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Cob Pyromania Workshop! Building our Outdoor Kitchen, Glen Etive, Fri 18th - Sun 27th April

Special thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund for their financial assistance in helping the ‘Kith for Kinlochetive’ re-enliven their own heritage.

The bright light gives life,

nature never ceases to amaze me

Flying, opening up and letting it all out

Sun sparkling on water; stags watching

Chisels dazzling in the light

Third time lucky!

Seeing the big chunker near the end

Working in warm sunshine

Looked for stone but cannae find it

Together... we build inspiration and happiness

within an aura of creativity

We belong to something

Its a very very very very very fine house

When youre warm enough on the inside

the coldest mountain stream is refreshing

Smooth, sharp and soft sand against my cheek

Taken aback by this mass of production growing around me .

The following are extracts from participants feedback forms....

1. Best Bit

The fact that we all lived and worked together for an amazing common purpose.
I loved the way we were like a wee family and lived in such a small space and got on so well was amazing.
The extraordinary feeling of belonging I had during the week and a sense of place afterwards.
Natural feeling, there was group confidence.
I liked the fitting together of stones; it’s like chunky stained glass work!
Togetherness, people entertaining and working together; no telly!

2. Lifestyle Changes

I am now less reluctant to work with my hands and keen to spread the word of the satisfaction it brings.
I’m still not sure in exactly what way, but I know this experience has changed me. The detox has been amazing and ive pretty much stopped drinking-which is a very good thing.
I am more willing and eager to share my experience, skills and knowledge. But now with more confidence and purpose.
I feel more confident in following my dreams and lifestyle.
· I now eat at least one good meal a day and as much fruit as possible.

3. Community and Heritage

Its really opened my eyes, its about giving something back and not just using the glen to escape, and going and finding a tree or patch of grass where you live.
The course made me feel like we had added a new dimension to the glen… A shelter with a message.
I felt very Scottish while we were up for the week and I had an overwhelming sense of belonging.
I don’t feel like such a visitor to glen etive, I feel part of a small community who built something for everybody.
I feel part of the history of Glen Etive.
It made me realize that there is a lot of potential land out there that can be used.
There are a lot of us driven crazy by the city, we need to get out to 'the land of the young'.

4. Building in community and a sense of place

I felt lucky that the landscape had provided so many resources in the immediate area.
It was reassuring to know that construction would not be detrimental to the area in the short and long term.
Listening to all the stories makes me want to know more about the Glen
Because you are using the earth and landscape to fulfil your basic needs, it makes you want to protect it more.
When efforts are focused we can build the earth… it makes me feel good.
I felt closer to the land, the people etc as time went on, definitely due to the lack of hustle and bustle, It seems that without all this stimuli the mind can quieten down and I can re-connect.

5. Quality of life

I have learnt skills that will make an invaluable contribution to the quality of my life, not only skills with sand, clay, straw, rocks and trees but also the experience of working collectively with a diverse team.
I now see what I have with different eyes.
I feel re energized and much less bothered about the city way of life.
I have a different attitude to my colleagues at work.

6. Why Cob?

There are really no barriers or boundaries on what you can do. I found it to be a good team building and socialising exercise.
It is a lot of fun and very rewarding when you see something coming on so fast.
It’s a versatile natural material and I am now obsessed with cob!
It’s easy, natural and fun.
I am going to go away and build my own house out of cob.
It is fantastic stuff!
I see it as a great medium to create the more sophisticated elements of a building- The oven is amazing.

7. Facilities

The food was absolutely out of this world- never have I tasted and helped make such delicious food, and i’m not just talking about bothy life, I mean my own life too! Thanks, especially to Mike and Sarah.
A1 food great!
The solar shower set up by Michael was genius!
Lets build a cob composting loo!
Mike did a great job at arranging plenty of healthy food.
It was good to see people using their initiative to clean and maintain the bothy and site during the week.

8. Food and Nutrition

Big Thanks to Annabel and Alan of www.earthedworld.co.uk for their expert tuition.

and Mike and Sarah of www.realoutdoorexperience.co.uk for their homecare volunteering.