What to Expect at a Barefoot Builder Workshop:

When you come to a Barefoot Builder workshop you will be fully participating in the construction of a real building, often someone’s home. We do not build practice structures or mock-ups, so when you leave you will have the confidence that comes from real experience. We also provide some of the only workshops that include hands on experience with installing plumbing and electricity in cob. Our workshops are designed to give you building skills through first hand experience and practice. Be prepared to get dirty! Most workshops involve several hours each day of moderate physical work on the building site. We encourage you to pay attention to your body and work at a pace that is comfortable for you. Participants in our workshops usually range widely in age and physical ability. Being on a cob building site is like a step back in time with the whole “village” pitching in to build something with our hands. There are no loud power tools or heavy equipment and we often sing together as we work.

We take long breaks after lunch during which you will have chance to peruse our collection of natural building books, go for a hike or swim, nap, or just hang out. There will also be lectures and demonstrations during the day and possibly slide shows, videos, and a camp fire at night.

 

Families and children:

We love having children in our workshops and on the worksite! Most children have a lot of fun cobbing and are very good at it (often better than the adults). Cob building sites are not at all like a conventional construction site and are generally very safe, quiet and child friendly. However, if you have very young children it may be difficult for you to fully participate at all times and we cannot provide childcare. In order to make the workshop more accessible to parents we do offer a family or group discount which varies by the length of the workshop. Please ask about this.

 

Accommodations weather and meals:

During most workshops the accommodations are tent camping in a rural or wilderness setting with hot showers and composting toilets provided. This may vary in some workshops. We always provide three delicious and wholesome family style meals a day as well as snacks on the worksite. When you take a workshop at Birdsong Hollow you will be eating hearty meals of fresh whole foods, some of which is grown on site and prepared by a professional vegan cook. We also have all the purified spring water that you care to drink. If you prefer not to sleep in a tent, we have a small camper for rent for $12.00 per night (sleeps 3 adults, bring your own bedding). Contact us for details. There will be refreshments available on the building site during the day. Workshop food is always vegan and vegetarian. If you have any special dietary requirements please let us know ahead of time and we will almost certainly be able to accommodate you.

 

Workshops at Birdsong Hollow

Participants in our home workshops (those listed in Woodbury , TN ) have the opportunity to camp on 150 acres of beautiful Middle Tennessee hills, meadows and woods.  There is ample wildlife, complete absence of mechanical noise, clear views of the stars, and great opportunities for hikes with views of the surrounding countryside. We provide hot showers in the camping area and three whole foods meals per day.   When you attend a workshop here you will have the opportunity to learn about and experience much more than just building a house.

 

View entering Birdsong Hollow, named for the cacophony

almost of birds’ songs always heard there. 

A view of Short Mountain from the top of the ridge.  An hour hike from the campsite

through Birdsong Hollow will get you to this expansive view.