Clay plastering the joints between bales…
The walls take shape… clay plastering the bale walls.
Building with earth: Paulina and her passion…
Workshops are always lots of fun!
A six day In-Depth Clay Plaster Workshop
3-8 July 2020, cost: £345, or £235 if joined to the Earthbag course.
Set on a beautiful field in East Sussex countryside on the outskirts of the village of Forest Row, near East grinstead, UK. (one hour from London and Brighton and 25 minutes from Gatwick airport.)
Taught in English by architect and author Paulina Wojciechowska.
This workshop is a wonderful opportunity to gain hands-on experience of all aspects of clay plaster on a small earthbag dome and straw bale wall.
What You Will Learn
is workshop is based around the real hands-on experience of using clay plaster on the walls of an earthbag structure, supported by regular lectures to ensure you understand the theory and possibilities. Over the six days you will learn:
- Recognising the clay found on our land and understanding how to use it for creating clay plaster in construction
- Preparation and application of the first 2 coats of clay plaster onto the wall
- Application of a clay and straw “cob” mixture to the walls
- Preparation and application of the final layer of plaster
- Sculpting with clay plaster
- mixing different clay colours applying and carving the smooth plaster layers.
- Methods of protecting clay plaster from the elements.
- Preparation and application of clay paints for a beautiful natural finish.
- The theory of how clay floors are built.
This clay plaster workshop will be mainly hands-on, with theory lessons on each day to back up the practical skills learned and provide the opportunity for more detailed questions to be answered.
Numbers on the workshop will be limited to ensure a good learning experience, and we are expecting the allocated places to fill up before the workshop begins.
To find out more
email: earthhands@gmail.com
call Paulina (+44) 7787918184.
About your Workshop Leader
The workshop will be lead by Earth, Hands and Houses founder Paulina Wojciechowska, a qualified architect who has over 20 years of experience building with straw bales and earthbags in communities all around the world. Paulina worked alongside leading straw bale and clay plaster veterans Bill and Athena Steen in 1997-8 and has been involved in running natural building workshops and designing and building structures with natural materials since then. Click here to hear Paulina talk about her experiences.
Food, Location, Accommodation
Vegetarian/Vegan food will be available at a cost of approx. £10/day, payable upon arrival. The food will comprise a self service breakfast, full cooked lunchtime meal, and a light supper, ususally leftovers from lunch or soup. This money covers the groceries only. To keep the food cost to the minimun the food will be prepared by ourselves.
CLICK HERE for Location Maps, more details of the camping facilities, maps, travel information and other accommodation available.
Please note that consumption of alcohol and smoking on the site are not allowed.
Workshop Timing
The workshop will run approximately on the following times:
day 1 starting at 11.00, middle days 09.30 to 17.30, last day we will aim to finish by late lunch to give you time to pack.
If you are camping, you are welcome to arrive any time from 15:00 on the day before the workshop starts and to depart the day after the workshop ends, or stay longer and help out.
But there is more…
This will be more than just a clay plaster workshop – it will be a wonderful opportunity to enjoy learning and relaxing amongst like minded people, some who may become your friends for life!
Learn more…
Hear Paulina talk about her experience and vision for Earth, Hands and Houses:
Watch people’s experience of an Earth, Hands and Houses straw bale and clay plaster workshop: