Natural Plasters and Finishes workshop, 17th -20th April 2009

A muddy, intensive and fun course ensued.... take the tour...

Glorious weather!... we started with collecting our materials from the glen floor and making cob.

Then onto the lime cycle.... first up.... slaking quicklime.

We experimented with making course and fine lime/ochre plaster and render using our lime putty.

Work proceeded on the Rumford using cob/firecob and a unique chicken wire former for closing the cove to the chimmney....  job done!

and the doorway went up with use of the deadmen buried in the bench....

Meanwhile on the roof....we learned to 'knock up' hydraulic lime mortar and built a waterproof chimmney stack.  YES!

Day 3 saw the icing being applied to our cob cake on oven and benches.

In between intensive sessions, there was also a spot of picknicking, pizza, sunbathing, music and reading.... Lovely!

Thanks for all your hard work and eagerness to learn!