Yestermorrow Design/Build School

This week-long workshop will be an immersion in constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment. Students will be introduced to the basic principles of domestic wastewater treatment with natural systems and explore the major design considerations including treatment requirements, process flow diagrams, and process selection. We will cover system analysis, site investigation, permitting, treatment options, design basics and material selection. The course will also cover design history and current design theory. We will spend a day visiting constructed wetlands in the area. Students are encouraged to bring specific projects to work through design considerations.  After completing the course, students will be able to design and build a small constructed wetland for wastewater treatment.  More information...

This course will take students through the processes of harvesting building materials from existing structures, design to incorporate these materials into new constructions that are adaptable and deconstructable, and finally building one or more small scale structures using reclaimed materials. Outcomes include knowledge of safe and best practice for salvaging materials for reuse, learning about and developing solutions to the challenges of integrating reclaimed components into the design of small scale structures, and understanding and hands-on practice of principles of design for adaptability and deconstruction. Learning to salvage materials and designing with reclaimed materials in ways that allow building and materials reuse is the basis for a practice of lifecycle design. More information...

How do we re-create our water infrastructure as a functioning part of the greater watershed -- as a contributor to hydrological and ecosystem health? We will take participants (including architects, engineers, developers, town and natural resource planners, watershed activists, and homeowners) through a journey of understanding watersheds; how they work, and how to work with them to provide for human needs. Utilizing the Mad River Valley watershed as an example, we will explore the benefits of, and approaches to, human-made and adapted "green infrastructure," including bioswales, constructed wetlands, and water gardens, as opposed to typical pump and pipe systems. We'll also look at floodplains and discuss where and how development is (and is not) appropriate. More information...

Edible Forest Gardening is the conscious application of the principles of ecology to the design of home scale gardens that mimic forest ecosystem structure and function, but grow food, fuel, fiber, fodder, fertilizer, “farmaceuticals" and fun. This workshop will offer an in-depth exploration of forest ecology, site analysis and assessment, the design process, and interaction with some of the lesser known plants that can comprise ‘perennial polycultures’.  More information...

This course is aimed at those involved in small, integrated, local farms — a farm apprentice responsible for building a chicken coop; a new farmer with a farm in need of regeneration; an established farmer looking to make capital improvements; or the family homesteader who needs a sheep barn. Topics covered will include energy efficiency and independence, barnyard layout, barn design and rehabilitation, site planning, sheds and outbuildings, greenhouses, root cellars, housing, long-term planning, and the many systems involved in a local food source.  More information...

In this course, we will explore intensive and extensive green roof systems. We will discuss various planning strategies including water retention and native habitat preservation. We will cover the theoretical and technical considerations of green roofs while gaining the hands-on experience of actually building them. Through evening lectures and discussions, we will examine layer buildup, drainage solutions, characteristics of growing medium, and plant palette selection. During the days, we will perform a hands-on installation.  More information...

This innovative course in the rainforest of Costa Rica provides students with a unique opportunity to explore the design/build process using earth, straw, cob, stone, site-milled wood, bamboo, and recycled/reused materials. The class will work on a group project at the Rancho Mastatal environmental learning center or a small community project in the village of Mastatal. Students will have the chance to collaborate on a variety of design assignments. The class will survey and discuss different building techniques and work hands-on and in-depth with a featured number of them. The class is ideal for architecture, environmental studies, and building technology students and professionals as well as those interested in incorporating natural building techniques into their own projects. Food and lodging at Rancho Mastatal is included in the tuition cost. Visit www.ranchomastatal.com for more information on the class location.  More information

This course provides students with a comprehensive exploration of all facets of creating an energy efficient, climate-specific natural structure. In this two-week intensive, we will engage in studio sessions, hands-on construction experience, lectures, slide shows, and site tours. In the studio, students will develop a comprehensive design of a project through the creation of drawings of elevations, sections, plans, and scale models. In the shop, students will build a variety of insulative wall systems, examining critical details such as doors and windows, wall to roof connections, air sealing, framing options, plastering, and much more. Topics include straw bale construction, fiber-clay infill and other natural wall systems, clay and lime plasters, natural roof options, alternative foundations, water and energy conservation systems, permaculture and building-site relationships, and social and cultural contexts. Emphasis will be paid to designing and detailing for success in cold, wet climates.  More information...

