Plan Your Natural Home Workshop at OUR EcoVillage


This page is a place for me to share the pictures and video that I took while attending an amazing workshop hosted by Elke Cole at OUR EcoVillage at Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island, BC.  I went to this workshop in the spring of 2010 as I was planning to set out on a mission to build myself a cob house.

I discovered this workshop and it seemed perfect, and it was in every way.
The site for the weekend event was so special. OUR Eco Village is a community of wonderful people committed to sustainable living and discovering great ways to build using natural materials.  The Sanctuary is a beautiful cob building with a gathering space for seminars and events. Outside in the front of the Sanctuary is a labyrinth that had been recently completed, just before we all arrived for our workshop.

I and three other women slept in a yurt on the grounds. It too was beautiful and such a unique experience to stay in a yurt.
The community gardens are extensive and we saw the new little lamb that was born as we slept. The community kitchen provided us with delicious meals and we shared in a group gratitude circle before each meal, which was such a meaningful experience.

Elke Cole was so informative and I strongly recommend her workshops if you are at all interested in the process of planning and building a natural home.

I am sad that I took so long to get this information up, but that is what happens in life. I am just thrilled that I am getting closer to actually putting what I learned with Elke to good use in the next few years as I finalize my house design and begin the process of building my own cob house.
I am truly grateful to all those who share their knowledge through various means, workshops, youtube videos and blogs on the net. I have learned so much from these wonderful people.


Inside the yurt where I got to stay while at OUR Ecovillage


Looking up in the yurt

Flags inside the yurt




front entrance to the yurt

lumber waiting to be used.

lots of wood to be used when needed

side view of the yurt

close up of the gorgeous flags inside the yurt




chalk art around the fireplace inside the yurt



inside the community kitchen at the OUR EcoVillage




workshop participants visiting around the huge table

The Sactuary, side door.

the living roof on The Sanctuary building





























Side door to The Sanctuary building made out of cob.


art on the fence