Dedicated to the environment and its members, together in one world
Would you enjoy a warm Cob Home to live in or a Cob Oven for pizza?
Cob is as warm or cool as the air temperature, and we work it with our bare feet and hands. It also dries in sun and warm wind so we don't cob in the winter unless you really, really need to know how then.
Depending on the project you will need to have at two to four consecutive days that you can commit to see the complete process.
You can be one of the one third of people world-wide who choose cob to live in because it costs very little, breaths moisture in and out so is not damp, has great thermal mass being warm in winter and cool in summer, reflects the builders own beingness, does not require machinery, feels good, is hypoallergenic, and returns to the earth as clay and stone when you are finished with it.
Thomas (left), Yannick (window), David 'n Tim (seated) April 25 2009
 | David, Jack, Capucine, and Julien by the cob oven after building it and its chimney from the base up ... and they made a paddle!. The flue is earth cob all the way to the metal flue at the top. There the two flues are spaced apart and held in place at the base by cob only. The only metal spacer is at the top just below the cowl (not shown). |
11th and 12th of September, 2010
2nd 3rd of October, 2010
23rd and 24th of October, 2010
Learn how to make natural plasters with coarse sand, clay, and blood, animal poos, or milk. Students will be taught how to reinforce plaster with short wheat straws, human, or animal hair; and how to lay up plaster, shape, sculpt, and smooth it. We will be plastering the inside and/or outside of Danaa, our cob-earth building, depending on weather and numbers attending. Pre-requisite: Any Cob Earth Mixing and Wall or Oven Building Course. Those who do not know how to make and build cob earth walls (or ovens) and wish to attend this course must arrange and attend either a Cob Earth Building Wall or Oven course, with the tutor, David, at least six weeks prior to the workshop. David will teach on sites in the Dunedin area, if you want to organise a workshop right where you want your own oven, cob wall, or seat. Contact him for details: 0211-22-0910.
Cob oven all nicely plastered and with a fire in its belly! The fire was taken out after about 3 hours when it was all very hot, and in went breads and potatoes. The hot coals kept us warm for another couple of hours.
On Sunday evening participants and their families are invited to bring their favourite flours, pizza ingredients, sauces, and dips for a pizza cook up in the cob oven until 7pm. Family may arrive anytime after 3pm to fire the oven. Pizza starts cooking at 5:30pm and will be eaten hot a few minutes later. Pizza trays are provided but if you are bringing a a pre-made one it needs to be a small 20cm or less wide to fit flat through the oven door.
Hours are 8:45am to 5:30pm both days, and to 7pm Sunday if you stay and your family comes to share the evening meal of pizzas, breads, and dips. Both days at 239 Waitati Valley Rd, 13.5km north from Dunedin's Octagon. Google "Harmony Farm Waitati" for directions.
Students need to attend full time both days to know how plaster dries and how to build it up, and sculpt.
Investment for a weekend workshop is $250 per person, couples $400 paid two weeks or more before the workshop starts or $280/$450 if places remain available. The price is the same if you choose to attend only one day. Those committing to both days and those who have paid first will be given preference. Minimum and maxium numbers apply so do book at least two weeks before if possible. Minimum age is: 15 years. If your enrolment is accepted your fee is fully refundable two weeks before start time after which it is non-refundable. Someone else over the age of 18 may attend in your place. All fees refunded if no space available or if cancelled due to weather and not held again within two months. Phone 0211-22-0910 between 7:30am and 8am on the day if not sure of weather.
Bring gumboots, old tight-fitting wool socks, or barefeet to mix the plaster in. Please bring fruit drinks as alcohol, smoking, recreational drugs, and pets are not permitted anywhere inside the gates of Harmony Forest. Wear old clothes and bring an old woolly hat to keep hair out of your face; and coat just in case. A cushion too for a comfy seat.
When you email us your intention to enrol we will email you our bank account number for direct deposit or e-transfer.
Click Here for: Enquires and to Book your place
Dates to be announced. Book now to learn how to make earth floors in 2011. Our cob earth building Danna will be getting hers then!
Daniel March 2nd, 2004
"Gave my feet a real workout while learning to prepare cob, an earthen building material! David and Lorraine were very kind and accomodating, and shared their home, internet, potatoes, and plenty of fresh greens out of the garden. Harmony is really a very special spot in the middle of regenerating native bush."
Annabel Feb 16th, 2004
"Beautiful, serene place to build a cob oven.... in the mud as always and happy to see Daisy and you (David) eager to get involved. Have fun in your future cob ventures. Enjoy those tasty treats that will soon emerge from its belly."
For texts on Earth Building see: Book Reviews
Click Here for: Enquires and to Book your place
Email David to book.
- All Beings: Conscious Living with Devas, Elementals, Plants, Animals, Self, and Spirit
- Forest Gardening and Certificate in Forest Gardening and Permaculture
- Herbal Medicine
- Native Forest: Guardians and Monitoring
- Sustainable Building
- Sustainable Energy Systems and Certificate in Sustainable Building and Energy
- Solar Power Production
- Trail Making
We look forward to meeting you!
Click here for Enquires and Bookings
Harmony Forest Stories
Stories of Communication with All Beings
Stories of Living with Daily Miracles
Be A Deva and other books for the Age of Unity Consciousness
Helping us all become conscious for 2010 - 2015 and beyond!