Natural Plasters & Floors

With Michael G. Smith, Avani Leitz and Blair Phillips

July 13th - 21st, 2024

The course will be 7 days of intensive learning (14th-20th). All participants are required to come on the 13th to get settled in and stay through the closing circle on the 21st.

Families are welcome. Inquire for kiddo participation.

In this week long intensive course, get your hands muddy and leave with the skills to plaster and floor almost any building with the non toxic beauty of the earth.

We will start with the basics of how to source and identify appropriate materials and understand how they work together in a successful plaster mix. Learn to mix plasters by hand and using machines including hand-held and rotary mortar mixers. You will get hands-on experience with applying every layer of plaster from base to finish plasters and natural paints. This workshop will have a special emphasis on proper tool selection, care and usage.

Daily hands-on plastering sessions will be supplemented with lectures on theoretical background and critical design considerations to make your plasters into durable, crack-free works of functional art. Additionally, we will take you on a trip through space and time with slideshows showing the arts of plasters from all around the world.

This workshop is appropriate both for beginners and for experienced builders who are ready to take their plastering skills to the next level. The teacher/student ratio and their hawk eyes for detail will refine your technique for life! 

Want to learn the practical ins and outs of Earthen Plasters and Earthen Floors?

TOPICS Will Include: 

  • Wall Preparation

  • Straw Clay Base Plaster

  • Clay Finish Plaster

  • Proper selection and use of trowels

  • Recipe development plaster lab

  • Intro to Lime Plaster

  • Fresco (pigmented lime mural)

  • Retrofits, Maintenance and Remodels

  • Base and Finish Earthen Floor

  • Choosing the best plaster type for different situations

  • Plasters Lab

What is Included:

  • 7 Days of hands on class, lecture and clay immersion

  • 3 organic protein rich meals per day - locally sourced and grown on site

  • Morning Asana practice

  • Forest Camping, Bath House, Sauna & Composting Toilets

  • Mentorship with exceptional builders and plasters

  • Community building & intentional connection

“Earth turns to gold in the hands of the wise.”

-Nadar Khalili

Typical daily structure will include:

  • 7am morning asana (optional)

  • 8am all organic breakfast

  • 9am hands on class

  • 12:30pm all organic lunch & siesta

  • 2pm lecture

  • 3pm hands on class

  • 6:30pm all organic dinner

  • 8pm slide show presentations (at least 3 over the course of the workshop)

Why Natural Plasters?

Clay plasters have been cherished by civilizations throughout history for their astonishing beauty, durability, and eco-friendliness. Our teachers will show you how to showcase the versatility of these natural materials, offering you a myriad of options to unleash your creativity in both the practical and the arts.

Imagine walls that whisper tales of rich earthy hues, your connection to humanity, and your relationship with the earth. We want to give you the technique and skills to craft unique designs, express your personality, and create an ambiance that perfectly fits the nature that surrounds you. 

In addition to their visual allure, clay plasters offer a multitude of practical benefits. These remarkable materials are completely non-toxic, making them an ideal choice for anyone seeking a healthier living environment. As they absorb and release moisture naturally, they help regulate indoor humidity levels, contributing to improved air quality and reduces the risk of mold and allergies.

This course is for you if you want to:

  • Gain enough experience to feel confident doing earthen plaster and floor projects on your own

  • Learn how to develop your own plaster and floor recipe anywhere in the world

  • Learn the basics of clay and lime plasters

  • Learn with a healthy balance of hands on and lecture

  • Build earthen community & long lasting relationships

  • Immerse in a off-grid permaculture lifestyle

Pricing

Supported: $1200

Suggested if you make less than $40k/year or have been affected by systemic inequality

Review our refund policy here.

Suggested: $1400

Suggested if you make between $40k and $100k/year

Sustainer: $1600

Suggested if you make more than$100k/a year or just want to be super awesome and support this program

Scholarships and work trades available through application. Apply Here.

We can also accommodate with payment plans as needed. Please reach out for support.

Learn to plaster with renowned teachers using local earthen materials in a multi-generational setting.

About the Teachers

Michael G. Smith

Michael G. Smith co-founded the Cob Cottage Company, along with Ianto Evans and Linda Smiley, in Oregon in 1993. He helped organize the first Natural Building Colloquium in 1994. He wrote “The Cobber’s Companion” in 1996 and co-authored “The Hand-Sculpted House” (published by Chelsea Green, 2002) and “The Art of Natural Building (2nd edition, New Society, 2015).” He has experience with a wide range of effective low-cost, low-tech building techniques including cob, straw bale, and many lightweight natural infill systems. He has taught hundreds of hands-on natural building workshops, ranging from one-day earthen oven builds for children to 12-week professional training. He enjoys consulting with owner-builders to help them design and build successful energy-efficient natural homes. He is also on the Board of Directors of the nonprofit Cob Research Institute, which wrote the first building cob for code in the world and successfully advocated for its adoption into the 2021 International Residential Code. With his partner and children, he stewards a 20-acre organic farm in Yolo County. Learn more at strawclaywood.com.

Avani Leitz

Avani began her journey in natural building in the beginning of 2017, building a cob cottage with her partner from the ground up. Since then she has delved into all types of structures including straw bale, pallet buildings, light clay straw and more. Guided by her desire to use materials that are local, salvaged, recycled and respectfully wild harvested, she utilizes back to the hands techniques to create functional and beautiful structures of art. Avani is playful and charismatic teacher. Sh is currently studying traditional Japanese plasters in Japan with Kyle Holzhueter.

Blair Phillips

Blair Phillips, the founder of Abuela Gardens (2013), Has a BA in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Agroecology and education ( UCSC 2006). Blair is a certified permaculture designer and teacher who has studied with the best(2007). Teachers like Dr. Elaine Ingham, Geoff Lawton, Darren Doherty, Penny Livingston, Broc Dolmon, Ian Davidson, Steve Gliesman, and Michael Flynn. (2004-to present).  Since Blair's teenage years, he has been exploring practices to awaken the inner self and align with the world outside. This inquisition has led him to explore meditation, yoga, plant medicine, traditional west African drumming, and other healing arts. The fusion of internal work with the external has led Blair on a journey to make his work into visible prayers.  listen to an interview.