2-Day Cob Oven (off-site)

DATES: September 13-14th, 2025

INSTRUCTORS: Greg + Danielle

STUDENT #: 15 students [maximum]

COST (includes meals):

$390 Early Bird Rate (30 days in advance)
$430 Regular Rate
5% discount for family + friends participating together
10% discount for BIPOC participants

DESCRIPTION:

We’ll be building a cob oven at a local farm, located about 15 minutes from our campus. A cob oven is a great beginner project for anyone interested in natural building, because it includes multiples techniques in a small, functional project. We’ll be making different cob mixes, laying fire brick, installing slip-straw, and even getting to apply some base coat earthen plasters by the end. The oven build will also include an attached countertop, which we’ll construct using a straw bale core covered with structural cob. Our work together will cover all of the functional oven layers and components that you need to know about to build your own oven someday - from a base insulation layer, to a protective plaster layer, and everything in between!

HANDS-ON:
- installing the subfloor insulation layer, and the thermal mass subfloor
- installing the firebrick floor
- constructing the thermal cob dome
- installing an insulation dome
- mixing and applying a base coat clay plaster
- building an earthen countertop, with cob and straw bales
DISCUSSION:
- “Different options for cob oven design” (chimneys, size variation, sculptural layers…)
- “How to fire and use a cob oven” (we will use one for a pizza dinner!)
SATURDAY:
8:00-9:00 Breakfast (at the Mud Dauber campus)
9:00-9:30 Orientation (at Mud Dauber)
9:30-9:45 Commute to Full Plate Farm
9:45-12:45 Morning work session
12:45-1:45 Lunch (provided by Full Plate Farm)
1:45-5:30 Afternoon work session
5:30-5:45 Commute back to Mud Dauber campus
5:45-6:30 Shower, relax
6:30 Saturday pizza dinner! (no dinner on Sunday)
SUNDAY:
8:00-9:00 Breakfast (at the Mud Dauber campus)
9:00-9:15 Commute to Full Plate Farm
9:15-12:45 Morning work session
12:45-1:45 Lunch (provided by Full Plate Farm)
1:45-4:00 Afternoon work session
4:00-4:30 Closing Circle
4:30-4:45 Commute back to Mud Dauber campus
No dinner on Sunday***
Meals are included! Food is vegetarian, with vegan and gluten-free options available.

We provide a simple breakfast spread of fresh fruit, oatmeal packets, yogurt & granola, coffee, and tea. (Non-dairy oat and almond milk are available)

Lunches are hearty vegetarian meals, and will include some produce from the host farm. Vegan and gluten-free options are available upon request.

On Saturday, we’ll enjoy a cob oven pizza night at the Mud Dauber School campus! We always look forward to these fun evenings, making pizzas together in our community dining space.

*There is no dinner on the last day*
TENTING: Tent sites are available and included in the workshop tuition.
COTTAGE RENTAL: We have 7 tiny sleeping cottages available to rent - 5 with natural walls, and 2 wooden A-frames. Each cottage provides the basics- a mattress with fresh bedding, a lamp, and a fan. If you’re interested in a cottage, there is space to let us know on the registration form. Click here to see the cottage options.

Check out our FAQ page for more info about nearby towns.
This workshop is held off-site, at a farm 15 minutes from our campus. We will start Saturday by meeting at the Mud Dauber Campus for breakfast and orientation, and then we’ll commute to the work site at Full Plate Farm.
The Mud Dauber campus is on our small homestead in Snow Camp, NC.
We are 10 min away from Saxapahaw, 20 minutes from Siler City and Pittsboro, and 30 minutes from Carrboro/Chapel Hill, and one hour from the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).

REGISTER:

Click below to fill out the registration form and we’ll get back to you within 48 hours to confirm availability and discuss payment. We look forward to seeing you here!

Please read our Refund Policy here.

2-Day Cob Oven

Which workshop are you interested in?

September 13-14th, 2025

Name

First Name

Last Name

Cell phone #

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I will be...

Tent camping (free sites)

Renting a cottage

Commuting

AVAILABLE: Heartwood, Sapwood, Wildflower, Moon, Leaning Cherry, A-Frame #1, A-Frame #2

Cottages are reserved on a "first come, first served" basis. Let us know from the list above which cottages you'd like to rent, in order of preference. (Find cottage info and pricing under the "LODGING" tab.)

Family + Friends Discount

**NOTE: Each person must still fill out their own registration form to secure a spot**

I am attending with someone and should receive the 5% discount

I am attending with (type name below):

BIPOC Discount

We include a 10% discount for BIPOC participants. Check here to receive the discount when registering:

I should receive the 10% BIPOC discount

Any food allergies/restrictions?

We do our best to accommodate participants' dietary needs, and can provide vegan or gluten-free meal options. We may not be able to accommodate all diets, in which case you would need to bring some supplemental food.

Liability Waiver

I will be involved in hands-on construction projects during the course of this workshop. I understand that I will be using building materials, operating tools, and participating in physical labor. I understand that there are inherent risks associated with construction. I am aware of these inherent physical risks and take full responsibility for myself regarding these risks. If attending with a minor, I understand that I am fully responsible for the supervision of my minor. I hereby release, hold harmless, and forever discharge Mud Dauber School LLC, and its employees and agents, from any and all liability, claims, demands, actions, and causes of actions whatsoever arising out of or related to any loss, property damage, or personal injury, including death, that may be sustained by me or my child or to any property belonging to me or my child while participating in programs on the premises or elsewhere. In the event medical care is required for me or my child, I hereby authorize Mud Dauber School LLC, and its employees and agents, to provide first aid and secure medical assistance for me or my child. I have read and I understand this document, including the release and hold harmless portions of it. I understand that it is binding on myself, my child, our heirs, assigns, and personal representatives. By typing my name below, I acknowledge that I have read and understand the above information, and that I am at least 18 years old, or the parent or guardian of the child specified below.

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Questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page, or contact us here!