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Natural Building Certificate/Intensive 2008

Course Descriptions

Date Course Instructors
 
May 11-16 Introduction to Natural Building Jacob Racusin, Ben Graham
 
What is natural building? The responses to this question are wide and varied, and while there is no single definition, there are themes that run throughout the many responses that help point us towards an answer. In this first week of the Natural Building Certificate Program, we will address this question from many angles, as we look at materials,
processes, and historical and contemporary contexts of natural building across the globe. We will then continue to explore deeper the meaning of natural building as it relates to our summer's project, as we explore and refine the design and establish personal and group goals for the program. This course will focus on the theory, philosophy, design, and science of natural building, with examination given to all elements of a structure, and how the structure integrates into its environment.

A full introduction to the project will be offered, as well as plenty of time to start getting to know our fellow builders for the season ahead. Although there will be no organized practicum for this class (that's for the rest of the summer!), area site tours of examples of natural building will be arranged, and smaller demonstrations of natural building may be undertaken, as per sentiment of the group. By the end of the week, students will have the background and knowledge of natural building in general to prepare them for the program's multi-faceted project, and to more readily evaluate their own or other building designs by the criteria of what it means to create a natural building.
 
May 19-23 Foundations Robert Riversong
 
This 3-day course will discuss the importance of a good foundation. Discussions will include an introduction to various foundation construction options and methods, planning and layout, and a hands-on class component at the building site .
 
  Stump to Sticker Nick Zandstra
 
For those considering harvesting logs for lumber on a small scale, building with materials from their own woodlot, or purchasing a sawmill, this course will provide an overview of methods and options for small scale sustainable harvesting and wood production. The bulk of the course will be live demonstrations with emphasis on the variety of considerations at every step of the process. Methods of felling, skidding, and sawmilling will be presented. Discussions will include everything from woodlot assessment and management to building with fresh cut green lumber.
 
May 26-31 Timberframing Skip Dewhirst, Josh Jackson
 
Over the last two decades, the historic craft of timberframing in residential construction has experienced a revival. Students will learn the fundamentals of designing and constructing a timberframe using mortise and tenon joinery. Layout techniques, tool use and sharpening, and joinery cutting methods are taught as we work on a small timberframe project. Evening lectures will address the history of the craft, finishing techniques, and mechanical systems for timberframe houses. We will also touch on frame design, joinery choices, and integration of frame and house design. This course will focus on traditional hand-cut joinery and tools and will also demonstrate some of the power tools used by modern timberframers.
 
June 2-June 6 Basic Carpentry Patti Garbeck, Jacob Racusin
 
This course gives students a basic overview of general terms, tools and techniques. Learn how to safely use a wide range of hand and power tools while taking on projects around the campus. We'll go over house framing and layout while looking at the anatomy of a structure. Whether you're planning on building a house or just want to learn some basic skills, this course will help you gain the confidence you'll need.
 
June 9-13 Intensive Week Jacob Racusin
 
June 16-20 Electricity: Safe and Secure Jan Ruta
 
This workshop will outline the components of a residential electrical system. Most of the course will be spent hands-on learning how to wire lights, receptacles, GFCI's, switches (single pole, 3 and 4 way), telephone and cable connections. We will discuss the National Electrical Code and how it impacts residential wiring and potentially unsafe electrical situations. Each participant will come away with a healthy understanding of how to wire safely and to code.
 
  Stone Masonry Mark Krawczyk
This three day workshop will focus on the principles and practice of dry stone walling (masonry).  During the course, our project will be the construction of a 24' long, 2' high kneewall using field stone set without mortar.  The workshop will cover the appropriate construction of stone wall foundations and drainage, stone selection and properties, proper siting and layout for masonry projects, the selection and use of stone working tools, and the principles and rules of thumb that make for the construction of sturdy, beautiful dry stone walls.  Students will complete the course with a solid foundation with which to confidently take on their own dry stone projects.
 
June 23-27 Intensive Week Jacob Racusin
 
June 30-July 4 Natural Wall Building Jacob Racusin, Kelly Cutchin, Mark Krawczyk
July 7-11 Natural Wall Building Jacob Racusin, Kelly Cutchin, Mark Krawczyk
 
A wealth of wall building systems is available to the natural builder using the basic materials of clay, sand, straw, stone, and wood. This two week intensive/extensive course will focus on several methods, including: strawbale, wood chip clay, clay block, wattle and daub, cob and light-clay. Students will learn the properties, advantages, and challenges for each method as we integrate these various techniques into the project. Instruction will emphasize two inter-related areas: 1) an understanding of the fundamental properties of the basic materials, and 2) the methods and applications. Understanding the properties of the basic ingredients allows you the freedom to experiment and formulate the optimal wall building method for any particular situation. This lays the groundwork for the methods we will focus on in this course.

You will learn how to properly stack and trim straw bales, create forms for wood chip clay and light clay in-fill walls, and combine these and other techniques and ingredients to create load-bearing and in-fill material. Each of these methods offers different benefits and opportunities in their application that are directly related to their fundamental properties. Students in the course will learn how to assess the appropriate complementary wall building method(s) in relation to the design and functionality of a wall, with a focus on insulation properties relevant to our northern climate. Participants will be engaged in this hands-on process throughout the two weeks as they actively stock their toolbox with natural building recipes, techniques, and skills.
 
July 14-18 Super-Insulation Bill Hulstrunk, John Unger Murphy
 
This two-day workshop will cover the basics of design and construction of super-insulated and zero net-energy buildings. These "green" buildings not only reduce our carbon footprint by saving energy, but are also extremely comfortable, quiet and healthy. Topics of discussion will include the principles of heat loss, putting together an effective insulation package, simple modeling of building performance, affordable approaches to insulation and weatherization, determining how much insulation is enough, selecting the right windows, heating system selection and incorporating solar aspects into your design. The hands-on portion of the class will include the installation of cellulose insulation in the project structure.
 
  Natural Plasters and Finishes Kelly Cutchin, Jacob Racusin
Finishing walls with natural, nontoxic products imparts a number of benefits to a building, whether you are working on a plastered strawbale wall, or interior gypsum wall board. The ingredients are simple and safe, the process is creative and fun, and the possibilities are endless! In this course, we will look at the art, science and practice of making your own paints, washes, and other finishes with clay, lime, casein, wheat paste, mica, sand, pigments, oils and other natural materials. Students will be introduced to a variety of materials and their working properties, as well as gain a solid understanding of the basics of where and how to apply these products to different wall systems. This class will be mostly hands-on, with discussion ongoing throughout the course.
 
July 21-25 Intensive Week Jacob Racusin