This course covers the core Permaculture Design curriculum including applications of Permaculture in diverse settings, and techniques for meeting human needs that harmonize with ecological patterns.  Lectures and hands-on work will also explore:  bioregional designs, natural history of Eastern woodlands and designs that cooperate with their regeneration, evolution of agriculture, energy and nutrient cycling, watershed health, gravity spring fed water systems, tree paste for fruit trees, and selective firewood and pole harvesting to encourage maples, apples, shitake and ginseng, and the integration of animals into cultivated ecosystems.  More information

Using reclaimed or salvaged materials speaks to both the ecological and creative realms. By re-using materials, we are fostering a sustainable design/build ethic. In this class students will create a small-scale furniture piece constructed with reclaimed, salvaged, and/or found materials. Students will explore the design process in full, gathering inspiration from the available materials, while contemplating unique or unusual uses they might offer. Students are encouraged to bring their own project ideas and materials to class. More information...

The leading edge of sustainability is moving beyond green design and into regenerative development - the process of integrating buildings, communities, and their inhabitants as healthy contributors to the living places of which they are a part. Because sustainability is ultimately about sustaining all life, a mental model shift is required to work towards this next level. To ‘develop' means to create new potential. This requires of us both inner and outer work. It is a process of shifting ourselves from being occupants of the land to becoming inhabitants - conscious participants in the co-evolution of life for the purpose of continually regenerating and healing the whole system. More information...

This intensive course will provide homeowners and aspiring professionals with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions regarding the design and installation of a solar electric system, as well as the skills necessary to be actively involved in the system’s implementation. The course will start by introducing the fundamentals of photovoltaic technology, the types of solar electric systems and components, and basic elements of site evaluation and design. Students will tour several residential PV systems, discuss incentive programs and code compliance, and perform financial analysis. Participants will complete a hands-on installation of a small solar electric system on a mock roof. And finally, instructors will help course participants size and select equipment for their own solar electric systems. Each student will leave the class with the knowledge necessary to assist a licensed solar professional in designing and installing an appropriate solar electric system for their home.  More information

Have you always wondered about strawbale construction? Heard it is only for hot and dry climates? Think again! With their combination of insulation and thermal mass, plastered strawbale walls can be perfect for cold - and even wet - climates if they are designed and built according to a set of time tested principles. This course balances sessions in the classroom and on a demonstration project so you will learn to think your way through a bale house while gaining a feel for the nature of straw, clay and lime as building materials.  More information...

Why do respected environmental metrics like LEED for Homes, Energy Star and NAHB Green prefer manufactured homes? Because with pre-fab: material conservation typically results in less than 2% waste; tighter construction and shorter travel costs prompt energy conservation; fewer trucks and deliveries reduce degradation and pollution of the site; OSHA regulations and a controlled building environment provide healthier work conditions; and better construction methods means a longer life cycle. And naturally, pre-fab can deliver sustainable homes at lower prices! But, this new approach to building light on the land requires new design strategies. Students will learn to use SketchUp software to prototype a green, factory-friendly design for fast pricing. We cover how to “shop” manufacturers, and factory visits provide insight into their methods. At the end of the course all students will have a design with a strategy to maximize this affordable green architecture.  More information

During this one week course students will learn how to design and build a sustainable tree house. In the studio we will talk about tree house design issues such as site, tree physiology and species, sustainable design, tree house structures and, let us not forget, beauty! In the field component of the course, students will learn how to safely construct a tree house design in real trees. While building we will learn construction techniques, suitable materials, tree house detailing and how to build safely. Students will walk away with the confidence and understanding of how to design and build their own tree house.  More information...

Students will learn the fundamentals of designing and constructing a timber frame 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.  More information

Tiny houses (homes typically between 64 and 300 square feet) are springing up all over the country -- from Vermont to Oregon to post-Katrina New Orleans -- as well as all over the media landscape.  They are affordable and energy effiecient, they reduce materials consumption, cut your carbon footprint, and they’re cute!

