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Cob, for those of you who don't yet know the phrase, is a building technique similar to adobe mound-building. It is composed of clay, sand and straw. The precise recipe is always adapted to the local environment (i.e., you use what you have, like most of the homes on the planet.) Cobbing is energy-intensive, but earth sustainable, and it requires no special skills, equipment or burdensome expense. One doesn't rush the process. It is a slow, tribal pursuit, and an artist's paradise. The creative process springs right up through one's heart and into the hands during the workday. The cob structure is really more of a sculpture, with infinite possibilities of shapes for windows, walls, built-in furniture, carved and decorated walls....so who wants to rush this process, anyway?
The
longer you take, the more ideas
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Over
the last 5 years at Wattle Hollow Retreat Center, we have been creating
guest lodging using the clay that came out of the foundation preparations.
First, lodging underneath the main classroom, (which is post and beam on a
hillside overlooking the pond) and then the last two years.
On this page is a summary of our progress.... ...If you would like
to know when we add more cobbing and retreat info to our site, Sign
up for our occasional Email -
Cob Woman
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The Story of Cobbing at Wattle Hollow2001 - 2005Summer 2001 - Fun with MudRead Here about the May weekend and the June10-day Festival of Cobbing Summer/Fall 2002We complete the interior guestrooms and build a beautiful stone wall and garden above the lake.
Summer/Fall 2003Decor, tile mosaics, sculptures and more - Click Here to view our slide show of new cob features at Wattle Hollow (2001- 2003)
More pictures of Cob Woman and other Cob Decor
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More Pages on Cobbing at Wattle |
Wattle Hollow Cobbing in the NewsCob Builders: Hand Sculpted Homes (from Dance of the Soul) House of Cob: Women Build Retreat of Earth, Energy, Art (from The Morning News) |
Background: |
Cob Building Resources: |
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In the
fall
of 2000, Becky Bee (The author of
Cob Builders Handbook and founder of Groundworks) came from
Oregon to guide 16 of us in Wattle Hollow's first cob-building adventure.
She has been traveling around the country and the world, leading workshops
for years. Her website at |
If you have a lot of technical questions about engineering your own cob home, probably better find an expert like Becky Bee and go there.....or maybe a bit of both experiences ? In either case, I recommend that you read Becky's book, The Cob Builders Handbook ($19.95 plus postage) Her e-mail is cobalot@hotmail.com or visit her website at www.cpros.com/~sequoia to order the book or find out about seminars. Her mail address is Box 381, Murphy, OR 97533 "And for you aspiring cobbers nearer to the East Coast, check out Janell and Molly's projects and classes in Ashville, North Carolina. Their website is www.kleiwerks.com or Email janell@kleiwerks.com Call (828)-251-7701- They're having a lot of cobby fun over there. |