June 11th 2003 - Over the weekend of June 7th – 8th Kevin McCabe led a workshop at The Hollies, running through all the aspects of cob construction. We mixed the cob in a pit with a digger, a process capable of producing 3-4 tons of cob in about 20 minutes. This was then applied directly onto the wall, shaped and trodden in place. A day or so later, once it has gone off sufficiently, it is pared down with a sharp spade, giving it a regular straight edge. We have also erected the first timber frame of the house, made onsite with timber grown at The Hollies. We will be aiming to do a ‘lift’ (2-2.5 feet) each week, and the downstairs of the house will need 5 lifts altogether. Once the last of these is in place, we can begin to put the roof on. After a bit of experimenting we seem to have found the best mix, combining clay and grit from a nearby quarry with our own subsoil (low in clay, high in gravel). Having discovered the joys of mixing large amounts of cob with a digger, I cannot imagine returning to doing cob projects on any scale other than tiny things by foot mixing. It is very exciting now watching the house start to take shape.