Bonnaroo 2012

I found this great photo today while working on plans for Bonnaroo 2012 - it's coming right up in June!  Here is a photo of last year's build showing Ben, Thomas, and Scott setting a big oak post.

Spring at the site

The little cob cottage is really coming together just in time for spring. Next up is the exterior plaster, check back soon!

Pretty black for a green roof...

Green roofs are somewhat deceptive. The plants may be green, but under all that lush growth often lies a dead black petroleum based waterproof membrane. Some green roofs even have multiple layers of perforated polyethylene drainage mats, rigid foam sheets, root-barrier membrane...We didn't go so far, but we did get ourselves a nice fat EPDM sheet.

EPDM pond liners are commonly used as the water proof membrane in green roofs. They're pretty tough, but should be isolated from the roof deck and soil layer, to make sure they don't get punctured. We separated ours with layers of rigid foam insulation. The pond liner wraps up and over the 2x10 fascia to create an enclosed pan for the soil, which drains in the low spots via PVC shower pan drains.

The soil on the roof is the topsoil that used to live where the building is. In creating the pad and footing, we made sure to separate topsoil for the roof, and subsoil for cob. Check back this summer to see how things are growing up there.

Anatoly's cottage

Here is the entrance to Anatoly's cottage, currently under construction. The walls are built of cob and strawbale, and will be finished with clay and lime plasters. The building sits on a foundation of discarded rubble. We gathered concrete, stone, and brick from within a couple miles of the site for free. I was amazed at how easy it was. Maybe we got lucky, but Greg and I, each with a small truck, found all the rubble we needed in about one full  day of work.

Rocket Stove

Watch this video of a super-efficient rocket stove we just built in our new cob cottage. Rocket stoves contain an internal heat riser that creates a very strong draft. Burning very hot and efficiently, they are capable of pushing hot exhaust through ducts in built in massive furniture and warming buildings directly.

The Electronic cottage

I snapped this photo of Greg and Anatoly testing the internet and phone connection at Anatoly's cottage in Chapel Hill the other day. I felt I had to capture the juxtaposition of ancient cob and the very modern mac laptop and internet. Anatoly does computer programing and will use the cottage as an office as well as family get-away. A place of natural energy and magic in their suburban backyard, complete with rocket stove and internet connection!

Cob Workshop June 2012

Greg and I are hosting a 7-day cob workshop in Durham, NC this June. We will be leading participants in the construction of a cob building and garden wall in the backyard of the house we're currently building. We will build with cob, strawbales, earthen and lime plasters, and do some carpentry as well. The workshop is aimed at folks who want to build their own small cottage or outbuilding with cob and/or strawbales. No previous building experience is necessary, building with cob is a very intuitive process and you will be confident using the materials after spending week building with us.

you can find a full description of the workshop at cob workshops and on the Natural Building Network's event calendar. While you're at it, check out Danielle's blog, earthen acres. She took our cob workshop in 2009 and went on to build her own home the next year!