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Cob/rammed earth builders in central Ohio?

pollinator

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Location: Klumbis Oh Hah, Zone 6

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posted 1 year ago

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This post is aimed at anyone who either has hired someone to do cob or rammed earth construction done in central Ohio (pass along a reference please?), or who is located in central Ohio and does it themselves.

Seems like a lot of times people learn cob or rammed earth building at workshops, but the nearest one to me I could find is in Tennessee, which is not commutable. So as an alternative I'd like to see if I can apprentice myself to someone near where I live (Columbus) who knows this stuff.

I am in my late 30s, able bodied, with reliable transportation, and I'm reliable and punctual too. I could make myself available for a full day on the weekend or possibly even during the week. Hopefully in exchange for being a useful extra set of hands I can be shown the ropes enough to where I can take the necessary skills home and start building on my own.

I figure building season likely starts in the spring so I'm putting that word out early. All tips and leads are greatly appreciated.

Jim Fry

Posts: 606

Location: Stone Garden Farm Richfield Twp., Ohio

posted 1 year ago

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Your spelling of Ohio is interesting.

Did you know our state name is believed to have come from an Iroquois word, O-Y-O, meaning "beautiful river" (Ohio River)?

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Austin Cannon

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posted 1 year ago

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There's Jay and Annie at Blue Rock Station does cob but there're out in zanesville area
Fern Hollow is out that way too in somerset they are like minded however i'm not sure how much they do with cob but maybe rammed earth the guys name is Eric i believe.

i know you said cbus im from there and don't have any leads myself. this is all i got

good luck and best wishes

Ned Harr

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posted 1 year ago

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Jim Fry wrote:Your spelling of Ohio is interesting.

Did you know our state name is believed to have come from an Iroquois word, O-Y-O, meaning "beautiful river" (Ohio River)?

I did know that!

In my little "location" section I spell Ohio phonetically, the way many people (especially older people) who were born and raised here pronounce it.

William Bronson

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posted 1 year ago

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Hey, isn't Uncle Mud located in Ohio?

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Chris McClellan

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posted 1 year ago

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Hey Ned, I live east of Cleveland, a few hours from you. I do a lot with cob, hence the Uncle Mud name. Drop me an email some time [email protected] we would love to have you come get muddy with us.
--Mud

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Ned Harr

pollinator

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Chris McClellan wrote:Hey Ned, I live east of Cleveland, a few hours from you. I do a lot with cob, hence the Uncle Mud name. Drop me an email some time [email protected] we would love to have you come get muddy with us.
--Mud

Thanks Chr...uh, Uncle. I will shoot you an email some time! I'm not up in Cleveland all that much, but when I am it's usually mainly in the Heights area. How far east are you?

Chris McClellan

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posted 1 year ago

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25 minutes east of the heights

Ned Harr

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Chris McClellan wrote:25 minutes east of the heights

Finally had a minute to just find Burton on a map. That's just a little past Punderson State Park! Cool, I know how to get there.

Random factoid: In high school my friends and I used to drive up to Punderson and camp illegally (we were broke and weren't about to pay what few shekels we had to sleep outside, haha such rebel punks we were)...there was this huge geodesic dome along the way that we randomly discovered, I think it was part of the campus of some chemical research facility or something.* Signs indicated we weren't supposed to just trespass there but we parked and got out and walked around under that dome anyway, it had a real trippy feeling being there. Wow, stuff I did almost without flinching as a teenager that I would never do now as an adult...

Anyway, I'll email you more toward the spring. Glad to know you're here!

*Nevermind, I looked this one up too, it's ASM headquarters...a material science professional association, I think. Potentially cool stuff, or potentially horrible, not sure. Cool campus anyway.

Jen Siegrist

Posts: 19

Location: Loveland, OH

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posted 1 year ago

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Hey Ned! I'm just down in Loveland if ya wanna play with some cob. I'm learning as I go while building a rmh. Once that's done, as it is emergency heat in my world, I plan to do a lot more testing and refining. No promises of perfection.

