Join us for a 2026
Natural Building Workshop!
with Sigi Koko, veteran natural building architect and instructor
(she designed and helped build ZigBone Farm Retreat buildings)
July 21-24: Strawbale Walls
August 25-27: Introduction to Lime Plaster
Sept. 15-17: Base Coat Clay Plaster
JUST ADDED -- Nov. 1-3: Poured Adobe Floors
Natural Building Workshop!
with Sigi Koko, veteran natural building architect and instructor
(she designed and helped build ZigBone Farm Retreat buildings)
July 21-24: Strawbale Walls
August 25-27: Introduction to Lime Plaster
Sept. 15-17: Base Coat Clay Plaster
JUST ADDED -- Nov. 1-3: Poured Adobe Floors
July 21-24: Strawbale Wall Intensive
Sigi's Cost: $500 (lodge accommodations additional, see below)
DESCRIPTION: Strawbale infill describes the use of rectangular bales of straw to create a super-insulating wrap around a standard structural system. The resulting walls are beautiful, quiet, and energy-efficient. We will also work a thin coat of clay into the surface of the straw so the walls will be plaster-ready.
WHAT YOU LEARN:
• overview of strawbale construction
• recommended detailing for wet climates
• permitting issues & tips
• overview of passive solar design
• hands-on experience of all installation techniques
PROJECT: We will install strawbale walls in a 2-story passive solar home at ZigBone Farm Retreat. This course is for you if…you want to understand how to correctly install strawbale walls in wet climates.
WHAT's INCLUDED:
✓ one-on-one guidance from Sigi Koko
✓ hands-on experience installing strawbales
✓ information on permit approval for strawbale construction
✓ ample time for questions
✓ light breakfast, coffee/tea, & lunch
Option to camp for free (only five spots available) or stay in ZigBone Lodge for an additional fee (see below)
Everyone has access to bathrooms, showers, and a shared kitchen for cooking their own dinners
TO BOOK A SPOT IN THE WORKSHOP: REGISTER NOW WITH SIGI KOKO!
TO BOOK LODGING: contact [email protected]
(Note: No camping is available onsite, but is available nearby at the Owens Creek Campground in nearby Catoctin National Park. Make reservations with the park.)
DESCRIPTION: Strawbale infill describes the use of rectangular bales of straw to create a super-insulating wrap around a standard structural system. The resulting walls are beautiful, quiet, and energy-efficient. We will also work a thin coat of clay into the surface of the straw so the walls will be plaster-ready.
WHAT YOU LEARN:
• overview of strawbale construction
• recommended detailing for wet climates
• permitting issues & tips
• overview of passive solar design
• hands-on experience of all installation techniques
PROJECT: We will install strawbale walls in a 2-story passive solar home at ZigBone Farm Retreat. This course is for you if…you want to understand how to correctly install strawbale walls in wet climates.
WHAT's INCLUDED:
✓ one-on-one guidance from Sigi Koko
✓ hands-on experience installing strawbales
✓ information on permit approval for strawbale construction
✓ ample time for questions
✓ light breakfast, coffee/tea, & lunch
Option to camp for free (only five spots available) or stay in ZigBone Lodge for an additional fee (see below)
Everyone has access to bathrooms, showers, and a shared kitchen for cooking their own dinners
TO BOOK A SPOT IN THE WORKSHOP: REGISTER NOW WITH SIGI KOKO!
TO BOOK LODGING: contact [email protected]
(Note: No camping is available onsite, but is available nearby at the Owens Creek Campground in nearby Catoctin National Park. Make reservations with the park.)
August 25-27: Introduction to Lime Plaster
Sigi's Cost: $425 (lodge accommodations additional, see below)
Description: Learn how to make and install your own high-quality, traditional lime plaster! You’ll get experience mixing lime and applying it over strawbale walls. This course is for you if you want to take the mystery out of lime plaster and learn how to create a traditional, durable, anti-microbial plaster. You do not need prior plastering experience!
What you learn:
• introduction to lime plaster & understanding the different types of lime
• understanding your materials
• understanding the chemistry (yes, there's chemistry!)
