Introduction to Natural Building
May 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th from 4-6pm PDT
EAT in collaboration with the Deanery Project is excited to offer this four-week online natural building class to get you started on your natural building journey. Over our four weeks together, we will explore a variety of traditional and contemporary natural building materials and methods.
About The Course
This series will cover a wide range of strategies and materials used in natural buildings. Participants will explore the major elements of natural building design and construction. We will start with building site selection, then journey through the vast world of wall systems, and conclude with roof systems and options for foundations.
Week 1: Codes, site selection, passive heating, and cooling
Week 2: Infill wall systems, heating, and moisture control
Week 3: Load bearing wall systems and carbon-sequestering buildings
Week 4: Foundations and roofs
Everyone is welcome – No building experience necessary!
Class Schedule
Week 1: Regulations and Site Selection
- Intro to Permaculture design principles
- Building codes/regulation
- Overview of choosing a site
- Passive heating and cooling
Week 2: Wall Systems Part 1
- Wall systems design and strategies
- Exploration of infill materials and construction
- Managing moisture and ventilation
Week 3: Wall Systems Part 2
- Exploration of loadbearing wall systems
- Carbon-sequestering buildings
- Whole building design strategies
Week 4: Foundations and Roof Systems
- Foundations design for different environments
- Explore roof materials and construction
- Putting it all together
Questions?
We are here for you. Please reach out at: support@earthactivisttraining.org
MEET YOUR TEACHER
Charles Williams
As Earth Activist Training’s program director and senior instructor, Charles has spent the past twenty five years teaching and implementing permaculture. Charles comes to Earth Activist Training through a love of the wild, faith that healthy communities can solve complex problems, and a belief that working with one’s hands is sacred work.
Over the past two decades, he has stewarded many pieces of land throughout the United States, including Diana’s Grove in Missouri, Farm & Wilderness summer camp in Vermont, and Starhawk’s Golden Rabbit Ranch in California. His approach simultaneously promotes the preservation of wild spaces and conservation of the domestic.
His deep respect for and relationship with the divine in nature informs all he does, integrating spiritual practices with land management. Charles also understands the need for healthy community, and knows that skilled human implementation is an essential part of any design. In these challenging times, he finds hope for the future through the interlocking, symbiotic relationship of spirit, community, and action.
Mike Batty
Michael (Mike) Batty (he/him) is a Certified Construction Contract Administrator, Architectural Technician, and Permaculture Designer with a deep commitment to sustainable building practices. As an educator and mentor, Mike specializes in natural building techniques and appropriate technology systems, with a particular passion for designing and constructing Rocket Mass Heaters — an efficient, low-impact heating solution.
Since earning his Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) in 2018, Mike has actively applied his knowledge to support community-driven projects and promote regenerative design principles. He has collaborated with respected permaculture instructor Charles Williams as a teaching assistant in numerous permaculture and natural building courses, contributing his practical experience and technical insight to help students bring their design ideas to life.
Mike’s dedication to hands-on learning and sustainable innovation makes him a valuable advocate for ecological design and resilient communities. Whether leading workshops, consulting on projects, or mentoring aspiring builders, Mike is passionate about empowering others to create sustainable and functional living systems.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
COURSE INFORMATION
- Location: Virtual
- Dates: May 6th-27th (4 weeks)
- Timing: Tuesdays 4:00-6:00 pm PDT
- Helpful Tool: Time Zone Converter
- Taught by: Charles Williams and Mike Batty
- Each week has a 2-hour live class and a virtual classroom of resources.
- All live sessions are recorded and closed-captioned.
- Access to resources, documentation, and recorded class content in the virtual classroom.
PAYMENT
We are dedicated to making our courses as accessible as possible by offering:
- Early Bird tuition: $180!
- Sliding-scale tuition: $200-$250
- Four-part payment plans: $50 at registration with 3-monthly payments of $50.
- Alumni tuition: $100 to retake this course.
- Diversity Scholarships available: See below.
- Group Discounts: See below.
- All amounts are in US dollars.
- See below for details
SCHOLARSHIPS & DISCOUNTS
- Group discounts and Diversity Scholarships available? Yes!
- Keep reading below.
QUESTIONS?
We are here for you. Reach us at: support@earthactivisttraining.org
FUNDING YOUR EDUCATION
Payment options
Sliding Scale Tuition
- Early Bird Tuition: $180
- Standard Tuition: $200
- Abundant Tuition: $250
- Every Abundant Tuition helps support a Diversity Scholarship.
Alumni Price
- Alumni Tuition $100
- For those who want a refresher; you need to have taken this course with us before.
*all amounts in US dollars
PAYMENT PLAN
- Payment of $50 when you register.
- Three monthly installments of $50 ($200 total.)
- Our Student Support Team will assist you in setting this up.
GROUP DISCOUNTS
- Groups of 2-5 people – Discount of $25 off each ($175 for each person.)
- Organizations of 6+ people – Contact support@eat-activist.org for special group rates.
- You must indicate who is in your group at registration.
Diversity Scholarships
DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS
- Earth Activist Training is committed to increasing the diversity of global permaculture and regenerative land movements.
- We recognize the history of this land called the United States and Canada, and seek to do what we can to rectify the deep injustices and systems of inequity that formed and continue to shape society today.
- Diversity Scholarships are available for Indigenous Peoples and People of Color working in or wanting to work in environmental or social justice.
- These scholarships are pay-what-you-can with the recommended value of 50% of standard tuition, but any amount will be accepted and appreciated.
- To apply, select “Diversity Scholarship” in the payment section on the registration form below.
- Earth Activist Training’s Diversity Scholarship fund is supported by donations. Visit our Diversity Fund page if you wish to support our Scholarship program.
If you have any questions, we are always here to help: support@earthactivisttraining.org
Register
Click here to Register
What Comes Next?
Are you ready for the next step of your learning journey?
Your Learning Journey
Join Mud Magic, a long weekend of natural building in the beautiful Cazadero Hills of Northern California, with a focus on finishes. We’ll be focusing on ways to complete, maintain and beautify natural and ordinary buildings with earthen and lime plasters, learning to apply frescos and lime wash, and making home-made chalk paint and glazes with natural pigments.
Go beyond a basic PDC with our Advanced Permaculture course. This year-long course, taught in four modules, covers key design topics:
Other classes with Charles Williams 2025
- Permaculture Design Certificate – In-Person (Jan. 11 – 25)
- Five-Fold Path Facilitator Training -(Feb 12 – March 12)
- Introduction to GIS Mapping – (March 19 – April 23)
- Permaculture For Climate Activists – (Evergreen)
- Advanced Permaculture – (Feb 6 – Oct 16)
- Water Management -(Feb. 6 –Mar. 13)
- Site Planning- (Mar. 20 – April 3)
- Soil & Animals -(Apr. 10 –May 15)
- Food Forests & Forest Ecology -(Sept. 11 – Oct. 16)
- Sustainable Infrastructure -(May. 22 – June 26)
- Introduction to Permaculture -(Sept. 17 – Oct. 1) Virtual
- Permaculture Design Certificate – (Sept. 17 – Dec. 17) Virtual
- Regenerative Land Management -Two-year Advanced Permaculture Diploma Program
OUR NETWORK
A core component of this course – and every Earth Activist Training course – is our private forum: Earth Activist Training Online network. This platform is where you will find course resources, your homework, and a network to connect with classmates and other Earth Activist students.
Recordings of each class will be available to you as a resource. You will have access to the course for a year after the course ends should you want to deepen your understanding of the material.
Have a question?
calendar
Check out the full schedule to find out when our programs and events are taking place.
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