In Africa
Last Updated:  11/13/2009

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Cross-Cultural Natural Building
January 9th-25th, 2010

Offered By - Earthen Hand Natural Building
7155 SE Harrison ST.
Portland, Or
97215
Contact Person - Scott Howard
Phone - (503)-287-2442
email - scott@earthenhand.com
Web Address - www.earthenhand.com
Course Fee - $1,800 USD tuition, $1,800 travel incl. airfare
Course Format - Workshop, Cross-cultural home-stay
Course Location - Dogon Country, Mali, West Africa
Course Instructor(s) - Scott Howard, Paulina Wojciewska

Course Description -

The Dogon will share with us their languages, music, cuisine, farming, and building techniques. We will build alongside the Dogon villagers to complete a one-room schoolhouse. A 5 x 5 meter earthen dome, its construction will be our main activity. Students will learn dome design methods while gaining skills in stone, rammed earth bags, and cob. Dogon kids We will also learn about traditional Dogon building techniques by assisting several local builders with their work. Tour the country by foot and bus to see Dogon Permaculture in action. Visit spectacular ruins of old Dogon towns comparable to Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon. Experience the daily life of the people of Terelli, an off-grid traditional village. Each day will be packed with learning, work, wholesome food, fantastic scenery, and great company. We will be surrounded by learning opportunities throughout our stay. The workshop will be a muti-lingual event with translation between French, English, and Dogon.

Participants will learn everything that they need to build structurally sound domes using little more than earth from the site. Learning will cover:

  • Earth Bag construction
  • Cob construction
  • Stone masonry
  • Rubble trench foundations
  • Dogon culture and society
  • Drylands Permaculture
  • Dogon grainery construction
  • Dogon Adobe construction