I like the skool community! I expect to have some questions and discussion topics as time goes by. I hope to do some cobbing but I am still working on the precursors - like finding land. It's good to have places online to talk to like minded people!

BTW Alex one of your videos was linked on permies.com recently: https://permies.com/t/270663/Foundation-cob-chicken-coop I don't know if you're on that site but they have a cob section under their natural building forum.

@Liz Callister Here's an example - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajyTwjoD55A. There's lots on youtube. They are basically a small round one room building that solves the problems Alex listed above. Maybe not as charming though if that's what you're after? I've been thinking one of these might be a great first project. Although I guess more angles to worry about than square building. But since the areas around here that I'm likely to build are very windy (high desert) the octagonal shape might be better than square.

True they're not particularly made from cob. It does look to me that they are built out of whatever materials are available including earth with the more modern ones being built out of more modern materials. What makes it a hogan seems to be the shape and size - and who builds it. I guess that shape is efficient and easy to build. Definitely traits I'm looking for! 😄

Hi Rachel. I'm in Los Angeles and interested in the same thing. I am looking at land to buy but that's a whole topic to itself. Meanwhile if you or anyone else have a project that needs volunteers I would love to get some hands on experience. I also want to learn the permitting and codes because I figure gain experience on the small stuff in case you want to eventually build something bigger. As far as I understand it any structure of 120 square foot or less in CA (which is like a small tool shed) is exempt from permits and inspections. That's quite restrictive and really means that permits and code compliance are required for almost everything here. Good or bad I guess depending on how you look at it.

Hi all. Theron from Los Angeles here. No experience yet but I've been learning about natural building methods online for a while. My goals are to get some land and build something small like a shed to learn on. If that goes well and doesn't kill me maybe I will build a house one day. My biggest bottleneck right now is making the jump from theory to practice. I'm thinking trying to find others in the same boat in my area might be a good idea.