Cob: Re: Natural materials for earthen plasters

[Chrys Mollett]

Chrysara M. here from sierra foothills in California.
When finishing the inside of my timberframe big room, I asked the man who
was doing the 'mud' on the walls if I couldn't just please add some of our
lovely motherlode red clay earth to the plaster.  Tone down that
glaringly-white stuff he was going to finish my walls with.
To my surprise, he said 'sure!'  I spent the day hauling earth, screening
it, and mixing the natural soil into the white plaster.  It was an unplanned
method & project - but I've never been sorry.

The walls are a lovely toasty brown.  They were even prettier when wet. Had
I known how beautiful they'd turn out, I would have added more earth for an
even deeper color.  The effect is somewhat irregular from the different
batches, but very very beautiful.  And, of course, they've never needed any
coating or paint.
Next thing I build WILL BE of cob. Not just the 'color of earth' - - but
earth through & through.  I'm so looking forward to next spring when I hope
to start on this project.
Chrys M.
Murphys