We offer classes and workshops on a variety of topics, with an emphasis on natural building. In order to offer the best learning opportunity, workshop enrollment is typically very limited, so early registration is recommended. DBL Partners are given priority notification, then announcements go out to our e-newsletter list. Learn how you can become a Volunteer or Donor Partner or subscribe to the free DBL e-newsletter.
For student prices or work-trade opportunities, please email us. We will do our best to work with highly-motivated individuals so that cost will not prevent anyone from attending our workshops. The number of student and work trade registrations may be limited for each class or workshop. For registration less than 24 hours prior to the event, or to make a non-online payment, please call 512-478-9033.
Now taking registration for:
Interior Clay Plaster Workshop
Saturday, January 31, 2009
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Austin, Texas
$75 / person
Limit: 6
Earthen (clay) plaster creates a beautiful, rich, healthful finish for interior walls and ceilings. The wonderful acoustics and feel of these finishes add to the desirability. While finish coat clay plaster is now commercially available and installation can be somewhat pricey, for the do-it-yourselfer who makes their own plaster from local clay, it is dirt cheap.
In some cases a single finish coat can be applied to a wall, but in most cases two to three coats are required. This workshop starts with step one in the plastering process - the first coat, or scratch coat. Participants will learn how to mix and apply a basecoat of earth, sand and chopped straw, in preparation for the finish coat(s). Sources and selection of materials, and how to prepare wall and ceiling surfaces will also be covered.
We will apply this basecoat to interior light-clay walls and over an existing damaged ceiling at a home in north-central Austin. Techniques and skills learned could also be applied to the plastering of other types of surfaces, such as straw bales, cob, earth blocks and more. Subsequent workshops at this location will cover earthen plaster finish coats and earthen floor construction.
The instructor will be Gayle Borst, director of Design~Build~Live and a consulting architect in sustainable design. Fee for the workshop is $75 and includes a healthy vegetarian lunch and all necessary workshop materials and tools. Water, coffee and tea will also be provided. Enrollment is limited to six people - Please register immediately. Workshop location and details will be provided to registrants.
This workshop is now over, but...
Working With Juniper Roundwood Workshop
Saturday, October 11, 2008
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Austin, Texas
$75 / person
Limit: 12
Description
We in Central Texas are very fortunate to have access to one of the most beautiful, durable woods for use in building – ashe juniper. Commonly called "cedar," this often-maligned tree is a blessing for those of us in the natural building world. It can be milled into beautiful slabs for uses such as window sills or headers; or better yet, it can be used in its beautifully flowing irregular shape for arbors, garden gates, balustrades, trellises and much more.
Using natural, unmilled wood, or roundwood is not only unique and beautiful, but it is a sustainable thing to do in that it uses a regional material that is generally consider a waste wood, transportation fuel and costs are minimized, and milling energy is avoided. Working with roundwood is much different from working with rectilinear milled wood.
This workshop, led by Austin’s premier natural builder and craftsman, Frank Meyer (thangmaker.com ), will demonstrate the types of tools and techniques involved in working with this sculptural material. We will construct a porch arbor on the front of a charming, 1930's era, central Austin home in the Rosedale area.
Fee for the workshop includes a healthy vegetarian lunch, water, coffee and tea. Enrollment is limited to twelve people, so please register early.
This class is now over, but...
Introduction to Natural Building
Saturday, November 15, 2008
9:30 am– 1 pm
Austin, Texas
$50 standard registration / $25 for enrolled students (15 years or older)
Limit: 40
Presented by Gayle Borst (stewardshiparchitecture.com), Texas registered architect, LEED AP, natural builder
Habitat Suites Hotel (see map)
500 E Highland Mall Blvd
Austin, TX 78752
Description
Natural building utilizes minimally processed, nontoxic materials and systems in a manner appropriate for the climate, site and intended use. It incorporates primarily regionally-available natural materials rather than typical high embodied energy, processed commercial materials. This is one definition of natural building, but it doesn't reveal the limitless creative, aesthetic, and functional possibilities that natural building presents. Imagine opportunities for:
Whether your tastes are contemporary or traditional, your building needs residential or commercial, or your budget large or small, there are natural building solutions that can match and exceed conventional building practices.
We introduce you to a variety of natural building materials and systems, with an emphasis on those appropriate for Central Texas. Through slides and words, we will explore:
Come learn how beautiful, functional, safe, environmentally-responsible natural building could be part of your life. Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or would hire professionals for our natural building project, this introduction is designed to inspire your journey.
This class is now over, but...
Applying an Earthen Plaster Finish Coat
Saturday, November 22, 2008
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Austin, Texas
$75 / person
Limit: 10
Description
Make and apply a finish plaster for a cob wall, practice finishing trowel techniques. Learn to make 1-2 natural paints you can apply to drywall or earthen plaster walls. Mix and work with lime plaster, and create a fresco sample.
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