• how to work safely with lime
• mixing techniques
• how to prepare your wall surface
• how to apply a basic lime plaster base coat
• calculating quantities
• tips for your own projects
What's Included:
✓ one-on-one technique guidance from Sigi Koko
✓ resources for lime and pigments
✓ ample time for questions
✓ light breakfast, coffee/tea, and lunch
You can camp at the nearby Owens Creek Campground, or stay in ZigBone Lodge for an additional fee (see below)
Everyone has access to bathrooms. People in the lodge have access to showers and a kitchen for preparing meals.
TO BOOK A SPOT IN THE WORKSHOP: REGISTER NOW WITH SIGI KOKO!
TO BOOK LODGING: contact [email protected]
(Note: No camping is available onsite, but is available nearby at the Owens Creek Campground in nearby Catoctin National Park. Make reservations with the park.)
September 15-17: Base Coat Mud Plaster
Sigi's Cost: $500 (lodge accommodations additional, see below)
DESCRIPTION: Fiber-rich clay plaster is the backbone of natural building. This versatile plaster can be used in many ways and over many different substrates. We will apply a levelling coat over strawbale walls, as well as learn how to apply over wood lath (on conventional stud wall). You will learn skills that you can literally apply to any building…new or existing!
WHAT YOU LEARN:
• benefits of clay materials
• how to test site soil for clay & establish your basic recipe
• understanding ingredients & the function each one serves
• mixing techniques
• how to apply and smooth the shape of your plaster
You do not need previous plastering experience for this workshop!
PROJECT: We will apply thick clay plasters over strawbale walls as well as over wood lath on stud walls on a two-story home at ZigBone Farm Retreat in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains. This layer is the shaping coat in preparation for finish plaster. This Course is for you if… you want 3 days of personalized, hands-on guidance making and applying clay plaster.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
✓ one-on-one guidance from Sigi
✓ hands on experience
✓ resources
✓ ample time for questions
✓ light breakfast, coffee/tea, & lunch
You can camp at the nearby Owens Creek Campground, or stay in ZigBone Lodge for an additional fee (see below)
Everyone has access to bathrooms. People in the lodge have access to showers and a kitchen for preparing meals.
TO BOOK A SPOT IN THE WORKSHOP: REGISTER NOW WITH SIGI KOKO!
TO BOOK LODGING: contact [email protected]
(Note: No camping is available onsite, but is available nearby at the Owens Creek Campground in nearby Catoctin National Park. Make reservations with the park.)
DESCRIPTION: Fiber-rich clay plaster is the backbone of natural building. This versatile plaster can be used in many ways and over many different substrates. We will apply a levelling coat over strawbale walls, as well as learn how to apply over wood lath (on conventional stud wall). You will learn skills that you can literally apply to any building…new or existing!
WHAT YOU LEARN:
• benefits of clay materials
• how to test site soil for clay & establish your basic recipe
• understanding ingredients & the function each one serves
• mixing techniques
• how to apply and smooth the shape of your plaster
You do not need previous plastering experience for this workshop!
PROJECT: We will apply thick clay plasters over strawbale walls as well as over wood lath on stud walls on a two-story home at ZigBone Farm Retreat in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains. This layer is the shaping coat in preparation for finish plaster. This Course is for you if… you want 3 days of personalized, hands-on guidance making and applying clay plaster.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
✓ one-on-one guidance from Sigi
✓ hands on experience
✓ resources
✓ ample time for questions
✓ light breakfast, coffee/tea, & lunch
You can camp at the nearby Owens Creek Campground, or stay in ZigBone Lodge for an additional fee (see below)
Everyone has access to bathrooms. People in the lodge have access to showers and a kitchen for preparing meals.
TO BOOK A SPOT IN THE WORKSHOP: REGISTER NOW WITH SIGI KOKO!
TO BOOK LODGING: contact [email protected]
(Note: No camping is available onsite, but is available nearby at the Owens Creek Campground in nearby Catoctin National Park. Make reservations with the park.)
Nov. 1-3 (three full days, start at 9am; end at 5:30pm each day): Poured Adobe Floors
Sigi's Cost: $345 (lodge accommodations additional, see below)
LOCATION: Zigbone Farm Retreat in Sabillasville, MD
DESCRIPTION: Spend 3 days learning how to pour and level a thick layer of adobe floor. We will pour the adobe over framed floors and encapsulate a radiant floor heating system. Adobe floors are durable, inexpensive, easy to maintain, and DIY-friendly to install.
