What got me started in this line of work?
By making a building mostly solo, I hope to demonstrate that most anyone can make shelter in a way that fulfills their soul, makes their body strong, exists in harmony with nature, and does not require mortgage payments for decades of their life.
Growing up on the beaches in Southern California my deepest sense of spirituality became tied to the natural world, and for years I also attended Mission San Luis Rey with its six foot thick adobe walls, frescos, massive timber rafters, paintings and statues. Later, as a young art student, I explored rituals as a means of rebuilding our collective psyches' connection to the land.
As an artist I also have what I call "the design brain" which enjoys analyzing problems, in this case the synergy of locale, space, materials and the human body in order to create useful and practical solutions for living.
Our world is in need of alternatives to the use of products that are over-harvested, transported long distances, processed with chemicals and purchased by contractors who construct buildings sold to people who then spend their lifetime repaying debt for shelter that oftentimes is unrelated to sunshine or the land on which it sits–buildings which are becoming more toxic. My passion is creating solutions invested with spirit, understanding, synchronicity, joy, beauty and simple functionality so that we humans can learn to live in harmony with nature.
Growing up on the beaches in Southern California my deepest sense of spirituality became tied to the natural world, and for years I also attended Mission San Luis Rey with its six foot thick adobe walls, frescos, massive timber rafters, paintings and statues. Later, as a young art student, I explored rituals as a means of rebuilding our collective psyches' connection to the land.
As an artist I also have what I call "the design brain" which enjoys analyzing problems, in this case the synergy of locale, space, materials and the human body in order to create useful and practical solutions for living.
Our world is in need of alternatives to the use of products that are over-harvested, transported long distances, processed with chemicals and purchased by contractors who construct buildings sold to people who then spend their lifetime repaying debt for shelter that oftentimes is unrelated to sunshine or the land on which it sits–buildings which are becoming more toxic. My passion is creating solutions invested with spirit, understanding, synchronicity, joy, beauty and simple functionality so that we humans can learn to live in harmony with nature.
What is cob?
So, what is cob? It is one method of "natural building" which strives to use as few industrially-produced products as possible. The header image above shows two of my cob projects, a chicken coop and the arch in a wall. (The shed is also natural building, made from timber from fire mitigation and recycled tin.)
Cob is like adobe, but instead of bricks, it can be sculpted. As each new layer is added it is "woven" into the previous with a cobber's thumb, making a cohesive massive stronger wall.
Why do we call it "cob"? Yes, it’s what’s left after we eat corn off of a core, but cob actually means lump. A loaf of bread made without a pan is also called a cob. At my first workshop in Oregon I generally thought I was going to study alternative building, but was introduced to the concept of natural building which also usually includes understanding of site, honoring of process as much as product, along with plenty of fun and innovation.
The main source for detailed understanding is the book The Hand Sculpted House by Ianto Evans, Linda Smiley and Michael Smith. It teaches everything from philosophy to site, walls, roof, foundations, benches, plasters, everything. Ianto has worked on most continents doing cobbing and alternative stoves. The book has more than collective extensive knowledge, it is full of wisdom and first-hand experience. Great video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BaXmHsnvPg
Cob itself can be built by nearly anybody, young and old. The foundation and the roof, however, are a very important part of a building, so you'll see a number of images about this; also about using local stone.
Cob is like adobe, but instead of bricks, it can be sculpted. As each new layer is added it is "woven" into the previous with a cobber's thumb, making a cohesive massive stronger wall.
Why do we call it "cob"? Yes, it’s what’s left after we eat corn off of a core, but cob actually means lump. A loaf of bread made without a pan is also called a cob. At my first workshop in Oregon I generally thought I was going to study alternative building, but was introduced to the concept of natural building which also usually includes understanding of site, honoring of process as much as product, along with plenty of fun and innovation.
The main source for detailed understanding is the book The Hand Sculpted House by Ianto Evans, Linda Smiley and Michael Smith. It teaches everything from philosophy to site, walls, roof, foundations, benches, plasters, everything. Ianto has worked on most continents doing cobbing and alternative stoves. The book has more than collective extensive knowledge, it is full of wisdom and first-hand experience. Great video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BaXmHsnvPg
Cob itself can be built by nearly anybody, young and old. The foundation and the roof, however, are a very important part of a building, so you'll see a number of images about this; also about using local stone.
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(Thanks in advance for comments to this blogg site. Unfortunately, I can't seem to get "reply" to work! If you'd like to chat you can contact my gmail at nathomegal@gmail.com.)
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(Thanks in advance for comments to this blogg site. Unfortunately, I can't seem to get "reply" to work! If you'd like to chat you can contact my gmail at nathomegal@gmail.com.)
