building retreats around the UK
email me hervas.jones@gmail.com if interested
2 currently available: 

1.
 
community sauna build in the spring time for the Community Sauna Baths CIC (the folks who run the Hackney Wick Saunas, Stratford Sauna and Peckham sauna).

We will use natural (and historic) building techniques, such as straw bale and cob construction make the Sauna… these are both really engaging, fun and hands on techniques… the build will basically involve making a building size sculpture out of materials mostly found on the ground… we will shape the sauna with our hands will end up with a really organic and unique structure… as far as I know only straw bale/cob sauna in the UK? I know of one in the states…

The build is on a little farm & cooperative just outside London… my friend Maria Sanchez is teaching it and acting as the main architect, she’s a natural building expert and travels around the world doing workshops etc.

If you want to be involved in the central group and be across the design, planning and building of this sauna, just reply to this email and let me know. No specific experience required, after a mixed group. We have our first planning meeting (and weekend camping trip) on the last weekend of August. We will design and do drawings of the structure, build little clay models and then dig down to see what the soil is made up of, and how much we can use. Also we will eat delicious food.

Otherwise the main group build will happen in March, and I will advertise it more then. It will also be advertised at the hackney saunas. We will gather a big and constantly changing group of people that will come whenever they can probably over a month or two.

2. 

forest den building retreat in Monmouth, South Wales, on 20th-22nd September.

My friend Hugo Jobst (Inverness based doctor) and I would like for you to join us for the weekend. We will spend it deep in the seemingly endless - 20,000 acre! - Forest of Dean (which borders the farm and is visible in the above photo), building a great big den all together, and sharing big feasts, woodworking, making art, playing music, meeting new people, and just playing around for a couple days in the lush, wild forest. There will be roughly 20 people coming on this retreat, and staying from Friday afternoon to Sunday.