Past Workshops and Events

South Melbourne Commons 2 Day Earthbag Workshop

Registration:
$150 by Friday the 6th of May
http://www.melbourne.foe.org.au/
Martin 0403 440 996 ecomarket.melbourne@foe.orgau

Date:
May 20, 2011 (free presentation)
May 21-22, 2011 (2 day workshop)

Free Informational Evening May 20th at 6:30 pm

This evening is a slide show presentation on earthbag building and an over view of the workshop. If you can't make the presentation night please let us know and we will see you the following morning for the course. Also if you have friends or family who are interested in finding out more about the course or earthbag building, anyone is welcome to join us for the free evening.

The FUN-damentals of Earthbag Building May 21-22 from 9-5pm
We invite you to explore possibilities with us as you learn how to walk onto your land and start building in this two day workshop. Through a combination of lectures on soil testing, building materials, and hands-on technique you will be taken through the FUN-damentals of earthbag building while constructing a raised bed garden, seating, or retaining wall.

  • Discussing our relationships to the natural world and the structures we live in.
  • Site analysis
  • Earthbag foundations
  • How to manage a job site
  • Earthbag building technique- soil, bags, tamping, barbed wire, and compassing
  • Soil testing and stabilizing options
  • Retaining and garden wall design
  • Hands-on rendering with natural or stabilized render
See you there,
Neil and Stella













Alice Springs 6 Day Earth Dome Workshop with Desert Knowledge


Registration:
Please register through Desert Knowledge

Date:
4th of May 2011 - Free Informational Evening 6pm to 7pm, Andy McNeil Room, Alice Springs
8-14 of May 2011 6 day workshop (Wednesday off)

Course Details: Experience 6 days of hands-on learning through building an earth dome to prepare you to build your own studio, home, eco-village, or school. The focus of this workshop is to build in a way that connects the structure and the participants to the energy flows of the planet.

May 4th - Wednesday - Free informational evening (6pm-7pm)
Come explore your future dreams as we discuss the designs of dome building. Partake in a discussion that asks why go natural? Focusing on natural possibilities that support you and our planet. An overview of the course will be covered this evening as well as a slide show of earth bag building.

May 8 The Fun-damentals of Earthbag Building
We focus on how to walk onto your land and start building.
  • Talks on our relationship to the land
  • Site planning
  • Design of the project we are building
  • Foundations and building subterranean structures
  • Climate considerations
  • Materials required
  • Flow and organization
  • Instruction and practice filling, laying, tamping, and laying barbed wire
May 9 Strait Up Body Knowledge
Now that we have the knowledge from yesterday we take it into our bodies with hand-on practice building "strait up" the vertical wall of the dome.
  • Hands on practice in each job of filling, laying, tamping, and barbed wiring the vertical wall.
  • Discussing soil testing and stabilizing
  • Installing the door form
  • How to install electric and plumbing conduit
  • How to build vertical walls with a center compass.
May 10 Finding Direction
We will explore the magic of dome geometry and provide more experience laying bags with the extra challenge of each row stepping in to create the curve of the dome.
  • Geometry of a dome lecture
  • Hands-on bag laying and compassing for the dome curve
  • Installing optional bed mezzanine platform
May 11 Sustaining Our Bodies
This day is a rest for our bodies with the option of hanging out or exploring the amazing landscape of Central Australia.
May 12 Openings
We will be creating the window openings for the dome and be covering all the options for windows, doors, and entry vaults.
  • Exploring the arch - friction, buttressing, and forms
  • How to create window forms and openings
  • Exploring door, window, and entry vault possibilities
May 13 Full Circle- Envisioning our future
We will be completing the window and door openings to create wholeness again as all the pieces of past come together to create our future.
  • More experience creating window openings and pipe windows
  • Building the entry vault
  • Exploring mezzanine platform possibilities
  • Design discussion-bringing your future visions to the table
  • Explore design beyond the dome
  • Integrating sustainalbe systems
May 14 Way up High- A New Perspective
For those thrill seekers out there you will have the opportunity to strut your stuff while building the top of an earth dome. This weekend we will be laying bag at the most challenging part of the dome that brings skills learned while the dome was low to new heights. For those who like their feet closer to the ground there will be plenty of learning to experience from down below.
  • Creating high vents
  • Exploring skylight construction
  • How to corbel bags when completing the top of the dome
  • Capping the dome
  • Exploring rendering and water proofing options for a dome  

  Coffs Harbour 3 Weekend Earth Dome Workshop


Course Details: Experience 1, 2, or 3 weekends of hands-on learning through building an earth dome to prepare you to build your own studio, home, eco-village, or school. The focus of this workshop is to build in a way that connects the structure and the participants to the energy flows of the planet. Chose to attend just one, two, three, or all four weekends. For every additional weekend you attend, receive a discount. This gives participants the opportunity to gain specific skills and the ability to pick and choose weekends that work for them. We encourage participants to attend all four weekends if you plan on building for your self or your community.

April 7th Free informational evening in Coffs Harbour (7pm-9pm)
Come explore your future dreams as we discuss the designs of dome building. Partake in a discussion that asks why go natural? Focusing on natural possibilities that support you and our planet. An overview of the course will be covered this evening as well as a slide show of earth bag building.

