The knowledge and skills you will go away with:
Site Overview:
We will start the week with an overview of The Rewild Project 3/4 Acre Permaculture Allotment, and how the plot has been transformed and soil been build over 7 years using a Forest Garden, edible perennial growing system, chop and drop system.
Roundwood Building Techniques:
Discussion about various roundwood building techniques & options.
Reciprocal Roof
A reciprocal roof is a self-supporting spiral of timbers where each timber rests on the next and needs no central support. It leaves a round skylight that brings light into the room.
Cobbing
How to assess the suitability of subsoil for making cob, and how to determine the right ratios for making a strong, long lasting mix. We will then be applying this to the building through various methods.
Lime Render
A discussion on the benefits and applications of lime render.
Ground works:
Groundworks will already be in place prior to commencement of the course. We will discuss and evaluate different approaches and methods available for groundworks, foundations and what the environmental considerations would be.
Notches - Simple Lap Joints
These are quick easy joints which can easily be mastered by anyone using chisels, mallets & saws - tools that most people have to hand.
With 12 attendees you will split into groups of two to scribe one of the six sides each.
Straw Bale – Various methods of insulating & finishing walls will be discussed, one of which is straw bale construction.
We will be using Sweet Chestnut, coppiced locally by our social forestry team who are teaching local people new skills and bringing local disused Forestry England woodland back into rotation.
Throughout this course we aim to create a demonstration of how to build simply with local materials and create answers to the current housing, economic and ecological crisis.