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Cob is a mixture of clay, sand, and straw, and is used to build in applications where high thermal mass is appropriate. This workshop includes a description of ingredients and the function that each one provides; the benefits and challenges; establishing a basic recipe; how to test site soil for clay content; mixing techniques; and hands-on experience building with cob.

Workshop facilitator Sigi Koko founded Down to Earth in 1997 to provide sustainable design and consulting services in the Mid-Atlantic region. She works exclusively on projects that are ecological, sensible, and that are on the forefront of "sustainable design". Her design work focuses on creating healthy living spaces that function in synchronicity with their environment. Her primary areas of expertise are in healthy and sustainable building materials, strawbale construction and other natural building techniques, energy and water conservation strategies, and passive solar design.