Thanks to a grant from the Medford Schools Foundation, the 8th grade class got down to earth - so to speak. Using clay, sand, straw, and water, students designed and constructed a cob entrance to the Ruch School Garden. Cob is used to build thick walls and is very similar to sculpting with modeling clay. Because cob building requires no forms, it can be manipulated into any shape or pattern.
In order to complete this project, Ruch School partnered with House Alive, an organization based in the Applegate Valley that offers regional and international workshops, seminars, and community-based projects about natural building and design. Students got familiar with labor requirements, focusing on how to use local materials to complete their project. The soil on campus provided an excellent source of clay. Sand was used from the Applegate River, and straw was donated by a nearby farmer.
Future plans include installing an informational bulletin to the cob entrance's wood roof frame and cob benches around the raised garden beds.
In order to complete this project, Ruch School partnered with House Alive, an organization based in the Applegate Valley that offers regional and international workshops, seminars, and community-based projects about natural building and design. Students got familiar with labor requirements, focusing on how to use local materials to complete their project. The soil on campus provided an excellent source of clay. Sand was used from the Applegate River, and straw was donated by a nearby farmer.
Future plans include installing an informational bulletin to the cob entrance's wood roof frame and cob benches around the raised garden beds.