Home Cob Designs strives to empower people and lessen our impact on the world. We support a strong, aware community thru natural building workshops for cob and bale/cob structures, garden walls, earthen ovens, lime/earthen plasters and renders, earthen floors and other natural building projects.
Through hands on practice we aim to connect with our surroundings, gain skills that lead to self sufficiency, and to create community with our neighbors.
Natural building creates healthy spaces for everyone to live and work in. This includes being concious of the resources we are collecting, and aware of the footprint we are making.
Portfolio -
Cob garden wall -
Design -
Earthen Oven -
Salmon bench -
Plastered Salmon -
Community workshop -
Bale-cob structure -
Completed structure -
Fresh lime wash -
Plaster -
Alis -
Retrofit -
Rocket Mass Heater -
Earthen floor -
Color bar
Resources There are many books out there that can help guide your way. Here are the books that I use. Most of which you can find at the library. Grab a book and try something.
Books
The Hand Sculpted House by Ianto Evans, Linda Smiley & Michael Smith
Clay Culture: Plasters, Paints and Preservation by Carole Crews
Build Your Own Earth Oven by Kiko Denzer
The Natural Plaster Book by Cedar Rose Guelberth
Rocket Mass Heaters by Ianto Evans and Leslie Jackson
Using Natural Finishes by Adam Weismann and Katy Bryce
Websites - Info / workshops from amazing builders in the Pacific Northwest
Bernhard Masterson Earthen Arts Text Line Text Line
From These Hands Text Line Text Line Text Line Workshops 2012 WORKSHOPS
Cob: Short and Sweet - June 2-3, 2012 $105 Bellingham, WA
Learn the basics of cob ingredients, mixing, and tools. Get dirty this weekend perfecting your cob techniques and making friends.
Essential Cob - June 22-26, 2012 $315 Bellingham, WA
This 5 day workshop includes mixing, building, and shaping with cob, as well as foundation work and plaster finishing techniques.
Cob: Short and Sweet - July 7-8, 2012 $105 Bellingham, WA
Learn the basics of cob ingredients, mixing, and tools. Get dirty this weekend perfecting your cob techniques and making friends.
Essential Cob - Aug. 2-6, 2012 $315 Bellingham, WA
This 5 day workshop includes mixing, building, and shaping with cob, as well as foundation work and plaster finishing techniques.
Plasters & Renders - Aug. 24-26, 2012 $190 Bellingham, WA
Explore different natural materials available for plasters and renders. Learn and practice prepping, mixing and applying plasters.
All workshops are hands-on and open to all ages. They are fun and physical by nature, we encourage each person to work at a sustainable pace. Pre-registration is required. $50 non-refundable place holding fee (taken off total). Open to trade. Meals provided, camping available. Sign up with a friend and save 10%. See Contact Page to register.
About I'm Carrie Lewis, resident of the Pacific Northwest, currently stationed in Bellingham, WA. I have always wanted to create my own space. Purchasing/building a conventional home never seemed to be the right choice.
In October 2010, I completed an apprenticeship with Cob Cottage Company in Oregon. Thru CCC I was trained to build with cob and straw bale, make and apply earthen plasters, paints, and floors. As well, I gained experience constructing and cooking in earthen ovens. With our aim to create sustainable spaces, we sourced materials from our own land, and gathered items within the community that would otherwise be heading to a landfill.
My goal, thru natural building, is to empower people to create spaces that are healthy, sustainable, and affordable . This can happen in many ways. Natural paints in an already existing structure, or creating a new exciting sustainable space for you and your family to enjoy.
Healthy space to live and work in is something everyone deserves.
FAQ How can I host or join a workshop?
Give me a call or send me an email.
What is cob?
Cob is a mixture of clay rich earth, sand and straw.
What is alis?
Alis is an earthen paint, clay based and used as a traditional adobe finish.
Why do you use manure?
Manure acts as a binder and also adds fiber to the different mixes it is added to.
Is manure required?
No. There are other options for binders and fiber. Like wheat paste and straw.
What is earthen plaster?
Earthen plasters are a variation of the ingredients found in cob. Usually on a finer scale. When you apply finishing touches to an earthen wall it is important to continue using earth based products as they will breath along with your walls. Conventional or synthetic products prohibit this.
Can I use earthen products on drywall?
Yes, earthen paints work great on drywall.
What is a Rocket Mass Heater?
It is a wood burner designed for super efficient fuel burning, slow cooking, and heating. Often the flue runs through cob furniture heating and slowly radiating the heat throughout the day. Think masonry heater meets efficient wood stove.
Contact Want to host or join a workshop?
Have a project in mind?
Call or fill out this fancy form.
Contact info: Cob Designs
PO Box 5812
Bellingham, WA 98227
(360)-610-7823
