Ongoing Education
In addition to our annual, weekend-long festival, The Crestone Energy Fair Ongoing Education series offers hands-on education in different building techniques, gardening practices or homesteading skills over the course of a single or multi-day workshop.
Our goal is to facilitate growth, education and connection throughout the year, and to empower our community to try something new.
The money raised from our Ongoing Education series is distributed to educators and serves as a fundraiser for The Crestone Energy Fair.
Upcoming Events
EarthShips and Hempcrete
The first workshop of the season will be focused on EarthShip design as well as hempcrete construction. Earthships are the brainchild of architect Michael Reynolds out of Taos, New Mexico. He has been perfecting the design of these homes over the last four decades and has been able to showcase their practicality in various environments all over the world.
Hempcrete sequesters carbon from the environment for 60 years. It petrifies into a monolith of limestone growing lighter and stronger each year. It is not only breathable, it is hygroscopic, regulating moisture in the building. It is mold, mildew and pest proof after three years of curing. Over time it becomes fireproof, waterproof and earthquake proof.
Adobe floors
The most ancient buildings in the San Luis Valley have been built with “adobe.” This is a local term for the material used for building that is made from a mix of sand, clay, straw and water. The techniques for building with adobe are simple, yet require a level of relationship to the dirt. The beauty of adobe is that it is extremely forgiving, flexible and resilient. It is also one of the cheapest building techniques, as it is (almost) always available locally.
This workshop will cover all the steps involved in an adobe floor. From finding our ideal mix, “pouring” the floor, smoothing and burnishing, and sealing.
Bottle walls
Join us to learn how to enhance any space with the stunning, jewel-like bottle walls. This form of building is applicable in so many building methods, including interior and exterior walls. This will be a fun, one day workshop led by Goldie Mariola who has spent years working with bottles in various different mortars, learning the ins and outs of the trade. Participants will have the opportunity for hands-on experience in every step of the process as we construct bottle walls as part of a scoria bag constructed home.