Artisan Builders Collective members offer a variety of workshops and classes so you can have hands-on fun with natural building! Our members offer everything from work parties on community projects to two week intensive workshops. To get involved in a community project or register for a workshop, just contact the facilitator listed below each workshop.
Traditional Timber Frame Barn or House Raising Workshop
Woodbury, Tennessee
March 31-April 6, 2012
$775 Full price
$575 Early Registration (by March 1st) – Save $200!
Come learn the ancient art of timber frame carpentry. In this six-day class we will learn how to draw out joinery on timbers using the traditional Square Rule layout system, cut mortise and tenon joints with hand tools, and assemble and raise the frame. In addition to hands-on learning, there will be daily demonstrations of tools and technique and several evening slide shows exploring timber framing history, design, enclosure, and more. This workshop is designed to take you from the raw pile of timbers to a handcrafted timber frame building. The building we will be constructing during this workshop will serve as our classroom for a wide variety of future workshops at Birdsong Hollow Farm. The building will eventually be completely insulated and finished on the interior with natural plasters and local woods. Come be a part of this exciting process and learn the basic skills for constructing a timberframe building. Our instructor is world class traditional timber framer, Sarah Highland. To learn more about her and see pictures of her work visit www.highlandartisan.com
No previous woodworking experience is necessary and anyone can participate!
Workshop fee includes all meals and camping on beautiful 144 acre Birdsong Hollow Farm, www.birdsonghollow.com. Hot showers and composting toilets are available in the camping area.
For more information contact Christina Ott info@barefootbuilder.com or (850) 982-2597.
The Art of Homesteading:
Permaculture Design Certificate Course and Natural Building Workshop
Woodbury, Tennessee
June 11-27, 2012
Early Registration Discount $1500 (if paid in full by May 13th) – Save $500!
Regular Registration $2000
Further discount available for families and groups. Please inquire.
The first 12 days of this workshop include a comprehensive permaculture design certificate course. You will learn the principles of permaculture land management and whole-systems design with emphasis on rainwater harvesting and larger scale land use planning. This course provides participants with hands-on experience working with common-sense solutions, while nourishing earth-based traditions and empowering our human potential. This 3-week practicum in Permaculture and Natural Building highlights innovative design systems and practical solutions that create bioregional sovereignty and, in the words of Buckminster Fuller, “have the potential to radically advance human well being and the health of our planet's ecosystems.” The second part of this course, June 22nd-27th, is a natural building workshop in which you will learn to design and build with cob and other natural materials according to the principles covered in the permaculture design class. This is an ideal course if you are planning a homestead of your own, a natural building, or just trying to manage your land in cooperation with natural systems. Our instructors are Brandy Hall - shadesofgreeninc.org/about/team/ - and Christina Ott - barefootbuilder.com/bio.html.
Workshop fee includes all meals and camping on beautiful 144 acre Birdsong Hollow Farm, www.birdsonghollow.com . Much of the food served during this workshop will be grown right here on the farm! Hot showers and composting toilets are available in the camping area.
What is Permaculture? Permaculture is an ecological design system for sustainability in all aspects of our lives. Permaculture teaches us how build natural homes, grow our own food, restore diminished landscapes and ecosystems, catch rainwater, build communities, take care of waste and much more. The philosophy of permaculture is one of working with rather than against nature, and of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than premature and thoughtless action. Permaculture design techniques encourage land use which integrates principles of ecology and applies lessons from nature. It teaches us to create settings and construct ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and the resilience of natural ecosystems.
What is the Permaculture Design Certificate Course (PDC)? The Permaculture Design Course was developed by Bill Mollison to teach principles and foundations of sustainable design. All PDC courses offered throughout the world must cover the same material to assure that the integrity of certification process is upheld.
Building with Cob Workshop
Woodbury, Tennessee
March 31-April 6, 2012
Deposit $250
Early Registration (by May 13th) $475 – Save $200!
Regular Registration $675
Learn all the basic skills you’ll need to build a small cob cottage. This workshop will be a hands-on building experience during which we will plan and construct a small cob building from the ground up. You will learn all the basics of building with cob for anything from a shed to a small cob cottage. In this workshop you will have the chance to get hands on experience with foundations, windows, doors, plumbing, plasters and decorative details. You will also learn how to select materials, mix cob by foot and with heavy equipment, use passive solar design, plan a realistic budget and schedule for your project, and approach the building department.
Workshop fee includes all meals and camping on beautiful 144 acre Birdsong Hollow Farm, www.birdsonghollow.com . Much of the food served during this workshop will be grown right here on the farm! Hot showers and composting toilets are available in the camping area.
Deposit $300
Early Registration (paid in full by June 14) $900 – Save $300!
Regular Registration - $1200.
Bring-a-Friend Discount - $850 each ($350 off)
Project website www.NaturalCottageProject.com
Whether you are an aspiring artisan, a prospective owner-builder, or enthusiastic hobbyist, this two week course is a rare opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the many different natural building skills necessary to create a snug, beautiful cottage from local natural materials. The course will be team-taught by 4 expert instructors from diverse backgrounds. This is an excellent workshop to take if you are considering building your own natural materials home, cottage or shed.
Hands-on experiences will be augmented by afternoon lectures under the shady tree, evening slide presentations, group Q&A and individual design consultations on your own plans, and an extensive Natural Building library/bookstore for your browsing pleasure.
Workshop fee includes all meals and camping with some indoor spaces/beds available. Indoor showers are available and there is room for you to park your RV if you want to bring one. We offer some discounts for couples, families and groups. The Straw Bale Studio is a very family friendly place so plan on bringing the kids. Please contact us if you would like to work out a special group rate.
This class will include:
Rubble-Trench/Stone/urbanite foundations
Square timber and round wood framing
Load bearing cob walls (mixing by foot and with heavy machinery)
Straw bale walls
Earthen floors
Cob sculpting
Earthen plasters
Natural paints and alis
Thatching
Incorporating salvaged materials
Building layout
Materials collection & storage
Scrounging
Passive solar and Pattern Language design
Insulation and thermal mass
Budgeting and scheduling
Dealing with the Building Department
Working with volunteers/groups
Site safety
Window and door framing
Plumbing and electricity rough-ins
