Building with cob is an ancient practice that uses the materials right under our feet. We use local clay soil, sand and straw to create incredibly durable & beautiful artistic structures. We mix the luscious red soil with the other elements, & while the elemental materials are still wet, we mold it by hand into the structure that we want, adding bottles, tiles, niches, arches, stones—anything our heart desires. We smooth it out, then, we plaster it with a variety of colors of earthen pigments. And then we let it dry in the sun and the wind harden it into a strong, permanent structure with artful clay plasters. Cob is perfect for garden walls, outdoor kitchens, composting toilet bathrooms, almost anything one can imagine!
These workshops are part of a continuing skill-building series we began in last year with the foundation for a cob garden wall to help mitigate flooding and create a sacred gathering space and goddess bath. We will be continuing to offer earth artistry experiences at Wild Heart Farm this spring with our friends Antigone Allena and Erin Shepard from Oregon.
Building with earth elements is joyful as we create a community in the old way-working together, laughing together and eating together. The result is a beautiful work of art that is at home on the land and lifelong friends.