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Devonshire cob houses / learning about cob.
I read about cob in Natural Home Magazine. A community in Portland, OR took down their backyard fences and built a cob tea house.
At top right here I can be seen at my first cob workshop, one week at HouseAlive! in Oregon in 2003.
At the left are cob houses in the UK, hundreds of years old (fm Hand Scultped House book). They used to mix cob with oxen and pitchfork it onto the walls.
Ianto Evans brought cob to the U.S. in the mid-90's and evolved it into "Oregon cob" (Cob Cottage Company).
Bottom right is 3 yr.-old Carson using a "cobber's thumb" .
Don't pound the wall to form it or it jostles the rest of the wall.
Keep sides vertical and trim at days' end. Leave a spine and ribs to accept next day's cob. If a wall dries, you can spray it then paint with clay slurry just like putting handle on a clay pot.
At top right here I can be seen at my first cob workshop, one week at HouseAlive! in Oregon in 2003.
At the left are cob houses in the UK, hundreds of years old (fm Hand Scultped House book). They used to mix cob with oxen and pitchfork it onto the walls.
Ianto Evans brought cob to the U.S. in the mid-90's and evolved it into "Oregon cob" (Cob Cottage Company).
Bottom right is 3 yr.-old Carson using a "cobber's thumb" .
Don't pound the wall to form it or it jostles the rest of the wall.
Keep sides vertical and trim at days' end. Leave a spine and ribs to accept next day's cob. If a wall dries, you can spray it then paint with clay slurry just like putting handle on a clay pot.
Why "Natural" Building?
Along with using as few industrialized products as possible and learning to value process as much as product, I opt to avoid heavy equipment so the site remains as pristine as possible. It takes time and sweat equity, but time allows for learning deeply from the process and sweat...well, it's way better than the gym! Plus there's very little trash generate at natural building sites...I just dumped 3 yrs. worth...less than one curbside trash bin.
I've done a few projects in the last six years listed as pages. A cob wall in front of my house was my first project in 2005. Summer 2010 a cob chicken coop was completed in town. Some other projects include: a cob mailbox, fire ring benches at the local environmental center, a bench at school, and an architectural model for a single family dwelling for an art show on sustainability.
The most ambitious project by far is a 199 sq.' building on 35 rural acres, a 30 minute drive from my home in town. A rubble trench foundation was completed on site in 2009. A little timber frame shed was completed summer, 2011 and also the stone retaining wall for site with rubble trench foundation. My daughter Jen built a cob lizard bench which is part of the connected stone piers, steps and drystack walls. In 2012, I completed the stone masonry base with local stone. Summer 2013 recycled windows were purchased and several frames made for them; cobbing began around the perimeter of the building. In 2014 with the help of some family, walls continued to rise and all windows were set. In the fall of 2015 along with cobbing, I hired another natural builder to raise my roof design. In 2016 I worked mostly solo; the north wall reached the roof, electrical conduit was set in the wall and timber framework for the wrap around porch was completed. At this I am planning for the coming summer: finish all cob walls, stucco walls inside and out, roof the wrap around porch, build a rocket stove and complete the adobe floor. The building will be complete!
I hope you enjoy the sharing of these projects. Feel free to email me at nathomegal@gmail.com
I've done a few projects in the last six years listed as pages. A cob wall in front of my house was my first project in 2005. Summer 2010 a cob chicken coop was completed in town. Some other projects include: a cob mailbox, fire ring benches at the local environmental center, a bench at school, and an architectural model for a single family dwelling for an art show on sustainability.
The most ambitious project by far is a 199 sq.' building on 35 rural acres, a 30 minute drive from my home in town. A rubble trench foundation was completed on site in 2009. A little timber frame shed was completed summer, 2011 and also the stone retaining wall for site with rubble trench foundation. My daughter Jen built a cob lizard bench which is part of the connected stone piers, steps and drystack walls. In 2012, I completed the stone masonry base with local stone. Summer 2013 recycled windows were purchased and several frames made for them; cobbing began around the perimeter of the building. In 2014 with the help of some family, walls continued to rise and all windows were set. In the fall of 2015 along with cobbing, I hired another natural builder to raise my roof design. In 2016 I worked mostly solo; the north wall reached the roof, electrical conduit was set in the wall and timber framework for the wrap around porch was completed. At this I am planning for the coming summer: finish all cob walls, stucco walls inside and out, roof the wrap around porch, build a rocket stove and complete the adobe floor. The building will be complete!
I hope you enjoy the sharing of these projects. Feel free to email me at nathomegal@gmail.com
