Attendees of this workshop will be getting their hands dirty! This will be an introduction to the process of sourcing Wild clay from the Earth, and converting it into a material usable for topical medicine, ceramics, or building material. The class will begin with a discussion of where one might find wild clay, and what tests one can perform to determine various qualities. Following the discussion, participants will use simple tools to crush, sift, and hydrate clay. We will end with muddy skin, and a follow up discussion. Upon request, participants can delve deeper to experiment with making simple vessels, and perform test firings in a pit or wood-fired oven, and, with some luck, take home a wildcrafted vessel.

Presented By: Cyrus Bacon

Do you ever see a space along the sidewalk that needs some Earth Art but there’s not space for a large structure such as bench or a hut? We will be building a “Cobelisk” tower which will have a living roof, nooks to put special things, a stone base, and a fun decorative feature. It will be built outside along the highway just as you enter town.

Presented By: Miguel “Coballero” Elliott

This workshop will cover an in depth overview of the process of building a hut using pallets, insulated with straw, or plastic and covered in an earthen cob plaster. A super quick, affordable, durable and beautiful housing design. Covered in the workshop will also be an overview of cob building and protecting your cob structures from the elements.

Presented By: Miguel “Coballero” Elliott

Learn hands-on with Miguel “Sir Cobalot” Elliott during two workshops:

1) Miguel will be sharing the process of building a small hut built out of pallets, insulated with straw, covered in an earthen cob plaster, called a “Palletable Cobin”. This structure is very easy to build, affordable, super well insulated, non-toxic, and is a great solution for low cost housing.

2) For anyone who wants to learn cob and adobe building hands-on, Miguel will also be building a cob & adobe bench in the children’s play area between the oven and cob play structure. Covered in the Workshop will be building a sturdy foundation, earthen sculpting, setting Adobe bricks and plastering.

Presented By: Miguel “Sir Cobalot” Elliott

Come play with clay! Get your hands dirty and learn one of the coolest ways to build with natural material.  For children of all ages, come explore the messy and enchanting world of cob. Less see what we can build!

Presented by: Nico Morris

Check in at the Cob Building Station. Events will happen spontaneously throughout the event.

Ryan Rising of the Permaculture Action Network gives a how-to on getting involved with the organization’s movement of mobilizing concert-goers and festival-audiences to Permaculture Action Days – one day events where people build the viable alternatives of the just & regenerative paradigm in their own communities. In 2014, the group carried out the first “Permaculture Action Tour,” mobilizing hundreds of concert-goers at a time in 32 cities throughout the United States to come take action the next day – building urban farms, planting community food forests, installing rainwater catchment systems, natural buildings, and more. Hear a short report back on this past year of developing a network to continue partnering with artists and events like The Polish Ambassador, Rising Appalachia, and most recently, Burning Man, to drive attention towards permaculture and mobilize people to get in the ground. Get the download on how the organization is developing a network of bioregional crews who can connect local organizers and projects with high-visibility artists and cultural events throughout North America, and how you can get involved and start a bioregional crew in your community.

This workshop will include a short report back on what we have done so far starting with the Permaculture Action Tour in 2014 and developing the Permaculture Action Network over the last 2 years, during which time we’ve mobilized thousands of people to more than 50 Permaculture Action Days throughout the country. People can borrow from this inspiration to do their own thing and continue movement building in similar capacities. We’ll also be letting people know the organization structure we’ve developed and how people can join the Permaculture Action Network. As we’re creating a network of BioRegional Crews throughout North America who can utilize the organizing base of the Permaculture Action Network to parter with artists, bands, musicians, and festivals, this is especially relevant for the North American Permaculture Convergence. We’ll let people know how to directly join the network to continue driving concert-audiences and festival-goers to Permaculture Action Days, and to getting involved with the movement for the long haul. This workshop will be equal parts inspiration towards capacity building for the movement in general as it is directly a download on how we as an organization can grow and move forward together.

Presented By: Ryan Rising

Miguel Elliott, knighted as “Sir Cobalot” has been leading cob workshops, teaching in schools, and running his business Living Earth Structures for over 12 years. His vast array of projects include building an organic nightclub and yoga studio in downtown Chicago, building a mushroom shaped hut in Italy, 2 restaurants in Guatemala, an orphanage in Thailand, and at least 200 cob structures along the West Coast. His most meaningful natural building experience was in Patagonia, where he participated in numerous work parties, or “Mingas” and has been working to integrate this tradition locally. Having been dedicated to natural building for so long, Miguel has developed many tricks of the trade to make his projects done more efficiently, durable, and aesthetically pleasing. Often his workshops include upbeat work chants, live drumming while cob stomping, and sprinkles the class with his unique vocobulary. His current focus is on working with County and City officials to educate them on how to create low income housing on available property.

2017 Convergence Workshop: Building a “Palletable” Cobin

2015 Convergence Workshop: Natural Building Made Easy