The Marvels of Mud and Mixing:
Making Earth Plaster Walls
The participants will receive an introduction to the art and practice of earth plaster, learn how to mix and apply earth plaster, how to recognize and achieve the right mix, the pros and cons of various ingredients, and how to achieve colour, texture effects, etc. Participants will also learn the basics of plastering techniques with a variety of trowels and techniques to give a strong basic understanding of the art of earth plaster. The group will have the opportunity to contribute their plaster skills during the training on one wall at the Archetype Sustainable House located at the Kortright Centre. This workshop is suitable for anyone with an interest in natural building techniques, from the beginner to trade professionals. Come on out and have fun in the mud with Fourth Pigs!
Please dress prepared to get dirty. Gloves are optional.
Natural building 101
Learn the basics of natural building: how to work with materials from the region or even the home-site, how to mix and apply natural plasters, the basic principles of strawbale and other natural structures. Learn about building and design in harmony with the elements and the local ecosystems: passive solar, natural cooling, low-waste energy, waste and water systems. Learn why sustainable sheltering is important for the environment as well as our own health, and play in the mud at the same time! Glen Byrom has worked in natural building for over twelve years, both in the U.S. and in Canada.
Renewable energy 101
Learn the basics of alternative energy design, planning for an alternative energy system by reducing your energy use, what to ask a contractor, what you can do yourself, alternative energy assessments on your location, and how to get the system that’s right for your location. The workshop will also address the available incentives and financing for alternative energy installation. Glen Byrom and Melinda Zytaruk are experienced solar installers and alumni of Solar Energy International in the United States. Melinda Zytaruk was the education and then policy director for the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association, helping community –owned power projects to get off the ground and pushing for the recently approved Standard Offer Contracts that facilitates the sale of community-owned power to the grid in Ontario.
Hands-on Build A Solar Oven
Join us for a solar picnic. Build a solar oven, learn the various options for design from cheap to high-tech, and cook a lunch (depending on the weather). Glen Byrom and Melinda Zytaruk are experienced solar installers and alumni of Solar Energy International in the United States.
Strawbale construction 101
Build a strawbale structure in a two-day intensive workshop. You will be introduced to the basics of structure and design, and learn the techniques of assembling and applying natural plaster to a strawbale structure. A range of techniques will be modeled and applied by the participants, including different kinds of plaster. The principles of natural building will also be briefly reviewed—the environmental, health and social reasons for building sustainable shelters. Glen Byrom has worked in natural building for over twelve years, both in the U.S. and in Canada.
Solar design and installation for homeowners
Learn the basics of solar design, planning for a solar PV or hot water system by reducing your energy use, what to ask a contractor, what you can do yourself, solar assessments on your location, and how to get the system that’s right for your location. The workshop will also address the available incentives and financing for alternative energy installation, and review the budget and payback periods for solar systems. Glen Byrom and Melinda Zytaruk are experienced solar installers and alumni of Solar Energy International in the United States.
Community owned renewable energy: organization and design
Own a system with your neighbors! Draw on a range of skills from your community to create a utility-scale system that sells power to the grid. Seems like a pipe-dream? Not for Denmark, Germany and parts of the U.S. and Canada, where community-owned power is changing the face of power generation. This workshop introduces the concept of community power, looks at what has made it work and not work around the world, and explores the specific challenges and incentives for community power projects in Ontario and Canada. The workshop leaders, Melinda Zytaruk and Sally Miller, worked for several years with community power groups across Ontario. Melinda was instrumental in the battle to change the regulations to make community-owned power a reality in Ontario.
Completed 2010 workshops/courses:
Building with living materials:
create your home as sanctuary with Paula Baker Laporte
Thursday, April 15 2010 6:00-8:00pm Centre for Social Innovation, 215 Spadina Ave, Suite 120. Free!
Hailed by Natural Home Magazine in 2005 as one of the top ten green architects in the U.S, Paula Baker Laporte leads the EcoNest design team. Paula is the primary author of "Prescriptions for a Healthy House", is co-author of "EcoNest" and is a contributing author to "A People's Ecology". She lectures, writes extensively and travels throughout the US and Canada consulting about healthy building.
See the event flyer here (pdf)
Sponsored by rabble.ca, Fourth Pig and Soma Earth Architect
Earthen Plasters
May 17-May 21st
Flesherton, Ontario
Fees: $525 CDN
(fees increase if you register post April 26).
More information and registration can be found here
This workshop is part of a series run by our friends Natural Build and will be instructed by Fourth Pig member Glen Byrom.
The use of earth plasters is rapidly gaining momentum in Southern Ontario. We will teach you the do’s and don’ts of running a productive work environment. We will discuss the range of possibilities when working with these wonderful materials, including material selection, colours, application techniques and more! All students will get plenty of mileage on the tools of the trade, so that you can take-on any plaster job with confidence! This course is a must for the complete natural builder.
The site where we will build this frame has free camping featuring an outdoor kitchen, outhouse and solar shower.