April 9-10 The Nitty-Gritty of Earthbag Building
If you had to pick one weekend to attend, this would be it. This weekend has the most information focusing on how to walk onto your land and start building. But don't worry; we will be doing plenty of hands-on practice while building the first 6-8 rows of the dome.
Weekend Includes:
  • Our relationship with the natural world and earthbuilding
  • Soil testing
  • How to mix soil with stabilizers
  • Earthbag foundations
  • Basics of the earthbag building technique
  • Installing the door form
  • How to install electric and plumbing conduit
  • How to build vertical walls with a center compass.

April 16-17 Finding Direction and Openings
This weekend will we will explore the magic of dome geometry and provide more experience laying bags with the extra challenge of each row stepping in to create the curve of the dome. We will be creating the window openings for the dome and be covering all the options for windows, doors, and entry vaults.
Weekend Includes:
  • Geometry of a dome
  • Hands-on bag laying and compassing for the dome curve
  • Exploring the arch - friction, buttressing, and forms
  • How to create window forms and openings
  • Exploring door, window, and entry vault possibilities

April 23-24 Way Up High- A New Perspective
For those thrill seekers out there you will have the opportunity to strut your stuff while building the top of an earth dome. This weekend we will be laying bag at the most challenging part of the dome that brings skills learned while the dome was low to new heights. For those who like their feet closer to the ground there will be plenty of learning to experience from down below.
Weekend Includes:
  • More experience creating window openings and pipe windows
  • Building the entry vault
  • Exploring mezzanine platform possibilities
  • Creating high vents
  • Exploring skylight construction
  • How to corbel bags when completing the top of the dome
  • Capping the dome
  • Exploring rendering and water proofing options for a dome

Date:
April 7 (Free informational evening 7pm)
April 9-10 The Nitty-Gritty of Earthbag Building
April 16-17 Finding Direction and Openings
April 23-24 Way Up High- A New Perspective

Registration:
One Weekend $300
Two Weekends $550 ($50 discount)
Three Weekends $750 ($150 discount) That's like one whole day for free!

New 1,2,3 or 4 Weekend Option for Melbourne Workshop

4 Weekend Earthbag Workshop in Melbourne (North Warrandyte), Australia

Course details: Experience 1-4 weekends of hands-on learning through building an earth dome to prepare you to build your own studio, home, eco-village, or school. The focus of this workshop is to build in a way that connects the structure and the participants to the energy flows of the planet. Chose to attend just one, two, three, or all four weekends. For every additional weekend you attend, receive a discount. This gives participants the opportunity to gain specific skills and the ability to pick and choose weekends that work for them. We encourage participants to attend all four weekends if you plan on building for your self or your community.

March 12-13 The Nitty-Gritty of Earthbag Building
If you had to pick one weekend to attend, this would be it. This weekend has the most information focusing on how to walk onto your land and start building. But don't worry; we will be doing plenty of hands-on practice while building the first 6-8 rows of the dome.
Weekend Includes:
  • Our relationship with the natural world and earthbuilding
  • Soil testing
  • How to mix soil with stabilizers
  • Earthbag foundations
  • Basics of the earthbag building technique
  • Installing the door form
  • How to install electric and plumbing conduit
  • How to build vertical walls with a center compass.
March 19-20 Finding Direction and Openings
This weekend will we will explore the magic of dome geometry and provide more experience laying bags with the extra challenge of each row stepping in to create the curve of the dome. We will be creating the window openings for the dome and be covering all the options for windows, doors, and entry vaults.
Weekend Includes:
  • Geometry of a dome
  • Hands-on bag laying and compassing for the dome curve
  • Exploring the arch - friction, buttressing, and forms
  • How to create window forms and openings
  • Exploring door, window, and entry vault possibilities

March 26-27 Way Up High- A New Perspective
For those thrill seekers out there you will have the opportunity to strut your stuff while building the top of an earth dome. This weekend we will be laying bag at the most challenging part of the dome that brings skills learned while the dome was low to new heights. For those who like their feet closer to the ground there will be plenty of learning to experience from down below.
Weekend Includes:
  • More experince creating window openings and pipe windows
  • Building the entry vault
  • Exploring mezzanine platform possibilities
  • Creating high vents
  • Exploring skylight construction
  • How to corbel bags when completing the top of the dome
  • Capping the dome

April 2-3 Envisioning the Future (this is our favorite weekend)
Come explore your future dreams with the group as we discuss the designs of dome building and beyond to include sustainable design integration. Partake in a discussion that asks why go natural? Focusing on natural possibilities that support you and our planet. But don't forget to wear your grubbies because we will be putting the finishing touches on the dome with plenty of hands-on rendering to do and we will be exploring different options for waterproofing as well.
  • Removing the door and window forms (it’s like Christmas morning)
  • Hands-on rendering the exterior of the dome
  • Exploring water proofing and rendering options
  • Laying out the Eco-Dome design
  • Design discussion- bring your future visions to the table
  • Exploring design beyond the dome
  • Integrating sustainable systems
  • Why go natural- the benefits for you and your planet

Dates:
March 11 (Free informational evening and registration at 7pm)
March 12-13 The Nitty-Gritty of Earthbag Building
March 19-20 Finding Direction and Openings
March 26-27 Way Up High- A New Perspective
April 2-3 Envisioning the Future


Registration:
One Weekend $300
Two Weekends $550 ($50 discount)
Three Weekends $750 ($150 discount)
Four Weekends $900 ($300 discount) it's like a whole weekend for free!