Credits: 3
Format: Online (6 Weeks)
Workload: 6-8 hours/week
Fee: $440
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Description: This course covers the fundamentals of finishing interior and exterior adobe block walls with natural plasters and paints. We focus on mixing and applying earthen plasters, lime plasters and clay or lime/casein paints.

Topic Overview: historical overview of interior and exterior finishes for adobe structures in New Mexico, importance of respiratory and eye safety when preparing and mixing plasters and paints, overview of earthen plaster characteristics, helpful tools and materials for plastering, importance of work site and material organization for plaster work, window and door opening reinforcement, adobe wall preparation to facilitate maximum earthen plaster adhesion, locating and testing clay soil for earthen plasters, locating and testing aggregates for earthen and lime plasters, preparing lime putty, fiber (straw) preparation and chopping techniques, sifting and mixing soil and aggregates for earthen plasters, wheat paste production for strengthening earthen plasters, casein production for lime paints, natural exterior earthen plaster stabilization techniques (dung), hand application, techniques of earthen plasters (base coats, patching), hawk & trowel application of earthen and lime plasters (leveling and finish coats), basic earthen plaster ingredients and recipes, basic lime plaster ingredients and recipes, calculating surface area and materials needed, troubleshooting earthen and lime plasters (cracking, adhesion problems, etc.)

Credits: 3
Format: Online (6 Weeks)
Workload: 6-8 hours/week
Fee: $440
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Description: This course covers the fundamentals of designing and installing roofs on adobe structures. We focus on owner builder shed and gable roofs with extended eaves. These roof types offer excellent protection to the adobe wall below and enable the use of exterior natural plasters.

Topic Overview: historical overview of roof types found on New Mexican adobe structures, helpful tools for roof installation, wall to bond beam attachment systems, ordering, sizing and installing vigas, roof beams and other roofing lumber, ceiling board installation and finishing, flat roofs - installation techniques and finishing, shed roofs - installation techniques and finishing, gable roofs – installation techniques and finishing, roof insulation techniques and installation, selecting and installing roof decking and metal roofing, importance of extended eaves for use of natural plasters, earthen roof alternatives (domes and vaults)

Credits: 3
Format: Online (6 Weeks)
Workload: 6-8 hours/week
Fee: $440
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Description: This course covers the fundamentals of building earthen walls using adobe blocks. We begin the wallbuilding process by laying a first course of adobes onto the foundation wall. We continue course by course to the top of the wall ending with the installation of a wood bond beam. We work through all wall-related sections of the current New Mexico Earthen Building Materials Code. We define key concepts and correct building procedures of a typical load-bearing adobe block wall. We also examine different methods of installing window and door openings into the wall.

Topic Overview: historical overview of different earthen wall construction techniques used worldwide, why adobe blocks make sense for owner builder earthen walls, overview of common adobe wall thicknesses, thermal storage and heat transmission properties of adobe walls - R-values and U-values, basic seismic considerations when building with adobe, constructing and setting up speed leads, mixing earthen mortar, applying mortar to the wall, correct block coursing, leveling and plumbing, cutting adobe blocks, constructing and installing anchor blocks and rough bucks, constructing and installing lintels, constructing and installing wood bond beams, scaffolding and high wall strategies, insulation techniques for adobe walls, basic overview of plumbing and electrical installation

Register for and join all four summer/fall 2026 online classes at once for a savings of $240 ($60 per class) compared to registering for the classes individually.

