Natural Building Basics – Part II: Natural Finishes
Learn how to both create and apply natural finishes to both natural and conventional walls for a toxin-free environment.
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Meet your course instructor
Bryce Ehrecke
Bryce Ehrecke comes from a line of weavers, builders, and explorers. His ancestors created textiles in Ireland, farmed in Normandie, and constructed in Germany, before coming to Canada to lead a different life. From his mother's side he has gained creativity and ingenuity, and from his father's side, he has gained craftsmanship and skill. He now weaves his heritage with place, and natural buildings with natural landscapes, honouring the relationship between human beings and all other beings. His education in natural building began by connecting and paying attention to the world around him and expanded while apprenticing with Pat Hennebery of CobWorks. He has spent the past decade working, living, learning, teaching and exploring with many different natural builders and natural structures. He now runs a Natural Building and renovation company based out of Victoria through Dreamweavers Collective. He specializes in rock work, earthen and lime plasters, roundwood, and using whatever design and materials best suit the environment and whom the structure is for. Bryce is a faculty member of the School of Permaculture Design at Pacific Rim College.
Course description
While many continue to look to new technologies to improve our environment, it’s important that we also look to the past. Houses have been made from the ground beneath our feet for thousands of years. In fact, many earthen homes made hundreds of years ago are still standing! Bryce Ehrecke has been building naturally for the past 10 years. Through step-by-step visual instruction, Bryce teaches the art of cob. Here, he guides students through a comprehensive application of natural finishes in the second part of Natural Building Basics.
Light clay and cob buildings are sustainable, long-lasting, breathable, non-toxic, and waste-free. They are also beautiful and create a sense of comfortability and warmth—a connection to the way our ancestors lived. This course will get you excited about getting your hands and feet dirty and will inspire you to delve deeper into the world of natural building.
You will definitely want to pair this with Part I of this series (Natural Building Basics: Part I – Wall Systems) where you will learn how to make the cob structures that you will paint your new finishes on!
You will learn about:
- Wall preparation
- Mixing and application of natural building materials
- Site safety, flow, and preparation
- Primers, basecoats, and finishes
- Colour samples
- Clay paint

Lesson plan
Students are saying…
“This workshop was amazing for me! Just what I needed to crash my state of nervous apprehension and get going on this project. I’ve been fussing about getting my project off the ground, unable to move because of so many questions.”
“Great way to start the understanding of natural building and finishes! Helped me a lot to know basic concepts and terminology before I take my hands-on course. Teachings were clear and I really gained understanding by him showing us.”
“I was impressed with the amount of resources we have and can use locally to build such beautiful natural structures. Bryce is very knowledgeable and delivered the material in an easy to understand and retain manner. Very impressed with the course!”
Please note, this elective course is for PRC Campus students only.