Natural Building Practical Course
This 9 day course will be an introductory journey into building a natural home. Participants will receive a basic theoretical and practical training in all aspects of siting and design, foundations, wall systems, roofs and finish plastering. You will learn simple joints and framing techniques to erect a roundwood timber frame post and beam structure. We will use our own timber (larch) straw, hemp and lime render for the build. Most timber rounds will be debarked but there will be enough to get some practice on during the course.
This building will be used for our herbal medicine clinical practice and dispensary. Adjoining this space a larger roundhouse is being created as a teaching space. The building is placed by our woodland, next to the river and nearby the ancient Hazel grove. We envision the views from the treatment room of the trees instilling healing and calm. Our medicinal plant gardens will be surrounding the space.
Participants can expect to leave with the confidence to pursue their own projects and begin their own journeys. This type of building is community building at its best so, expect a fun yet productive experience in the company of other humans!
Jo Forsyth is a natural builder and teacher based in Cornwall, who trained at the Cob Cottage company in Oregon, USA in 2008. She has worked and taught internationally including several projects in Ireland. Private clients, include Slane Castle and residents of Cloghjordan eco village. She has also co-taught workshops at the Hollies centre for practical sustainability in Cork. For the last 4 years in the UK, she has taught alongside Tony Wrench and Simon Crook building roundhouses on the Shift Bristol course with students. She is well known for facilitating a supportive and inclusive learning experience.
Meals: The course includes breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. Breakfast foods are provided for participants to make themselves onsite each morning. Lunch and dinner are fully catered for the group. Meals are vegetarian with option of meat depending on the needs of the group.
Accommodation: Camping onsite available with woodland shower and compost toilets. Our neighbour Nick from Big foot Yurts will erect 3 small yurts onsite to rent and they have a 4 person yurt to rent on their land 10 minutes walk away. The nearest B&B is 10 minutes drive away.
All tools are provided on the course but if you wish to bring along your own you are more than welcome. You will need working boots, gloves, waterproof jacket and trousers. This is an all-weather build, bring layers!
Dates: Friday 29th May – Sunday 7th June 2020
Times: 9:30am – 5pm
Cost: €950
Deposit to secure your place €400 and €550 paid by 1st May.
Number of participants: 20
Please contact Marina & Ross on 086 0800898 or apothecary@ivywood.ie
www.ivywood.ie