WHAT YOU LEARN:
• benefits of clay materials
• performance of adobe floors
• tamped vs. poured adobe floors (benefits/challenges)
• understanding ingredients & the function each one serves
• how to test site soil for clay & establish your basic recipe
• low-tech mixing techniques
• creating a level floor
PROJECT: We will install a wet, fibrous clay floor mixture over conventional floor framing and plywood in a home on ZigBone Farm Retreat, a naturally built retreat center on 100 acres in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains. The clay will encapsulate hot water pipes to create a comfortable, energy efficient heating system. This layer is troweled, like plaster, to provide a level base for the final finish layer.
This Course is for you if… you want to understand the basics of installing and leveling a poured base layer for an adobe floor. Useful if you are installing over a framed floor or around radiant tubing!
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
✓ one-on-one guidance from Sigi
✓ hands on experience pouring an adobe floor
✓ resources for clay
✓ ample time for questions
✓ light breakfast, coffee/tea, & lunch
Optional: lodging at ZigBone Farm Retreat (extra fee required) website:
To book lodging at ZigBone Farm Retreat, contact [email protected]. People staying at the lodge will have access to bathrooms, showers, and a shared kitchen for cooking their own dinners
WHAT YOU LEARN:
• benefits of clay materials
• how to test site soil for clay & establish your basic recipe
• understanding ingredients & the function each one serves
• mixing techniques
• how to apply and smooth the shape of your plaster
TO BOOK A SPOT IN THE WORKSHOP: REGISTER NOW WITH SIGI KOKO!
TO BOOK LODGING: contact [email protected]
(Note: No camping is available onsite)
LOCATION: Zigbone Farm Retreat in Sabillasville, MD
DESCRIPTION: Spend 3 days learning how to pour and level a thick layer of adobe floor. We will pour the adobe over framed floors and encapsulate a radiant floor heating system. Adobe floors are durable, inexpensive, easy to maintain, and DIY-friendly to install.
WHAT YOU LEARN:
• benefits of clay materials
• performance of adobe floors
• tamped vs. poured adobe floors (benefits/challenges)
• understanding ingredients & the function each one serves
• how to test site soil for clay & establish your basic recipe
• low-tech mixing techniques
• creating a level floor
PROJECT: We will install a wet, fibrous clay floor mixture over conventional floor framing and plywood in a home on ZigBone Farm Retreat, a naturally built retreat center on 100 acres in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains. The clay will encapsulate hot water pipes to create a comfortable, energy efficient heating system. This layer is troweled, like plaster, to provide a level base for the final finish layer.
This Course is for you if… you want to understand the basics of installing and leveling a poured base layer for an adobe floor. Useful if you are installing over a framed floor or around radiant tubing!
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
✓ one-on-one guidance from Sigi
✓ hands on experience pouring an adobe floor
✓ resources for clay
✓ ample time for questions
✓ light breakfast, coffee/tea, & lunch
Optional: lodging at ZigBone Farm Retreat (extra fee required) website:
To book lodging at ZigBone Farm Retreat, contact [email protected]. People staying at the lodge will have access to bathrooms, showers, and a shared kitchen for cooking their own dinners
WHAT YOU LEARN:
• benefits of clay materials
• how to test site soil for clay & establish your basic recipe
• understanding ingredients & the function each one serves
• mixing techniques
• how to apply and smooth the shape of your plaster
TO BOOK A SPOT IN THE WORKSHOP: REGISTER NOW WITH SIGI KOKO!
TO BOOK LODGING: contact [email protected]
(Note: No camping is available onsite)
Natural Building at ZigBone
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Lodge Accommodations
NOTE: Camping is available at the nearby Owens Creek Campground. Make a reservation with Catoctin National Park, and check to see of campground is during our November workshop).
NOTE: Camping is available at the nearby Owens Creek Campground. Make a reservation with Catoctin National Park, and check to see of campground is during our November workshop).
Shared Room/Shared Bathroom: $75/night, 13 spots available across five rooms
The Log Cabin Room (private, en suite): $200/night. Spacious room in original log cabin portion of ZigBone Lodge, with full bath
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Private Room/Shared Bathroom: $150/night, queen bed, sink in room
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