Like humans, bees are social animals, living and working together in a community.  They are also intuitive designers and builders.  Raising bees provides a window through which we can commune with these unique creatures, gain an understanding of their biological and social structure, as well as encourage a more productive, ecological landscape of our own.   In this workshop, we will discuss the history of beekeeping, the environmental importance of having more individuals raising bees, and the responsibilities associated with keeping the hive healthy. The emphasis will be on sustainable and biodynamic principles. We will analyze natural beehive architecture, and look at the different styles of human-made hives. Finally, we will review plans for our own hives and then each build one.  Each student will leave with a finished beehive consisting of a brood hive, one medium hive body (two if time permits),  the base, and inner and outer covers.  More information...

This workshop will enable students to begin replacing fossil fuel with renewable fuel in a variety of applications. The heart of this intensive course is the adaptation of diesel engines to operate on straight vegetable oil. Students will perform all major operations in the design and construction of a heated fuel system, including electrical wiring, fuel filter and tank installation, coolant plumbing and controls. Lecture and discussion will cover biofuel home heating, electrical generation and transportation. We will explore briefly biodiesel use and production, ethanol, methane, and locating/ growing fuel sources. More information...

Mud, earth, clay, soil – an awesome and versatile building material which can act as a thermal battery, holding heat. People have used this technology for thousands of years to bake bread and other staples. Today wood-fired earthen ovens are seen as an appropriate technology in an increasingly over-complicated world. They restore simplicity to the connection between toil and nourishment, hand and mouth. Come learn how an oven works, how to build it, and modify it for your needs. Building with mud is fun for everyone from young to old; from experienced builders to someone who has never built by hand before. So join us and get ready to get your hands dirty!  More information...

French farmer/inventor Jean Pain became famous for his innovative ideas about the interrelationship between agriculture and energy production.  His Pain Mound focused on collecting heat from the composting of a woody biomass.  This course will consist of the construction of a Pain Mound hot water system expected to produce 120-140 degree water at a constant rate of ½-gallon per minute -- enough to heat a typical 1000-square foot home with a radiant-floor-heating system, or to provide for the home’s domestic hot water use -- by flowing well-water through a coil built into the mound of composting wood chips and mulch. This hands-on experience will provide participants with complete knowledge of the process, including a detailed overview of the necessary plumbing and water circulation/storage systems, as well as the basic principles of anaerobic digestion and composting.  The June date will focus on a residential application, the October date on a greenhouse application.  More information...

This is an intensive two day workshop explaining the benefits and limitations of green building materials. This course will examine green materials choices for nearly all aspects of the home including: roofing, cabinets and flooring, siding, wall coverings, wall systems, framing, plumbing and more. Environmental impact, life cycle assessment, and indoor air quality ramifications will all be discussed for the various building materials.  More information

This course, led by green building expert Peter Yost, will use the new web-based tool, GreenBuildingAdvisor.com, to make the comprehensive case for green remodeling. This will be a “soup-to-nuts” approach to green remodeling, covering all of the essential principles of building science on projects ranging from weatherization to gut rehab to deep energy retrofits. Day 1 will focus on green remodeling principles and the tools available to employ them. Day 2 will be driven by case studies (including the 8-year deep energy retrofit of Peter’s own 100-year old home) and YOUR projects; bring plans, photos, drawings, etc. to bring green remodeling home!  More information...

This course will teach the design and construction of greenhouses. A survey of structural principles, material limitations, macro/micro environmental design principles, enclosure options, and existing greenhouse archetypes will lead each student toward a schematic design that responds to their own particular criteria for a greenhouse.  More information

This course provides a survey of non-standard building materials, from quasi-mainstream options like insulated concrete forms and structural insulated panels, to alternatives like ferrocement, slipform concrete, steel/wood hybridization, and stone, to edgy options including help crete, bottle walls, used tires, and other recycled materials. We'll consider the pros and cons of each material in different climates and contexts, as well as the practical techniques required for their effective use, their implication on other aspects of the building process, and the philosophy of non-standard code compliance.  More information...

As the adverse impacts and rising costs of fossil fuel use become increasingly apparent, residential-scale renewable energy options are more appealing than ever. But how does a homeowner determine the strategy that makes the most sense for their specific situation? This course provides an overview of the most efficient and practical systems: passive and active solar, wind, microhydro, geothermal, biofuel and biomass. Students will learn the principles, methods, and equipment associated with these renewable energy systems. Students will also learn to perform preliminary needs, site, and economic assessments; utilize their local incentives and resources; and determine the strategy that best suits their home site and requirements.  More information...

