Natural Building and Plasters Intensive #1

instructor(s)/teaching organization bio(s)

Nic Donati
Nic Donati, Rancho Mastatal’s Director of Natural Building and Appropriate Technology, first came to the Ranch in 2007 and fell in love with the community and lifestyle he experienced there.  Always good with his hands and wanting to get stuck in meant he was able to develop a wide range of skills both at the Ranch and other farms around the world.  The lure of the Ranch both as a community and working environment have continually drawn him back and he now considers the Ranch community and Mastatal his home.

He enjoys many aspects about living at the Ranch including communal living, proximity to wild and natural habitats, running around on the football field, solving diverse problems, and wielding tools from chisels to chainsaws to trowels.  He really loves and appreciates the freedom afforded to him to express and practice his ideas, develop new skills and hone existing ones, but above all else he believes in the ideology of the Ranch.

He believes that to engage, educate and nurture a desire in people to change the way we live and take more responsibility for every aspect of our lives from food production, to healthcare, to energy production and everything else in between is the only way things are going to change.

Ali Ostergard
Ali has had a love for working with her hands her whole life. Starting at a young age building chicken coops, to finding the art of natural building 7 years ago at the Ranch. Since becoming a part of the team here, she has worked on multiple structures and homes, including her own.

She enjoys each stage for different reasons, from the framing to the earthen floors and plasters. Finding beauty in the repetition, the joy of times shared with others, and the excitement of finishing a project.

She believes it’s empowering to know and teach these basic skills of building your own home. And to be able to do it in a mindful and sustainable way.

Robin Nunes

Robin’s love affair with natural building started in 2000 while taking a cob building workshop in the temperate rainforest in Oregon.  Since then she has been getting her hands dirty building many homes, cob ovens and rocket stoves here in the tropical rainforest in Costa Rica.  Whether constructing wattle and daub, cob, or adobe, she loves being able to build beautiful and truly sustainable homes out of the very earth that she walks and lives upon.  Finishing the structures with natural plasters (lime or clay) is one of the practices that brings her joy and satisfaction every time she does it.  She is excited to show you the wonderful world of earth building!

course start and Arrival dates

The class begins at 7.30 a.m. on February 20.  The night before the class begins, February 19, is included in the cost of the class.

course end and departure dates

The last day of the class is February 27.  The night of February 27 is included in the cost of the class.

COST

US$950

Includes all lodging, food and instruction.

Your registration, a confirmation from us that there is space in the class and a $250 non-refundable deposit will secure your spot in the course.  You can make your deposit with PayPal below or go to our Payment page for more information and options.