Natural Building Workshop Series
Epworth Camp and Retreat Center and Green Phoenix Permaculture are pleased to present a series of Natural Building Workshops as we construct a timber frame, straw bale farm house.
Our natural building workshops as opportunities to learn, create community and fun, while experiencing the beautiful surroundings of Camp Epworth’s 160 acres. Many of the workshops offer opportunities for children, as well as adults, to participate in the building process. The house will be available for tours in the future and we will share what we learn with others so we can give back to the community.
Stone Foundation Workshop
The Stone Foundation Workshop. Sat, Sun, May 16,17 — Teachers Ethan Zickler and Jim Luckner will conduct both lecture and hands on instruction. Learn how to lay stone to form a beautiful foundation wall with local stone. Topics also include: structural considerations and possibilities, how particular materials and structures were selected for this house and why, consideration of climate, frost levels, foundation depth and insulation, choice and placement of footings and piers to hold timber frame, straw bales, a green house and porch.
Cost: sliding scale, between $150-250, work trade for additional days of stone work. Workshop free for a week of work with Ethan on the foundation plus lunches.
Registration: Please send checks, payable to Green Phoenix Permaculture to 8 Epworth Lane, High Falls, NY 12440. Please include name, address, phone, e-mail. Please indicate food allergies and special needs. You will be asked to sign an insurance waiver upon arrival.
Contacts: Joan and Wilton at 845-687-7646 or mamajoane@yahoo.com
TIMBER FRAME WORKSHOP and HOUSE RAISING
The Timber Frame Workshop and House Raising Fri, Sat, Sun, July 11,12, 13 and Sat, Sun, July 26, 27. Learn the basics of timber framing while cutting, assembling and raising the frame on the farmhouse. Teachers: Aaron Dennis and his experienced team.
Cost: $600. Cost includes tuition, accomodations in a bunk lodge or camping, lunches and dinners [breakfasts are potluck]. Space is limited!
Registration: Please send checks payable to Green Phoenix Permaculture to 8 Epworth Lane, High Falls, NY 12440
Contacts: Joan and Wilton at 845-687-7646 or mamajoane@yahoo.com
Straw Bale, Cob, & Plaster Workshop — Learn how to build a straw bale and cob house. The work will include straw bail infill for a timber frame building, how the bales and cob are attached to the foundation, timbers, and roof assembly, cob construction for south-facing wall, application of interior and exterior mud and lime plasters.
This course will be taught by Ben Simpson, Jim Luckner, and Ethan Zickler, with possible additional teachers. Natural Roof Workshop — For the roof of the sustainable farm house we plan either thatch, hand split cedar, slate or standing seam metal.
We will announce this workshop when we have chosen the material and logistics for the construction of the roof. We are open to your suggestions and opinions.
Slaked Lime Workshop — This workshop will introduce, through hands on demonstrations, the ancient art of making lime plasters.
Limestone is fired in a kiln to 900 degrees C turning the lime stone, which is calcium carbonate (CaCO3) into calcium oxide, (CaO) known as quick lime. The quick lime is then slaked by carefully mixing it with water. This is a dangerous operation that must be done correctly. The resulting "lime putty" calcium dihydroxide. Ca(OH)2 is soaked in water for a minimum of 6 weeks. This putty is used for making lime plaster, or mortars.
This workshop will demonstrate the slaking operation, discuss the techniques of firing lime, and demonstrate the application of lime plaster on to a mud plaster wall.
Masonry Stove Workshop — Masonry stoves are a comfortable effective method for heating your home with much less fuel. Jim Luckner will discuss and demonstrate the art of designing and constructing masonry stoves.
The workshop will include construction techiniques with standard brick, refractory brick, mortar and refractory castings.
Adobe Floor Workshop — Poured adobe floors are beautiful, and durable.
This workshop will demonstrate and provide hands on experience in the various stages of constructing adobe floors. Passive Solar Greenhouse Construction Workshop — This greenhouse, attached to the farmhouse, will play an important role in heating the house. The workshop, with both lecture and hands on demonstration, will cover many aspects of construction, including size, relationship to house, materials, structural detailing, ventilation, assembly and finishing.
Contacts and Registration
For scheduling information and registration, please contact Wilton and Joan at 845-687-7646 or mamajoane [at] yahoo [dot] com. To register for courses when dates and costs are set, you can mail checks to Green Phoenix Permaculture, 8 Epworth Lane, High Fall, N.Y. 12440, with a note saying the name of the workshop, your contact information, housing you are requesting and any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you.