Are you ready to get your hands muddy and your pizzas perfectly crisp? Join our 2025 cob pizza oven workshop at Terra Vida Academy, an environmental learning center nestled in the Oregon coast range 45 minutes from Portland and one hour from the Oregon coast. This immersive experience is perfect for anyone interested in natural building, community, and delicious, wood-fired food.
Whether you’re new to cob or a returning earth builder, this workshop offers valuable skills and memorable moments.
🌱 What Is a Cob Pizza Oven?
A cob pizza oven is a wood-fired, dome-shaped oven made from a natural mix of clay, sand, and straw. It is designed to retain and radiate heat for baking pizzas, bread, and even roasting vegetables.
Because it’s made from entirely natural and local materials, it is a sustainable alternative to conventional outdoor ovens. Plus, they add a stunning sculptural element to any backyard or homestead.
🛠️ Why Take a Cob Pizza Oven Class?
Building a cob oven is fun, empowering, and deeply satisfying. In our hands-on class, you’ll learn:
- How to identify and mix proper cob materials
- The step-by-step process of forming and sculpting the oven
- Techniques for insulation, thermal mass, and curing
- How to fire and bake the perfect pizza!
You’ll not only gain practical skills but also connect with others passionate about natural building and good food.
🍕 Workshop Details
Dates: August 9th and August 16th, 2025 (consecutive Saturdays so the cob can dry for plaster).
Location: Terra Vida Academy, Vernonia, Oregon
Includes:
Two days of hands on instruction
- All tools and materials
- Snacks provided (bring your own lunch if desired)
- Access to our forested eco-campus
No prior experience is necessary. Just bring your curiosity, clothes that can get muddy, and your appetite!
Book your workshop Here.
🌎 Why Cob?
Cob is a traditional building material that has been used for thousands of years. It’s accessible, inexpensive, and remarkably durable. In fact, many cob buildings in Europe are still standing after hundreds of years.
Using cob helps you:
- Reduce reliance on industrial materials
- Build with local, natural resources
- Learn low-impact construction techniques
- Foster creative expression and self-reliance
It’s also a joyful, communal process—perfect for group builds like this one.
We will look forward to seeing you at our next cob oven building workshop!
Book your workshop Here.
Jeff is founder of Terra Vida Academy and has been actively involved in protecting nature for over 35 years.