Workload: 6-8 hours/week
Fee: $1,520
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This registration includes the following classes:

Adobe Wall Construction
Dates: July 6 to August 16, 2026

Roofs for Adobe Structures
Dates: August 17 to Sept. 27, 2026

Interior and Exterior Plastering
Dates: Sept. 28 to Nov. 8, 2026

Floors for Adobe Structures
Dates: Nov. 9 to Dec. 20, 2026

Credits: 2
Format: Adobe in Action Field Workshop at Abara House (formerly known as Hart's Hacienda) in El Paso, TX
Dates: April 10 & 11, 2026 (Friday & Saturday)
Workload: 8 hours per day (9am to 5pm)
Instructor: Pat Taylor
Fee: $270
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Description: Adobe in Action's next "Adobe Preservation Field Workshop" is being offered on April 10 & 11, 2026 (Friday & Saturday) at Abara House (formerly known as Hart's Hacienda) in El Paso, Texas. The exact topics covered in this workshop will depend on how far along the project is when the workshop commences but plan on the following essential adobe preservation topics being covered:

• adobe assessments

• soil testing & adobe blockmaking

• basal wall stabilization & repair techniques

• stucco removal & replacement with natural plasters (demo)

More details about the projects will be shared as they become available.

PLEASE NOTE: Water and lunch on both days are included in the workshop registration fee. Due to site safety protocols this workshop will be limited to a maximum of 8 participants.

Register for and join all four winter/spring 2026 online classes at once for a savings of $240 ($60 per class) compared to registering for the classes individually.

Workload: 6-8 hours/week
Fee: $1,520
REGISTER

This registration includes the following classes:

Passive Solar Adobe Design
Dates: January 5 to February 15, 2026

New Mexico Adobe Building Permit Process
Dates: February 16 to March 29, 2026

History & Basics of Adobe Construction
Dates: March 30 to May 10, 2026

Foundations for Adobe Structures
Dates: May 11 to June 21, 2026

Credits: 2
Format: Field Workshop in and around Mesilla, NM
Dates: October 25 & 26, 2025
Workload: 8 hours per day (9am to 5pm)
Instructor: Pat Taylor
Fee: $250
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Description: Adobe in Action's next "Adobe Preservation Field Workshop" is being offered on October 25 & 26, 2025 (Saturday & Sunday) in conjunction with various ongoing adobe preservation field projects that instructor Pat Taylor is working on in the Mesilla, NM area. The exact topics covered in this workshop will depend on how far along the projects are when the workshop commences but plan on the following essential adobe preservation topics being covered:

• adobe home assessments

• soil testing & adobe blockmaking

• basal wall stabilization & repair techniques

• stucco removal & replacement with natural plasters

More details about the projects will be shared as they become available.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to site safety protocols this workshop will be limited to a maximum of 8 participants.

Credits: 2
Format: Live-Instruction Workshop in Tres Orejas, NM (Taos area)
Dates: August 9 & 10, 2025 (Saturday & Sunday)
Workload: 8 hours per day (9am to 5pm)
Instructor: Carole Crews
Fee: $250
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Adobe in Action's next "Owner Builder Support Workshop" is being held on August 9 & 10, 2025 (Saturday & Sunday) in conjunction with an ongoing project in Tres Orejas, NM (15 miles West of Taos). The owners of the project have plastered all straw bale walls with earthen plaster and would now like to add clay paint to select walls as a final finish. This workshop will teach you alíz finishing techniques (a traditional clay slip paint used on the interior of adobe walls) perfected by artist & natural builder Carole Crews - author of Clay Culture: Plasters, Paints and Preservation.

Topic Overview (tentative): importance of respiratory and eye safety when preparing and mixing plasters & clay paints, helpful tools and materials for clay paints, importance of work site and material organization for finishing work, locating and testing soil for clay paints, fiber (straw) preparation and chopping techniques, basic clay paint ingredients and recipes, application and finishing of clay paints, calculating surface area and materials needed for finishing work, troubleshooting earthen plasters & paints (cracking, adhesion problems, etc.)

PLEASE NOTE: Due to site safety protocols this workshop will be limited to a maximum of 8 participants. Tres Orejas is a fairly remote (mixed use) neighborhood so plan on bringing ample water and a sack lunch to the workshop each day. Carole would also like to have the students come to her dome a couple miles away for additional lecturing and experimenting with the materials. Directions to the exact workshop site will follow.

