8 day Natural Building Course, constructing a Tiny House

After the bushfires in June devastated most part of our piece of paradise, we decided to built a TINY HOUSE to replace the burned caravan. This TINY HOUSE will be built in a wide variety of natural building methods. Here is the chance to learn all about the different natural building techniques AND being part of realising a TINY HOUSE in a piece of paradise....

The Practical Natural Building Workshop at Agro-turismo Quinta da Fonte is a 8 day experience of 'learning by doing'. 

The workshop is designed as an introduction to Natural Building. Participants get the chance to learn and experiment with MANY different techniques as the course content is beautifully varied. 
This course is designed with the 'non-professional' builder in mind and is aimed as an introduction course.
Come and learn about:
* Foundations with Gravel bags (“Superadobe” technique) 
*French Drainage
* Strawbale walls 
* “Adobe” bricks and “Light Earth” slabs 
* "Wattle and Daub" walls
* “Cob” with glass bottles and “Cordwood”
* Earth and Lime Plasters
* Lime-wash painting with Natural Pigments

This Course will be facilitated by Barbara Leite, pioneer in the small community at the Mount of Oaks in Alpedrinha, Portugal, since 2006, with 9 years experience in Permaculture Design and Natural Building... with all the mistakes and successes that go with starting from scratch :-)

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM THIS COURSE?

The Course will have a daily chunk of theory and introduction to all these different techniques and use of local and natural materials, but mostly it will be practical to really get a feel for each material and technique. 

Each participant is welcome to share their own experience since Natural Building is as diverse and flexible as each human being and culture is.

Also there is no need of any previous experience as a builder, or engineer or architect. ( if you do have previous experience and just want to get a feel for different materials, please come with patience because there might be others who don´t ).

If you have what is takes, you will be able to come out of it encouraged to design and build your own small house :-) .

How can you register:
Send us an email and we will send you the registration form: info@quintadafonte.nl

We will be limited to 14 participants so that everyone can take the best out of it. The quality of the teaching is very important for us.
The price for this 8 day course is 500 euro per person, included:
- 8 days theory and practical experience of all natural building methods
- a manual in English or Portuguese with explanation of all taught methods
- delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner during the whole course
- free camping space and use of our spotless bathrooms with lovely hot showers
- transfer from the bus station in Figueiró dos Vinhos

Other accommodations, prices per person:
We also offer a variety of accommodations for those who do not want to bring their own tent:
- rustic guest room with double bed and sofa bed: 15 euro per day
- romantic caravan with double bed: 10 euro per day
- fully equipped rental tent with bed, mattress, duvet etc: 
  12,50 euro per day
- group tent for 5 persons with camping beds: 
   10 euro per day
- cottage with double bedroom and sitting room with sofa bed, 
  private bathroom, kitchen, terrace:
  20 euro per day
All prices for above mentioned accommodations are per person per day. 

WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING ?

* tent or whatever housing you choose :-). If you do want to rent accomodation, mention that on the registration form
*Sleeping bag and mat to sleep on. We can provide that with the rental tent too.
* a flashlight (head-lamps are very useful)
* Notebook (paper one) is a good idea, or A4 sheets of paper, plus, pencil and colour pens, in case you want to add your own comment to the Manual provided.
* towel and daily care stuff. We request you bring only natural products. We do have natural soaps made by us in the minimarket at our place.
* Working clothes, a hat and gloves. 
* Swimming gear if you want to swim in the nearby river.
* If you play any instrument, do bring it for the evening chill out 


AGRO-TURISMO QUINTA DA FONTE:
This small rural campsite with Bed&Breakfast, holiday cottage, rental tents and caravans had been set up by two Dutch ladies 10 years ago. They managed to set up a lovely piece of paradise in a hidden valley where guests recharge their batteries in silence, nature and peace. Organic vegetable gardens, chicken, cats, goats and dogs are surrounding us. The bushfires in june 2017 destroyed 85% of the terrain, caravans, rental tents, gardens, greenhouse and sheds. Ever since that moment the owners Jolein and Liedewij have been working hard to recuperate everything, make necessary changes for the place to be safer in case of future fires. The building of a TINY HOUSE in natural building methods is one of the improvements they will realize to overcome all misery of the fires.
For more information about the place:
www.quintadafonte.nl