!
Sought-after natural builder and artist Athena Steen will show you how to beautifully plaster your walls and floors with natural clays. Educator, designer, builder for over 28 years of strawbale, adobe, and other natural buildings with artistic vision and sustainable design. Co-author of several books including, “The Straw Bale House”,”The Beauty of Strawbale Homes,” “Built by Hand,” and “Small Strawbale.” Co-director and founder of a small non-profit, The Canelo Project, dedicated to creative and simple living, growing and building practices that connect people, culture and nature. Visit caneloproject.com for more information on Athena, or you can CLICK ON THE WORKSHOP TITLE FOR MORE DETAILS AND REGISTRATION.
Build a Cob Oven
Get your hands in the dirt with Camilo Cadavid to construct a cob oven! We will learn to build an oven using natural materials in a step by step, hands-on workshop including an examination of soil composition and learn to identify and test suitable soil as a building material. Camilo learned to build with cob during a summer apprenticeship at Cob Cottage Company and SustainableU in Oregon. His first oven was inspired by friends who wanted to learn to cob and get together over pizza parties. Since this first project, many people have become inspired to do the same. Camilo has taught numerous workshops with diverse groups and has been involved in commissioned projects nationwide since 2017. CLICK ON THE WORKSHOP TITLE FOR MORE DETAILS INCLUDING REGISTRATION.
Natural Building Basics Cob Workshop
This action-packed, hands-on/feet-on workshop is for adults who intend to build their own cob home, or who seek to begin their learning journey toward helping others realize their natural building dreams! Test your grit during 10 days at Cob Hill Natural Building School, as Cat Taylor teaches the techniques and skills you will need to get from the foundation to the roofing system. We will learn about site placement and preparation, dig a rubble trench, stack a stone stem wall, tamp subfloors, set windows and of course cob, cob, cob!
CLICK ON THE WORKSHOP TITLE FOR MORE DETAILS INCLUDING REGISTRATION.
Natural Building Cob Certification Course
This action-packed, hands-on/feet-on workshop is for adults who wish to begin their learning journey toward helping others realize their natural building dreams as part of a build crew or to supervise their own home build! Test your grit during 21 days at Cob Hill Natural Building School, as Cat Taylor teaches the techniques and skills you will need to get from the foundation to the roofing system—selecting and prepping the site, digging a rubble trench, stacking a stone stem wall, tamping subfloors, setting windows and of course cobbing! CLICK ON THE WORKSHOP TITLE FOR MORE DETAILS INCLUDING REGISTRATION.
Off-Grid Build Near Rio Rancho, NM
Are you serious about learning to build off grid using locally sourced materials? Limited space is available on this 10-day off-site build for self-sufficient, drama-free adults comfortable with getting dirty, climbing ladders and moderately heavy lifting. Having some prior experience in building is a plus but not a must. This build is a “palletable cob” design, utilizing pallets, straw, clay, sand and water. The rubble trench and most if not all of the stem wall should be complete before the 15th, so the plan is to be walling up during these 10 days. Tuition is drastically reduced because on-the-job instruction taking place on a remote build cannot be as comprehensive as in a full Natural Building Basics or certification course on Cob Hill, meaning that participants would not qualify for a “Lifetime of Learning” membership, and also because, registrants MUST arrive fully equipped with their own camping and safety gear, food and water. (The nearest store is 30 minutes away.) CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
"Raise the Roof"
The father of NBO’s Cob for Vets family this year is over 90% disabled and served in Iraq and Syria. His wife is a two time cancer survivor and they have 5 beautiful children. Their land is located near Winnsboro, Texas. We will be kicking off their build with a 2-day “Raisin’ the Roof” event on March 19th - 20th, and volunteer opportunities will continue thereafter Thursdays-Saturdays for the next few months (weather permitting).
We are actively seeking donations of building materials, labor and funds to help complete this build with as little cost to our Veteran family as possible. If you would like to offer financial support, you can click on the Donate Button above. To donate building materials or volunteer email us at NBOcob4vets@gmail.com or call 817-812-4909.
Alumni Service Learning Work-Trade Opportunities
Applications are being accepted now for alumni who have successfully completed a 10-day Natural Building or Certification course at Cob Hill to volunteer for service learning projects both on site and possibly on the Cob for Vets family build in nearby Winnsboro. Free indoor camping and meals will be provided in exchange for dedicated labor, 9a-6p, Monday-Saturday. Applicants are asked to apply for a minimum of 6 days. Visit the Alumni page for more details!
Mother Earth News Fair in Belton Texas
I Built My Cob House and So Can You!
