[Cob] Cob in Madison, Wisconsin

[Dave Brown]

This past weekend Kathleen and I drove down to Madison to see Marlin 
Nissen and crew and their learn a thing or three abut cob 
building.  We didn't get there Saturday, which was their big, not to 
mention busy, day.  On Sunday things were a bit more calm.  We got 
there late, but still with time to watch some people mixing cob with 
their feet and forming the balls or loaves to use in their project.

I'm one of those "visual" learners.  I can read, talk, and listen 
until my head spins, but I learn more and faster from watching 
someone (like Marlin and his crew) actually doing it.  Probably the 
biggest thing that I noticed/learned was the texture and consistency 
of the cobs.  It was clear that it would be easy to leave the mix too 
wet and that the effects of this can, at a minimum, a real nuisance 
and at the worst a real disaster.  I also gained a clearer 
understanding of the need to put all those finger holes in the 
surface to provide a grip for the next layer as it is applied.

Marlin had some slip handy also.  Looking at and feeling the slip and 
comparing that to the shake test that I did supported my thoughts 
that what I had in my yard (about 18" down) was some pretty good near 
pure clay.  I showed a lump that I had brought to Marlin who also 
thinks that is good clay.  Now to make some test bricks/balls to see 
how it works.

My first project, after making test balls, will be a cob oven.  The 
idea is to build one in the Quebec oven style, as it would be 
historically appropriate for this part of Wisconsin.  Additionally, 
my mother's family is from Quebec and the Three Rivers area.  Our 
family tree (Paquin) traces back to the mid 1500's in Quebec.  The 
experience will also be a benefit to me and Heritage Hill State Park 
here in Green Bay where wattle and daub walls exist and there is a 
beehive brick oven and a cob oven in need of some attention.

You can learn a little about Marlin and his Out of the Box group at 
www.outtathebox.org and some on the Cob Archway at 
http://midvaleproject.net/cob.htm

Thanks again, Marlin.

Dave Brown
Green Bay, WI