Cob Oven Building Workshop

About this Course

Day 1: (9am–6:30pm)

Topics Covered:

Foundation Design
Choose a stable base: recycled bricks, urbanite, or stones.
Ensure solid base soil and proper drainage.
Soil Testing for Cob
Jar test to analyze sand/clay ratios (ideal: 70% sand, 30% clay).
Adjust mix with additional sand or clay as needed for various purposes.
Hearth Bricks
Lay firebricks (heat-absorbing) for the oven floor.
Kiss bricks together tightly for a smooth and clean oven floor.
Sand Mold Construction
Shape damp sand into a dome (form for the oven cavity).
Proportions: ~18–24" interior height for a standard oven.
First Cob Layer (3–4")
Mix soil, sand, straw, and water with feet and hands.
Apply evenly over sand mold, integrating together for structural integrity.

Day 2: (9am–7:30pm)

Topics Covered:

Removing the Sand Form
Carefully excavate sand through the oven door opening.
Refine interior shape as needed.
Insulation Layer

Options:
Straw-clay mix (most affordable).
Perlite or vermiculite - clay (most insulative).
Recycled glass bottles (embedded in cob for air pockets).
Finish Plaster Application
Mix fine clay, sand, and fiber for a crack and water resistant surface.
Apply decorative touches: relief sculpture, carvings, natural pigments, or burnishing.

Build Door
Create a functional, beautiful, and heat resistant door from wood and / or metal.
Cooking Demo
Firing the oven: Start with small fires, gradually increasing heat.
Cooking tips: Gain practical knowledge about how to cook your favorite dishes with the new cob oven!




Meals: Please provide your own meals. There will be limited kitchen facilities for you to use (microwave, sink, refrigerator, etc.). We recommend bringing premade meals. You can also go into town for meals (6 miles). There are several great restaurants and food carts (you can ride into town on the paved Banks-Vernonia State Trail. 12 miles round trip. Level of difficulty - Easy). Bring your water bottle. There is unlimited filtered water.

Overnight Accommodations: Glamping yurts and platform tents are available to rent for Saturday night. Maximum 2 people per yurt or tent. Yurts are $100, Platform Tents are $75. Yurts and Tents include queen beds, linens and pillows. Bring an extra blanket if you are prone to being cold. You can set up your own tent for free.

Fires, Cooking, Alcohol, and Quiet Hours: We will have a campfire Saturday night at the pavilion fire pit until 10:00 PM. There are no other fires or cooking allowed anywhere on the property due to extreme fire danger. All cooking must be done in outdoor kitchen. Mild alcohol consumption is allowed. Lights outs in the shared areas is 11:00 PM. TVA reserves the right to ask people who cannot follow the campground rules to leave the property immediate.

Cycling: Bring a bike if you would like to ride the Banks-Vernonia State Trail that runs through the Vernonia Springs property.