Hear how Cat Taylor, the founder of NaturalBuilding.org, built her 2,200-square-foot, two story house in northeast Texas. She teaches the steps you can take to have a mortgage-free home of your own! Learn how her disabled veteran husband inspired her to not only teach the general public natural building skills, but created a non-profit giving disabled veterans the knowledge and support needed to have a mortgage free home of their own! Click HERE to register for the Belton, TX Mother Earth Fair.
Volunteer Work Days for Cob Hill Alumni and NaturalBuildingOrg Board Members & Sponsors
Cob Hill Alumni and NaturalBuildingOrg Board Members & Sponsors are invited to assist with on-site infrastructure projects including but not limited to cobbing, grounds keeping and light carpentry from 9am to 6pm Oct. 23 &/or 24. These work days are for adults only, and while volunteers may bring a friend, we cannot accommodate any children or pets on site. All volunteers must register (at no cost) and sign the Rules and Regulations and Liability Waivers. We ask that all registrants wear sturdy shoes and work clothes that can get filthy, bring their own food, a reusable water bottle and, if reserving an overnight camping spot on Saturday evening, bring anything that is needed to be completely self-sufficient, safe and comfortable while camping. (TP, headlamp, bug spray, rechargeable or battery operated fan, tarps, sleeping mat, towel, etc.) We also welcome you to bring your own nippers, hedge clippers, shovels and battery or gas-powered weed whackers if you have them. Drinking water, outhouses and showers will be available, and access to the cob kitchen to prepare your food will be permitted though we ask that you leave it as you found it. Thank you for your interest in rolling up your sleeves to help us improve our facilities! Alumni, Board Members or Sponsors may register HERE to volunteer.
Natural Building Basics Workshop
This action-packed, hands-on workshop is for adults who intend to build their own cob home, or who seek to begin their learning journey toward helping others realize their natural building dreams! Test your grit during 10 days at Cob Hill Natural Building School, as Cat Taylor teaches the techniques and skills you will need to get from the foundation to the roofing system. We will learn about site placement and preparation, dig a rubble trench, stack a stone stem wall, tamp subfloors, set windows and of course cob, cob, cob! PLEASE CLICK ON THE WORKSHOP TITLE FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION AND A REGISTRATION LINK
September Site Tour
Book a 90-minute tour to meet our rescue horses and to view our cob structures that have been featured on the Discovery network and DIY channel!, learning about the design and construction process incorporating clay and wood harvested right here on the property! You can join owner/builder Cat Taylor to walk the wooded path to our newly discovered and verified Indian Trail Marker tree, well over 350 years old. REGISTER NOW!
August Site Tour
Book a 90-minute tour to meet our rescue horses and to view our cob structures that have been featured on the Discovery network and DIY channel!, learning about the design and construction process incorporating clay and wood harvested right here on the property! You can join owner/builder Cat Taylor to walk the wooded path to our newly discovered and verified Indian Trail Marker tree, well over 350 years old. REGISTER NOW!
Volunteer Work Days for Cob Hill Alumni and NaturalBuildingOrg Board Members & Sponsors
For four dates in August—the 14th, 15th, 28th and 29th, Cob Hill Alumni and NaturalBuildingOrg Board Members & Sponsors are invited to assist with on-site infrastructure projects including but not limited to grounds keeping, light carpentry, cobbing, flooring and roofing from 9am to 6pm. These work days are for adults only, and while volunteers may bring a friend, we cannot accommodate any children or pets on site. All volunteers must register (at no cost) and sign the Rules and Regulations and Liability Waivers. We ask that all registrants wear sturdy shoes and work clothes that can get filthy, bring their own food, a reusable water bottle and, if reserving an overnight camping spot on Saturday evening, bring anything that is needed to be completely self-sufficient, safe and comfortable while camping. (TP, headlamp, bug spray, rechargeable or battery operated fan, tarps, sleeping mat, towel, etc.) We also welcome you to bring your own nippers, hedge clippers, shovels and battery or gas-powered weed whackers if you have them. Drinking water, outhouses and showers will be available, and access to the cob kitchen to prepare your food will be permitted though we ask that you leave it as you found it. Thank you for your interest in rolling up your sleeves to help us improve our facilities! Alumni, Board Members or Sponsors may register HERE to volunteer.
July Site Tour
Book a 90-minute tour to meet our rescue horses and to view our cob structures that have been featured on the Discovery network and DIY channel!, learning about the design and construction process incorporating clay and wood harvested right here on the property! You can join owner/builder Cat Taylor to walk the wooded path to our newly discovered and verified Indian Trail Marker tree, well over 350 years old. REGISTER NOW!
