6-Day Cob + Straw Immersion

This course is offered twice:

May 9-14th, 2025
May 20-25th, 2025

INSTRUCTORS: Greg + Danielle

STUDENT #: 15 students [maximum]

COST (includes meals):

$1230 Early Bird Rate (register 30 days in advance)
$1350 Regular Rate
5% discount for family + friends participating together!
10% discount for BIPOC participants

DESCRIPTION:

Our Immersion is our most popular course, and is designed to provide an understanding of four natural wall systems: cob, strawbale, slip-straw, and wattle & daub. Working with multiple wall systems will provide you with insight into which will fit into your own potential projects best. You will also get experience mixing and applying earthen plaster!

We emphasize hands-on learning, with most of each day spent on our work site. We will be building a sculptural cob garden wall on campus, which simulates the process of building a house while still allowing everyone to have enough space to work and learn. We’ll also be installing full strawbale walls in a pre-constructed wooden frame, plus demonstrating the slip-straw and wattle & daub wall techniques. On the final day, the group will apply clay plaster to some of these natural wall systems.

To supplement our hands-on work sessions, there will be time allotted for a local home tour, a tour of our natural cottages on campus, plus discussions/presentations on essential topics. We will also provide informational handouts to take home with you, and share digital presentation materials for your own future reference.

In addition to our scheduled learning time, there is a wonderful community aspect to our workshops. Three wholesome meals are provided each day, which are shared as a group in our community gathering space. Plenty of unscheduled, leisure time is available for relaxing.

Expect to leave the workshop with the confidence and knowledge to take on your own natural building project!

Click on the link below to see a sample of a detailed daily schedule.

Full 6-Day Schedule

HANDS-ON:
* mixing cob - by foot and with a mortar mixer
* building with cob
* installing a complete straw bale wall section
* mixing and installing slip-straw
* mixing and installing wattle & daub
* mixing and applying clay plaster
* how to install windows in cob vs. strawbale
DISCUSSION:
* “Rubble trench footings + other foundation options”
* “Cob to code” discussion with guest speaker
* “Clay vs straw wall systems: thermal mass, insulation, + design considerations”
* CAMPUS TOUR! - We’ll tour campus buildings, as a general Q+A
* LOCAL HOME TOUR! we will visit a local strawbale home to talk with the owner/builders
8:00-9:00 Breakfast
9:00-12:45 Morning work session
12:45-1:45 Lunch
1:45-5:30 Afternoon work session
5:30-6:30 Unscheduled (Shower, relax)
6:30 Dinner! (no dinner on Day 5)
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)
Lunch and dinner are hearty vegetarian meals, catered by local small businesses. Vegan and gluten-free options are available upon request.
For this longer course we’ll get to include a Cob Oven Pizza Night! 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 at the Mud Dauber campus, adjacent to our small homestead, in Snow Camp, NC.
We are 10 min away from Saxapahaw, 20 minutes from Siler City & Pittsboro, 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.

6-Day Cob + Straw Immersion

Which workshop are you interested in?

May 9-14th

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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