If you prefer to pay your deposit or full course fee via a direct deposit, SINPE Móvil, Wise, bank transfer, check or other method please fill out a registration form and send proof of payment to info@ranchomastatal.com. For information on payment details go here.

DESCRIPTION

This 7 day intensive workshop will introduce students to the theory and practice of building with clay; using adobes, cob and wattle and daub. We will also spend ample time and energy learning and applying natural plasters including the water resistant and luscious traditional Moroccan lime plaster, Tadelakt.  

At the end of this course students will understand the roles of each of the ingredients involved in natural earthen mixtures both for plasters and for building. This key understanding will allow students to apply this knowledge when building for themselves or in other situations, empowering students to go on and build successfully with natural materials.

This class will be perfect for people looking for an introduction to natural building or for people who already have some plastering or building experience and would like to learn some new techniques, tricks or finishes.

Course Outline

Day 1

• Introduction to natural building

• How to assess your soils & mix

• Clay base coat, learn how to level earthen walls

Day 2

• Wall systems theory and introduction

• Building with Adobe, Cob & Wattle and Daub

• Lime base coat, learn how to prepare your walls for lime finishes

Day 3

• Introduction to earthen floors

• Tour of the Ranch property and structures

Day 4

• Rest, waterfall, river, hike, chocolate tour

Day 5

• Shelter and siting theory

• Designing your home for any climate

• Foundations theory and introduction

• Clay finish coat, learn our first clay plaster finish

Day 6

• Tadelakt, ancient Moroccan water resistant finish plaster

• Finish lime plaster, learn a simple and beautiful way to finish your walls

Day 7

• Finish earthen floors

• Clay carving, learn the artistic side of clay plasters

• Fresco application, learn to paint on lime finishes

• Debrief

instructor(s)/teaching organization bio(s)

Nic Donati
Nic Donati, Rancho Mastatal's Director of Natural Building and Appropriate Technology, first came to the Ranch in 2007 and fell in love with the community and lifestyle he experienced there.  Always good with his hands and wanting to get stuck in meant he was able to develop a wide range of skills both at the Ranch and other farms around the world.  The lure of the Ranch both as a community and working environment have continually drawn him back and he now considers the Ranch community and Mastatal his home.  

He enjoys many aspects about living at the Ranch including communal living, proximity to wild and natural habitats, running around on the football field, solving diverse problems, and wielding tools from chisels to chainsaws to trowels.  He really loves and appreciates the freedom afforded to him to express and practice his ideas, develop new skills and hone existing ones, but above all else he believes in the ideology of the Ranch.

He believes that to engage, educate and nurture a desire in people to change the way we live and take more responsibility for every aspect of our lives from food production, to healthcare, to energy production and everything else in between is the only way things are going to change.

Ali Ostergard
Ali has had a love for working with her hands her whole life. Starting at a young age building chicken coops, to finding the art of natural building in 2014 at the Ranch. Since becoming a part of the team here, she has worked on multiple structures and homes, including her own.

She enjoys each stage for different reasons, from the framing to the earthen floors and plasters. Finding beauty in the repetition, the joy of times shared with others, and the excitement of finishing a project.

She believes it's empowering to know and teach these basic skills of building your own home. And to be able to do it in a mindful and sustainable way.

course start and ARRIVAl dates

The class begins at 7.30 a.m. on January 15.  The night before the class begins, January 14, is included in the cost of the class.  You must arrive before 6.30pm the night before, we will not be able to attend you after this time.

course end and departure dates

The last day of the class is January 21.  The night of January 21 is included in the cost of the class.

COST

US$1350

Cost includes food, lodging and course instruction.

If you prefer to pay your deposit or full course fee via a direct deposit or check please fill out a registration form and send proof of payment to info@ranchomastatal.com. For information on payment details go here.

These prices include lodging, all meals, course instruction and full access to Rancho Mastatal and its private wildlife refuge.

To pay any remaining balance go to our Payment page for more information and options.

LANGUAGE

This class will be taught in English, though instructors are fluent in Spanish.  

ACCOMMODATIONS

All food and lodging is included in the cost of  the course.   Students will stay in the Ranch bunkhouse with options for upgrades.  We provide high quality mattresses, linens and blankets.  Please see our Accommodations page for more information.  

CANCELLATION POLICY

Please see our cancellation policy here.

GETTING TO RANCHO MASTATAL

Please see our Directions page for detailed information on how to get to Rancho Mastatal.  

questions

For more information about this class and Rancho Mastatal please contact us at info@ranchomastatal.com , call us at +506 2200-0920 or text/WhatsApp us at +506 8539-1404.