Credits: 3
Format: 3-Day Live-Instruction Workshop in Abiquiu, NM
Dates: August 1 to 3, 2025
Workload: 8 hours per day (9am to 5pm)
Instructor: Issac Logsdon
Fee: $375
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Description: One of the best ways to learn the basics of adobe construction is to build an horno (earth oven). All of the basic steps of adobe house construction are covered in the oven build:

• We install a small foundation for the oven using compacted gravel

• We perform soil tests and make adobe test bricks.

• Adobe bricks and mortar are used to build the walls of the oven base.

• When the base is finished we install a brick on sand floor which serves as the baking surface of the oven.

• An earthen roof technique is used to build the oven dome.

• The oven is finished with a natural earthen plaster.

The workshop is being held at a very special property in Abiquiu, New Mexico.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to site safety protocols this workshop will be limited to a maximum of 10 participants.

Credits: 2
Format: 2-Day Live-Instruction Workshop in Taos, NM
Date: June 14 & 15, 2025 (Saturday & Sunday)
Workload: 8 hours per day (9am to 5pm)
Instructor: Issac Logsdon
Fee: $250
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Description: Adobe in Action's next "Owner Builder Support Workshop" is being offered on June 14 & 15, 2025 (Saturday & Sunday) in conjunction with an ongoing Owner Builder Support Project in the Taos, NM area. This workshop covers two full days of intensive adobe basics & blockmaking practice with a special focus on low-cost equipment and strategies for owner builders.

Topic Overview: importance of respiratory and eye safety when working with adobe & making adobe blocks, locating and testing soils for use in adobe blockmaking, clay minerals and aggregates and their role in the adobe mix, helpful tools and materials for adobe blockmaking, importance of work site and material organization for larger-scale adobe blockmaking, mixing mud in a wheelbarrow, mixing mud in a barrel mixer, making adobe blocks with a 2-block form, basic adobe block drying and storing sequence, different methods of field testing your adobe blocks for strength, basic intro to adobe wall construction (time permitting)

PLEASE NOTE: Due to site safety protocols this workshop will be limited to a maximum of 10 participants.

Credits: 2
Format: Live-Instruction Workshop in Santa Fe/Tesuque, NM area
Dates: June 24 & 25, 2023
Workload: 8 hours per day (9am to 5pm)
Instructor: Issac Logsdon
Fee: $250
REGISTER

Description: Adobe in Action's next "Owner Builder Support Workshop" is being offered on June 24 & 25, 2023 (Saturday & Sunday) in conjunction with an ongoing Owner Builder Support Project in the Santa Fe/Tesuque, NM area. The exact topics covered in this workshop will depend on how far along the owner builder is with her project when the workshop commences. Most likely we will be focusing on applying exterior earthen plaster coats to adobe walls but most general natural plaster topics will be covered. More details will be shared as they become available.

Topic Overview (tentative): importance of respiratory and eye safety when preparing and mixing plasters & clay paints, helpful tools and materials for plastering, importance of work site and material organization for plaster work, window and door opening reinforcement, adobe wall preparation to facilitate maximum earthen plaster adhesion, locating and testing clay soil for earthen plasters, fiber (straw) preparation and chopping techniques, sifting and mixing soil and aggregates for earthen plasters, natural exterior earthen plaster stabilization techniques (cactus juice/wheat paste), hand application techniques of earthen plasters (base coats, patching), hawk & trowel application of earthen plasters (leveling and finish coats), basic earthen plaster ingredients and recipes, basic clay paint ingredients and recipes, application of clay paints, calculating surface area and materials needed for plaster work, troubleshooting earthen plasters & paints (cracking, adhesion problems, etc.)

PLEASE NOTE: Due to site safety protocols this workshop will be limited to a maximum of 8 participants. All participants are requested to wear masks while indoors. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about these protocols.