Building courses

Below are course providers which teach ecological building techniques using natural materials. Getting stuck in and using a hands on approach to learning these tried and tested techniques should set you in good stead for undertaking your own straw bale, rammed earth, timber frame, hemp and lime or other green building project. We hope you find this section useful.

UK

Straw Bale Building Course, Canterbury
April 23rd – 27th 2012 Cost £325 including a lunch. Location: Elmfield Farm Cottages, Six Mile, Stelling Minnis, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 6DW

This is an exciting opportunity to work on the world’s first terrace of load bearing straw bale houses, designed Barbara Jones and her associates now known as ‘Straw Works’. These two storey houses will be accessible for disabled people and will become holiday lets in the Canterbury area. Barbara Jones is a straw bale pioneer and has received numerous awards for her work with straw and other natural materials. Barbara is a very experienced trainer, designer and builder. She is known for her engaging and empowering teaching style. You are guaranteed to learn all about straw bale construction as well as having lots of fun! All course participants will receive a copy of the second edition of Barbara’s book “Building with Straw Bales”. For more information about this course and to book your place, please send an email to strawworks@gmail.com or call Harriet on 01227 709404.

Introduction to Cob Building
Margam Discovery Centre, South Wales, £125-£170

This course provides participants with an introduction to building with cob walls with a load-bearing capacity. It will enable participants to gain knowledge of the materials needed, how to locate them and create a good cob mix. It will cover the practical skills involved in building plumb walls and sculptural decoration and how to go about building a suitable shelter, foundation and finishing.

Recent graduates (within the last three years), undergraduates or those not currently in full time employment can recieve a 50 reduction off the advertised course fee for this course. Please contact the Centre for more details.

Tutor: Jen McKenna is a member of the Down to Earth Project Team, a social enterprise specialising in Sustainability Education and Natural Building.

Contact: Donna Morgan-Payne, 01639 895636 or enquiries.mp@field-studies-council.org
UK Clay Plaster Network, Clayworks, Cornwall
Plaster Application training days.
Clayworks holds clay plaster training days which introduce professional plasterers to the world of natural plasters and the UK Clay Plaster Network. More at http://www.clay-works.com/blog/clay-plaster-training/
Essex County Council, Historic Building and Conservation Dept., Essex
Traditional Building Skills Courses.
For further information please visit: http://www.visitparks.co.uk/placestovisit/cressingtemplebuildingcourses.php or e-mail: traditional.buildingskills@essex.gov.uk
Reset Development, Courses Nationwide
DIY and Professional Green Roof Construction Courses.
Reset is a charity focusing on ecological adaptation of the built environment. They run courses on green roof construction. More at http://reset-development.org
LILI (Low-impact living initiative), Courses Nationwide
Courses on Natural Building, Retrofitting, Gardening and more...
See http://www.lowimpact.org/courses.htm
Low Carbon Trust, Brighton
Courses on Rammed Earth, Photovoltaics, Retrofitting, Straw Bales and Earthships!
Famous for building the first Earthship in the UK, this organisation sets up, manages and promotes environmental projects.
They run courses on many aspects of natural building and much more. See their courses page here:  http://www.lowcarbon.co.uk/events
Brighton Permaculture Trust, Brighton
Courses on Permaculture, Green Roofs, Straw Bales and  Green Architecture.
More here: http://www.brightonpermaculture.org.uk/courses-conferences-and-events.html