[Cob] Sheltership: Natural Building Apprenticeship, May 1 - June 15, 2012, in Southern California, with Sasha Rabin & Paul Swenson, a Quail Springs Permaculture program

[Quail Springs]

Sheltership: six-week natural building apprenticeship
a program of Quail Springs Permaculture 

with Sasha Rabin of Vertical Clay and Paul Swenson of Quail Springs

Dates: May 1- June 15, 2012

Sheltership is a six-week intensive apprenticeship and journey into the
creation of a small shelter from start to finish, using natural materials,
at a beautiful location in the Southern California mountains.  Sasha Rabin
of Vertical Clay and Paul Swenson of Quail Springs will lead a small group
of individuals who are passionate to learn and explore.  Although welcome,
experience with natural building is not necessary.  With natural building
materials and applications as our focus, we will also explore the beauty of
natural materials in how they connect us to so many other aspects of our
lives often offering a more holistic approach to living simply.
 
During this six-week intensive apprenticeship, we will build a small shelter
(less than 120 square feet) from start to as close to finish as possible,
using a variety of earthen materials and applications. The educational
emphasis will be on student's developing a keen understanding of the
materials, so they can develop insight into the best possible way to use
each of the materials/applications for specific building needs and
individual situations.  

We will focus on building with earth, including clay soil, sand, stone and
straw.  These materials will be used in a variety of applications,
including: cob, light straw clay (slip-straw), wattle and daub, earth bag,
earthen plasters, poured earthen floor, and some woodwork. 

The learning process will primarily be a hands-on study ethic, with lecture
worked in through the day in usually under one-hour sessions.  We will offer
inspiring slideshows, as well as a field trip to visit natural buildings in
the region.

Sheltership will weave within our local community, interfacing with various
farm and garden activities, community gatherings and special events, day to
day community care, preparation and sharing of meals, music and
storytelling, explorations of the area watershed and wildlands, and more!


More about Sheltership's facilitating teachers

Sasha Rabin has been building and teaching to build with natural materials
since co-founding Seven Generations Natural Builders in 2002.  Partner in
Vertical Clay natural building company, she lives and works at a suburban
permaculture and natural building home demonstration site in El Sobrante,
California.  www.verticalclay.com 
 
Paul Swenson practices land stewardship & natural building as one of the
founding team at Quail Springs Permaculture.  He has been practicing and
teaching natural building since 2005.  Paul's teaching style is empowering
and puts people at ease, with an emphasis on self-discovery, enjoyment, and
creating beauty. www.quailsprings.org
 

Registration Information
As the intensive is limited to 10 participants, we advise those interested
inquire early.

The cost of the intensive includes tuition, materials, meals and tent
camping nearby  
$2,600 (deposit of $500 holds your space)
$2,200 early bird rate, for payment in full by March 2, 2012

Limited partial work trade positions are available, please ask for an
application!  Payment plans may be requested as well.  Please ask about
Couples/Family rates.

Contact:  info at quailsprings.org or 805-886-7239 for more information or to
request an application