What You’ll Learn at the Natural Building Workshop: A Peek Inside
"Natural building gives form to a dream: a life of simplicity, sustainability, and sacred connection."
Natural building is an art. A craft. A way of returning to harmony with the land through shelter that nourishes both body and spirit. If you have ever dreamed of building your own sustainable home or creating a structure that feels alive, this workshop offers the perfect entry point.
At The Living Centre, we are thrilled to welcome participants to our upcoming The Art of Natural Building: Earthly Craftsmanship Workshop, held July 25 to 27. This immersive weekend will guide you step-by-step through foundational techniques, offer hands-on experience, and ground your learning in real structures on our land.
Whether you are an experienced builder, a permaculture practitioner, or simply curious about cob and cordwood construction, this workshop will leave you feeling empowered, inspired, and ready to begin your own projects.
What is natural building?
Natural building is a method of creating structures with locally sourced, minimally processed materials. It emphasizes ecological sustainability, human-scale techniques, and beauty that grows from the land itself.
You will work directly with cob (a mix of clay, sand, and straw) and cordwood (short sections of wood set in cob), learning how to mix, shape, and sculpt both structural and creative elements.
Workshop schedule overview
Friday evening Permaculture Tour (7:00 to 9:00 PM)
Meet your facilitators and explore the philosophy of natural building. We’ll begin to shift into the rhythm of the weekend.
Saturday: The Art of Cob and Cordwood
Tour existing straw bale, cob, and cordwood buildings
Learn the history, science, and creative possibilities of these techniques
Mix the cob with your own hands and feet
Build structural and artistic features
Enjoy moments of play, meditation, and community connection
Sunday: Applied Learning and Whole Systems Thinking
Continue mixing and building
Learn about structural systems, passive solar design, and water solutions
Discuss how to adapt these techniques for different climates and contexts
Explore the relationship between permaculture and natural building
Reflect, integrate, and complete the weekend with a closing circle
Key skills and takeaways
How to mix cob with site-sourced materials
Structural and artistic cob building techniques
How to integrate cordwood for aesthetics and insulation
Passive solar design and thermal inertia principles
A deeper understanding of regenerative design
Confidence to begin your own eco-building project
Who this is for
This workshop is designed for people of all experience levels. You do not need prior building knowledge. All you need is an open mind, a willing body, and a love for nature.
Perfect for:
People dreaming of building a natural home or retreat
Permaculture and sustainability enthusiasts
Artists, creatives, and hands-on learners
Community builders and homesteaders
Anyone seeking an inspiring and skill-building weekend
"Let your hands learn what your heart already knows."
Facilitators
You’ll be guided by Shantree Kacera and Lorenna Bousquet-Kacera, longtime stewards of The Living Centre and experienced practitioners of natural building and regenerative living. Their approach blends technical skill with deep ecological awareness, rooted in decades of lived practice.
Ready to step into the story of the land?
Natural building teaches us how to create spaces that reflect our values, respect the Earth, and nourish life. This is truly an experience of re-connection, resilience, and community.
Let your hands learn what your heart already knows. Join us July 25.