Come and join us in completing this experimental log cabin roundhouse with the ancient art of cobbing…
In 2022 a group of 12 fantastic eco-builders in the making came together to learn a Norwegian Style Notch - everyone had a fantastic time learning to use the axes, working out angles, making new connections and generally enjoying the space.
Everyone worked so hard & 3 layers rose up from the foundations……
This year 2024 we are well on the way to complete the build!!
in Three Phases
each over a long weekend
Saturday 10th August - Cobbing
With the amazing Rosie Fieldhouse we will be using the ancient and traditional method of cobbing to seal up the walls of the roundhouse.
Cob is a wonderfully tactile material and once you have learned the basics you can apply to many different projects - create your own pizza oven, make a den for the kids, or even build your own round house!
About Rosie
Rosie found her love for using natural materials whilst studying her degree.
Rosie is focussed on sharing heritage crafts with adults and children alike – proving these traditional crafts aren’t just fossils from the past but sparks for the future to ignite new ideas and an interest in traditional making practices.
With experience in Playwork and play facilitation through outdoor education and forest school, she is particularly passionate about engaging children who may not usually have access to the outdoors or an alternative, more supportive way of learning
So come and spend some time with us - in the Beautiful Forest of Dean,
Rewilding yourself and honing these physical and enjoyable skills.
Building buildings,
building community,
Rewilding ourselves.
Delicious Hearty Meals
Over the weekend you will be fed:
local,
organic
wild
Food!
Our fantastic chefs will provide hearty breakfast, lunch, hot drinks and snacks throughout each day.
You will camp out together at a private camping field with full facilities,
and learn all the skills needed to build your very own log cabin round house.
Daily Rhythm
The knowledge and skills you will go away with:
Site Overview:
We will start 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.
Social & Sustainable Forestry
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.
More about your course leaders…
Scott Baine
Rewild Project Founder will be leading the course. Scott learned this building technique during his previous life living in the wild in Sweden.
Click on his picture to read more…
Emma Gleave
Will be on hand to support the build, and assist with organisations, logistic and is looking forward meeting new people and and the sense of achievement on completing a project.
Click on her picture to read more…
Profits
The Rewild Project is a Not for Profit, Community Interest Company, and Social Enterprise. It is our mission to support local craftspeople and promote heritage craft skills.
We Rewild People by teaching skills in self reliance and resilience for an uncertain future.
After the craftspeople are paid, and costs are covered we put any profits back in to the community.
Families & Children
You are welcome to bring well behaved children to this workshops, although we cannot guarantee you will have the same experience we will do our best to accommodate you all.
Children aged 9-13 will need a half price child’s ticket (add below) and will need to be accompanied by a full paying adult. 14 and over will need a full priced ticket, and will also nee to be accompanied by a full paying adult.
Sliding Scale Payment
We trust that you will choose the payment level that feels most appropriate. We aim to keep all our courses affordable, and the bursary places are subsidised by the full price places.
Book Here
A weekend course to cob the walls of our 4M Log Cabin Roundhouse.
Local, organic food provided.
Camping Accommodation on private camping field with hot showers provided.
Based at The Rewild Project Permaculture Allotment.
Spending time with your little people, learning new skills can be a wonderful experience. We love having a range of ages around and young people bring with them different ways of seeing the world, a different kind of creativity.
This crafts person is happy to welcome young people onto this workshop.
Under 8’s are free
8-13 require 1 child’s ticket per day.
Over 13’s require an adult ticket.
Your child remains your responsibility at all times, if the workshop leader deems your child to be a safety risk to the session, you may be asked to leave & this would be non refundable.
Please choose the correct half price rate.