UCR Palm Desert Campus
Natural Building Class
March 2023
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The Plan
The Vision
The Elements
Wall Materials: Clay, Sand, Straw
Pavilion Materials: Locally Grow Bamboo
Plant List: Chilopsis linearis, Fouquieria splendens, Encelia farinosa, Epilobium canum, Spaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa, Baileya pleniradiata,
We have several orgs involved in the umbrella project including UCR Palm Desert, DiHG Eco-Prise, Inc., UC Naturalists, UC Climate Stewards, UCCE Master Gardeners, Riverside County Department of Waste Resources and more.
1 Year - 4 Builds - 41 Students & Counting
We are growing a community of people who want to participate in all things sustainable. Students are encouraged to teachers and become community leaders. Please join us 🌳
March 2022
April 2022
October 2022
Our October students finished the wall and applied an earthen plaster over the entire structure.
February 2023
March 2023
This is an ongoing natural building project that is preparing us to establish a permaculture demonstration site on the campus. During this workshop we will be finishing the shed. We need to shingle the roof, paint the fascia boards, build, hang and paint a door, hang shelves, cob in bottle art for day lighting, cob the interior, plus plaster the interior and exterior. If we have enough time and students, we will build benches on the exterior east and west walls.
Upcoming Builds
April 15 & 16 2023 - Cob Oven Build in Woodland Hills/Los Angeles, CA
October 2023 - Exact Dates TBD - North Garden Wall with benches and work surfaces
February 2024 - Exact Dates TBD - East Garden Wall with Cob Oven
March 2024 - Exact Dates TBD - South Garden Wall with Divided Stalls for Materials
Humboldt Experience Farmstay - Carlotta, CA
July 1, 2, 3, 2023 - We will be building 10' long privacy wall with built in benches and candle cubbies in the Meditation Garden. Learn rubble trench foundation, stemwall, cob wall construction, along with the basics of lintels for supporting windows and doors. All skills learned in this workshop cover the fundamentals of any natural building project.