The Cob Hut: YARA’s meeting space
It began many years ago in my head. I could see it so clearly, yet with infinite possibility; A space, a home of sorts for our minds to come together as one, a space for meditating, for educating, for saving seeds, for moving our bodies, and chanting with our voices filling the space with good vibrations, a place made from natural materials, made by hand, collectively, for the experience as well as the final outcome. The process of hand worked cob construction builds the community that will eventually gather inside this earthen structure that we have coined, The Hut.
My dear friend and wise cob master, Matt Franklin, and I have been working on building this space at the sanctuary for over a year and a half now. I have depended on good friends with mad skills, generous friends, like Farmer Ted from The Cully Farm Store who has loaned us tools, trucks, physical and emotional support. Friends have popped in and lent a hand and learned a thing or two. All of this has been spread out like dandelion seeds in the wind, but if I collected all the moments there would be a whole lot of love to hold.
We began by digging by hand down deep into the earth, making underground rivers that would move the waters away from the imagined building. We hunted for concrete rubble and clay from traditional construction sites, we collected glass bottles to adorn the walls. We did a little shopping at The Rebuilding Center for used windows and a door. All the wood framework was brought down from Quilcene, Wa. It is considered industrial waste, but as you can see from the photos, It is a tragedy to consider it waste, I think it’s precious and I thank Brad Roy, friend and father of my children, for making that part happen.
As of today we are finishing up with the base layer of the floor. It is quite a bit of alchemy and magic to watch and partake in the process of putting the ingredients of sand, clay, and straw together on a tarp (small batches) adding the action of mixing and pushing and tossing it about and watching it change into a material that can make floors, and walls, and beauty.
I do hope you get a chance to join us at one of the work parties we will be having. Do you want to get muddy and build a sand castle for peace? We would love to have you. Shoot us an email and we will let you know when the next one happens.
Please enjoy these photos of the process. It is my wish that they inspire you and leave a sense of joy and possibility in your heart.
Much love, sweethome