Using one of Yestermorrow’s existing facilities as a case study, students will redesign its wastewater system from the groundwater up. In two days we will cover system analysis, site investigation, permitting, treatment options, design basics and material selection. The course will also cover design history and current design theory. We hope to answer your questions regarding source separation, composting toilets, and nutrient cycling.  After completing the course, students will be able to identify the major components of a wastewater treatment system and size individual treatment unit processes.  More information...

Rain gardens retain and reuse rainwater from rooftops, driveways, or parking lots to prevent adverse stormwater impacts. In this class, students will learn the principles and design techniques for planning, building, and maintaining a small-scale rain garden. Using the spirit of do-it yourself, students will become empowered with the tools to make a positive impact on their personal water-use and water-waste footprint. Learn how rain gardens are at once beautiful, effective, and fun! The course will cover background science, site investigation, permitting, design basics, plant and material selection, and hands-on installation.  More information...

Rocket mass heaters are super-efficient, clean-burning, wood-fired heaters, built with earthen and reclaimed materials. We'll demonstrate the fire science and earth-friendly techniques (including cob, formed insulation, and cold-working scrap metal) behind these marvelous masonry heaters. Our class will open with an evening of Fire Science Theater that introduces key steps in the evolution of home-heating. On Saturday and Sunday we continue with hands-on practice, building and test-firing several working examples including simple fireboxes, an insulated Rocket Mass Heater combustion core, and Pocket Rockets suitable for emergency heating or camp kitchens.  More information...

Root cellars and other means of passive food storage are simple and effective ways to reduce carbon footprints, monthly bills, grid dependency, and increase your food security. In this workshop, participants will learn elements of designing for passive cooling and humidity control, including site selection, design strategies and options, materials pros and cons, thermal mass, ice batteries, raw food considerations,  planning crops for food storage, design considerations for different applications, and retrofit opportunities and methodologies.  More information...

This workshop will present the basic design, theory and methods required to maximize the solar potential of your present or future home.  More information

Solar hot water systems provide one of the most cost effective means to reduce reliance on petroleum-based and carbon producing energy sources. This workshop will provide homeowners and aspiring professionals the opportunity to be actively involved in the design and installation of a solar hot water system that is appropriate for their needs. Through lecture and site visits, students will learn the fundamentals of solar thermal technology, the types of available systems and components, and the basic elements of site evaluation and design. Incentive programs, code compliance, and financial analysis will also be discussed, and students will perform a hands-on installation of a small solar hot water system on a mock roof. Each student will leave the class with the knowledge necessary to assist licensed solar and plumbing professionals in designing and installing an appropriate solar hot water system for their home.  More information...

This two-day workshop will cover the basics of design and construction of super-insulated and zero-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.  More information...

The relationship between good housing and good health is an often overlooked aspect of the sustainability movement. But a home cannot be sustainable if it contributes to the ill-health of its inhabitants. This workshop is a comprehensive and holistic exercise that prepares participants to site, design, build and operate a healthy home, or to inspect and remediate problem situations in already existing homes. We will explore both conventional and unconventional perspectives enabling you to create healthy, supportive and productive environments, free from allergens, toxins, and hazards that can cause everything from asthma to learning disabilities to cancer. Myths and misconceptions will be replaced with prudent avoidance and healing design. The course is for people who have environmental health concerns (or want to avoid them), as well as for design and building professionals striving to create holistically green structures.  More information...

As urban populations worldwide continue to grow amidst the convergent crises of energy depletion, climate change and economic uncertainty, it is critical that we redesign our cities to provide for more of their residents’ needs.  More information

Derived from the traditional Mongolian moveable shelter, the modern yurt is for many an economical, creative, durable, and versatile form of housing. The yurt can work as a home, a temporary shelter or creative work space. Consisting of a few elemental parts, we will build a simple yurt that includes the lattice wall, tension cable, doorway, roof rafters, roof ring, dome and fabric covering. With minimal woodworking skills, a home of complex and magical beauty can be made at modest cost. As the group saws, drills, glues, nails, and assembles the parts together that comprise the yurt framework, then cuts and joins materials for the covering, you will gain the experience that will allow you to make your own yurt to suit any need from year-round home to a room of one's own.  More information...