submitted: Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Not just for hippies anymore

Many people are rediscovering the advantages and benefits of building homes out of natural products such as straw bales, sand, and clay. The art of using these techniques has been updated and refined and being taught in a series of workshops in the Natural Building School at the Kimberley Campus of College of the Rockies.

Running all summer long, these workshops provide hands-on instruction in a project-based learning environment from qualified professionals. A variety of techniques and applications are covered in each workshop which range from two days to a full week in length. Along with using natural building materials and solar energy systems, making natural plasters and post and beam construction are also covered.

From July 14 -- 21 you can take part in the Post and Beam for Natural Infills workshop which covers the basics of post and beam construction as important components of natural construction. The Earthen Building (adobe and cob) workshop takes place July 22 and 23 and covers basic design, foundations, testing clay, making bricks and creativity with earthen construction.

On August 3 and 4 the Introduction to Photovoltaics (solar energy) workshop takes place and introduces participants to PV system equipment, how the components interact, design principles of different PV systems, types of applications, site suitability, system mounting options and installation, and advances in PV technology and the PV industry in general.

This is followed by a workshop on Natural Plasters on August 5, 6, 9 and10. The natural plasters section shows how to strengthen, finish, beautify and protect your building. Scheduled to run from August 23 to 27, the Straw Bale workshop covers the theory and practical skills needed to build foundations, window and door bucks, stack, pin and sew bale walls, run electrical, plaster walls and add custom elements to straw bale buildings.

If you are interested in these or other workshops such as Green Roof/Living Walls, contact the Kimberley Campus at: 1-877-489-2687 ext 3752 or email: sinshaw@cotr.bc.ca or go to the website: www.cotr.bc.ca/natural

For more information contact:
Danette Polzin
Programmer, Continuing Education
College of the Rockies - Cranbrook/Kimberley
Toll Free: 1-877-489-2687 x3381
Local: 250-489-2751 x3381
dpolzin@cotr.bc.ca

6/30/2010 | 515