2-Day Cob Artisan Oven Building Workshop

Instructor

Scott Howard

Level

All levels

Start Date

Sat Aug 9th & Sun Aug 10th, 2025

Time

9:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Location

Vernonia Springs, Or.

Course Description

Join us at Vernonia Springs Saturday August 9th and Sunday August 10th, 2025 from 9:00-6:30 PM.

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 Trailer on your free time or after the workshop ends.

Course Instructor

Scott Howard

Bioarchitect | Earth Artisan | Regenerative Designer | Master Builder

Years of Experience: 20+ Years

Scott Howard – Earthen Hand Natural Building – EarthanHand.com

For over two decades, Scott Howard has been reshaping the way we build – transforming clay, straw, and wood into living, breathing structures that harmonize with nature. As the founder of Earthen Hand Natural Building (2002), he doesn’t just construct homes – he crafts regenerative destinations where human life and the natural world thrive together.

A visionary teacher and hands-on builder, Scott has inspired hundreds of students across the globe — from the islands of Thailand to the mountains of Colorado, from Rwandan villages to Puerto Rican jungles. His work proves that sustainability isn’t just a concept – it’s a living practice, rooted in ancient wisdom and adapted for modern resilience.

A Legacy of Regenerative Design

He Designed and Built “The Regenerative Home”— a self-sufficient sanctuary made of 95% adobe that harvests water, generates power, grows food, and recycles wastes – all while standing strong for generations.
Global Impact — Designed and built structures in Mali, Jamaica, New Mexico, Washington, Oregon, and beyond, blending local materials with time-tested techniques.
Teacher & Mentor — His workshops don’t just teach howto build – they also highlight whywe must build differently, reconnecting people to the land beneath their feet as well as each other.

From Soil to Soul: A Life’s Work

Scott’s journey began with a simple truth: We are not separate from nature, but integrally part of it. His ongoing studies of human ecology and indigenous wisdom led him to Bioarchitecture, where every structure breathes, adapts, and nurtures life through measurable bio-harmonic electrical capacitance that amplifies the latent frequencies of the Earth to encourage holistic well-being.

Today, he continues to provide innovative designs made without toxic materials, using earth minerals and renewable plant fibers. His mission is to remind us that the best way to build a future is to work with the power of Nature. Join Scott in reimagining what’s possible one regenerative home at a time – improving how we see ourselves as participants in the symphony of life.

Payment Details for the Course

Add your name to the class list: Choose your tuition option from the dropdown box below. Add your name to the class list. We will then send you a payment link via email as we get closer to the class date. The payment options below will apply once you receive the payment link. You can disregard the “add to cart” prompt. We are not accepting payments through the TVA website at this time.

Payment Options: Payments will be accepted up to 14 days before workshop start date or until workshop is full. You can pay a 20% deposit to hold your spot. Balance is due 60 days before the event start day. All payments are non-refundable within 60 days of workshop start date. Must be 15 years and older to attend. No animals are allowed. See workshop description for more information. Note on Refunds. TVA is charged a 2.9% +.30 cent transaction fee by Woocommerce. In the event of a refund request, this transaction fee cannot be refunded. All other fees can be refunded per the policy above.

$100.00 – $499.00

Tuition

Clear

35926

Terra Vida Academy