The second week of the cob workshop was even more awesome then the first week. We were fully into the groove and loving this whole earth connected lifestyle.
The Cob Workshop participants did Lightwork Moving Meditation every morning at sunrise. Stretching out those cob-erific bodies!
Keith demonstrates the straw additive, essential for tensile strength. If you take a few straw stocks and hold them and ask another person to hold the other side and pull you will see the incredible tensile strength of straw.
The cob dance continues.
Cloe prepares another bucket of sand for the cob mixture.
Layer upon layer the cob walls grow.
The Cob-Master demonstrates on the south-west corner.
Julia and Sandra displaying the cobber's thumb.
At certain stages of the process it is possible to apply the cob onto the structural wall with one's feet.
Ahh...feels good.
The straw bale wall is fastened together with large stakes. Keith prepares one here.
2 stakes for every straw bale. It is wonderful to work with such earthy materials.
Jim explains the theory behind straw bale construction. This wall will end up being close to 3 feet thick with an R value of 40. Awesome.
The crew listens carefully and learns everyday. There is a lot of information one needs to build in this style effectively.
Vapour seal is laid down between the cob foundation which sits on the rock foundation which is supporting the straw bale wall. The first stakes are pounded right down to the rock foundation.
Here comes the first bale for the wall.
The alignment is critical, so a number of people are needed in this part of the procedure.
Meanwhile...Scott and Julia T. build a double door frame and window frames.
Thiessen is on the case.
The frame comes together.
Meanwhile the last bale of the first row gets carefully put in place.
Pounding the stakes. Keep that one straight Gary!
Second layer going in.
The final bale is put in place.
The straw bale wall is the north wall of the cob structure. The wall is 7 feet high. The happy crew is standing on one layer of bales in this picture.
Foundations complete. All 4 doorways in place. Straw bale wall standing tall and cob walls growing.
Happy Julia T.
Scott and Jeanine flash the Ecovillage sign. You see it says E for eco and V for village! As we took the water taxi back to the city we felt a deep sense of satisfaction and an urge to get back to the ecovillage to continue our beautiful project.
