New Date! Post Fire Series: Building An Earthen Bench, Part II - Plaster

Learn to apply a plaster to an earthen bench at a natural building workshop. Didn't go to prior workshops? We'll start with an intro.
About this Event

JOIN US THIS SATURDAY FOR THIS WORKSHOP THAT WAS POSTPONED DUE TO AIR QUALITY ON 6/20.

This workshop is offered at no cost to participants thanks to a grant from the California Community Foundation.

Get grounded in the fundamentals of building an earthen bench at this three-part Earthen Bench Making Workshop series in collaboration with SoilWise— part of the ongoing Post Fire series at Arlington Garden.

Join us Saturday 7/11 from 9am-12pm for this second of three free workshops on building an earthen bench at Arlington Garden.

Check out the photo of the bench progress above.

Part two will include the application of the first plaster. We will mix and apply a smooth fine earthen plaster with natural weatherproofing to the bench form created in the first bench construction workshop in May to prepare the bench form using earthen bricks made in preceding workshops.

Didn't make it to the prior workshops? That is okay! We'll start the workshop with a quick overview of the process we've undertaken to date and get to work from there.

This workshop will prepare us for the third and final finishing workshop where we will create a mosaic and apply a finishing plaster.

Please wear long pants and sturdy shoes, bring a water bottle to drink from, and be on time for the workshop sessions.

Whether you're a curious beginner or an earth-building enthusiast, you'll experience the creative and practical magic of cob while helping build a functional, beautiful bench you can sit on and enjoy anytime you are at Arlington Garden.

What You’ll Learn In the Series:

No prerequisite or experience is required for either workshop. The workshops are appropriate for all skill levels and abilities but best suited for adults and teens (accompanied by an adult).

• The basics of natural, fire-resistant, and earthquake-resilient building techniques
• How to build a bench form using natural and upcycled materials
• How to mix and apply earthen plaster using just clay, sand, straw, and water
• Construction techniques such as building an arch from adobe bricks for stabilization

• Real-world insight into climate-resilient architecture included in CA's building codes

About Arlington Garden in Pasadena

Located in a residential neighborhood, Arlington Garden is a public habitat garden and 2.5 acre host to climate-appropriate plants, trees, fungi, root systems, animals, birds, bees, bugs, and people. The Garden is not a public or municipal park, and is a community-founded non-profit 501c3 organization that is largely supported by donations and grants. We are open, with general attendance free of charge, during daylight hours 365 days a year.

About SoilWise

Centered around soil health as the foundation for thriving landscapes, Soilwise is a community-centered small business providing soil health education and testing, ecological landscaping, specialized soil blends, and support land stewards of all kinds - composters, farmers, and landscapers. Since the Eaton Fire, Soilwise has been supporting the community with soil contaminant testing and bioremediation work, and partnering with community organizations to offer free and accessible services as a member of the - as member of the Dena Soil Project.