Natural Building at Permaculture Center Kamimomi

Week 1: Natural Building with Michael G. Smith  (October 25-30, 2019)

Week 2: Natural Plastering with Earth and Lime (November 1-6, 2019)

Hands-on Workshops @ Permaculture Center Kamimomi, Okayama, Japan

Place：                      Permaculture Center Kamimomi

863 Kamimomi, Kumenan-cho, Kume-gun, Okayama 709-3621, Japan

                                     https://goo.gl/maps/4GZy8jmhQAm

                                      Content：                 Week 1: Practical training in various natural building techniques such as Cob, Straw Bale, Light Straw Clay, Light Rice Husk Lime, Wattle-and-Daub, Clay Wattle, Natural Paints and Earthen Floor at one of Japan’s premier Permaculture education sites. Actual construction will take place on several buildings at Permaculture Center Kamimomi. The Course will also include theoretical training in Passive Solar Design and Composting Toilets. Content subject to Change.

                                      Week 2: An intensive training in traditional Japanese plastering and contemporary earth and lime finishes including history, plastering procedures, materials and tools, with an emphasis on plastering fundamentals. Techniques include:

                                      Shikkui (lime, hemp and seaweed glue)

Nami-Otsu (colored clay, lime and hemp)

Kirikaeshi (fine clay, sand and straw)

Nakanuri (earthen plaster brown coat)

Arakabe (clay/chopped straw)

                                      Takekomai (traditional Japanese bamboo lattice)

Instructors：　        

Michael G. Smith (week 1 only)

With over 25 years of experience in teaching natural building, Michael is one of the world’s authorities on building with earth and straw. In 1993, Michael co-founded the Cob Cottage Company, which reintroduced cob building to the United States. He is the author or co-author of many articles and books, including “The Art of Natural Building” and “The Hand-Sculpted House”. Michael has designed and/or built over 60 natural structures, specializing in space- and energy-efficient hybrid design. He co-founded the Natural Building Colloquium and serves on the Board of Directors of the Cob Research Institute.

Kyle Holzhueter, PhD.

Kyle works as a builder, researcher and educator specializing in natural building materials and sustainable systems such light rice husk lime insulation, natural plasters and energy efficiency. He is a graduate of the Kyoto Plastering Institute and the first westerner in Japan to pass the level one Japanese National Plastering Exam. He also has a PhD in Bioresource Sciences from Nihon University where he researched the hygrothermal environment of straw bale walls and building practices to control moisture. In 2017 Kyle founded Permaculture Center Kamimomi, a Permaculture demonstration and education site in Okayama, Japan.

Language：              English with Japanese interpretation

Participation Fee：

                                Week One 

                                                         90,000JPY (if paid by May 1 or if  taken with week two)

100,000JPY (after May 1)

Week Two

                                                        75,000JPY (if paid by May 1 or if taken with week one)

85,000JPY (after May 1)

The participation fee includes instruction, meals and housing in a traditional Japanese folk house. Participation limited. Full payment reserves your spot. Airport pick-up from Okayama International Airport available.

Registration：          https://goo.gl/forms/nRFhRurFVJGX6V703

Inquiries：                 PermacultureKamimomi@gmail.com

Supporting Organizations:　 Ecology ArchiScape NPO, Japan Straw Bale House Research Association, Tokyo Urban Permaculture

Facebook Event Page：https://www.facebook.com/events/380823806060489/