Photo credit: Karl Ahnee / Cruzin Cob Global Workshop 2025
Want to build an amazing low-cost oven in your backyard from natural materials?
In this workshop, you will learn practical skills and knowledge about building an earthen oven using cob: clay soil, sand, and straw.
Part 1
When: Saturday, July 12th
9am- 4pm(ish)
Where: The Local Earth Studio, located in Kelly Canyon (6 miles outside Bozeman)
Workshop Details:
We will begin by building an insulation layer…using our bodies to mix, dance, and play in the mud!
Lay firebricks for the oven floor.
Build the sand form that will become the interior space of the oven.
*There will be a brief overview and introduction to the principles of natural building, thermal mass, and sustainable construction practices.
*Please Note: we will be building on an existing rock foundation. This will be briefly covered in the workshop theory section.
Part 2
When: Sunday, July 13th
9am-4pm(ish)
Where: The Local Earth Studio, located in Kelly Canyon (6 miles outside Bozeman)
Workshop Details:
Set the brick arch
Add chimney
Build shape of the oven with cob around sand form.
Add an insulation and finishing layer.
Plaster layer (if time allows)
Pizza Party!
When: Friday, July 25th
6pm-8pm
This is an opportunity to celebrate our hard work and to get comfortable cooking with a cob oven. In order to allow for appropriate drying time, we will have the party two weeks after the build. Drying is an extremely important step in building a cob oven and unfortunately does not allow us the opportunity to have it on the same day as the workshop.
Bring fun toppings (BYOT)! Dough and pizza sauce will be provided.
Cost of Workshop: $200
Includes an introduction to earthen building, with principles that can be applied to other projects, a hands-on oven build, and making/eating pizza from the actual oven!
All tools will be provided. For both workshops, please bring a lunch. We will have a 30 minute lunch break. Please bring water, sun protection (hat, sunscreen, or any other protective clothing). Sandals or comfortable shoes recommended.
To reserve your spot, please email Clay: buildswithclay@gmail.com
Your payment reserves your spot. PayPal or Venmo accepted:
About the instructor:
Hi, I’m Clayton—often called Clay. I am a farmer, natural builder, and explorer. My journey into natural building began with an internship in 2021 at the world renowned Natural Building and Permaculture Center at Rancho Mastatal in Costa Rica. Since then, natural building has become the central focus of my life. Working with earth awakened something primal and whimsical in me, and I’ve been captivated ever since. I appreciate natural building for its low environmental impact and accessibility, both in terms of cost and practicality. With some basic knowledge, almost anyone can build with cob!
Since then I’ve been apprenticing on multiple permaculture projects in Puerto Rico, taken earthen building workshops around the world led by Cruzin Cob Global as well as the Mojave Center. I currently work as a plasterer with the extremely talented New Age Artisans in Bozeman, MT.
My goal is to inspire others to join the natural building movement and live more harmoniously with our planet. In my free time I enjoy exploring nature, dancing, playing guitar, and of course learning more about natural building!