Jen

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Ned Harr

pollinator

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Jen Siegrist wrote:Hey Ned! I'm just down in Loveland if ya wanna play with some cob. I'm learning as I go while building a rmh. Once that's done, as it is emergency heat in my world, I plan to do a lot more testing and refining. No promises of perfection.

Jen

Thanks Jen! As the weather warms and I find a way to dedicate time to learning this I will reach out.

Chris McClellan

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Jen, I want to introduce the Loveland Castle folks to cob.

Jen Siegrist

Posts: 19

Location: Loveland, OH

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posted 1 year ago

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@ Ned Harr I'll be here makin a mess in all sorts of ways whenever you're ready. Pulling the clay out of my yard is helping me expand the pond I dug last year and connect whole sections of yard with swales and basins. I've been watching some of Uncle Mud's stuff on cob/clay plasters and that's up next after this heater is up and running.

@ Uncle Mud! I would be happy to host ya if you do come down thisaway for the folks at the Loveland Castle. I can cook amazing meals and maybe pick your brain in person (and possibly be judged on my excecutions of things

I've been diving through your videos as well. You can pick your sustainance from the food forest daily. That castle could really use some upgrading. I, myself, am working toward and EnerPhit retrofit in this current house (on a beer budget, of course). The roof is already new from the tornado that came through here and the windows were all replaced last year. Now for the heat & electric issues ($) to be remedied. After that: The cob walls and earthen floors.

Jen

champagne taste on a beer budget leads a gurl to be curious & resourceful. Celebrate what we are capable of when we put all prejudices about limitations aside.

Chris McClellan

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Location: Burton, Ohio

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posted 1 year ago

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That sounds awesome Jane

Posts: 1

Location: Cbus, OH

posted 1 year ago

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I'm really interested in learning about cob, would love to get some in-person knowledge from local folks! I have some physical disability limitations, but want to learn about the process so I can get a better understanding of how to contribute within my future community plans.

Nancy Graven

Posts: 64

posted 7 months ago

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Jen Siegrist wrote:Hey Ned! I'm just down in Loveland if ya wanna play with some cob. I'm learning as I go while building a rmh. Once that's done, as it is emergency heat in my world, I plan to do a lot more testing and refining. No promises of perfection.

Jen

Loveland? I'm in Cincy!

Chris McClellan

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Location: Burton, Ohio

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posted 6 months ago

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Sounds like we need to get an Ohio mud and rocket fest together soon.

Ben Brownell

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Location: Klamath-Siskiyou CA

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posted 6 months ago

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Don't forget about Berea KY Year of Mud et al! Not far off: https://theyearofmud.com/natural-building-workshops/

Chris McClellan

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posted 6 months ago

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Ziggy and April are awesome

Kurt Keljo

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posted 6 months ago

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This response is way late, but I live in Reynoldsburg and used several natural building methods in constructing a sauna in my backyard—cordwood, cob and straw bale. I also made a cob pizza oven. I’m not an expert by any stretch but have had some experience and success. Kurt Keljo ([email protected])

Ned Harr

pollinator

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Location: Klumbis Oh Hah, Zone 6

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posted 6 months ago

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Kurt Keljo wrote:This response is way late, but I live in Reynoldsburg and used several natural building methods in constructing a sauna in my backyard—cordwood, cob and straw bale. I also made a cob pizza oven. I’m not an expert by any stretch but have had some experience and success. Kurt Keljo ([email protected])

Hey Kurt, thanks for the response! I'll shoot you an email soon.

Holly Magnani

Posts: 86

Location: Columbus, OH

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posted 6 months ago

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Hey, Ned.
Just saw this post. I'm in Cbus and want to build an earthbag she-shed in my backyard. No permits needed!

I'm currently in the pre-production phase of things but am serious about doing it so I can build a house someday.

Let's connect.

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Holly Magnani

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Location: Columbus, OH

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posted 6 months ago

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Jay and Annie are moving away from Blue Rock. They are putting it into a farmers land trust and moving to the city. They have their reasons, also, I don't think they've built anything on their property in a long time. They are delightful people and have a wealth of knowledge.

Kat Cooper

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posted 2 weeks ago

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Hi I’m in NE OH as well and am putting feelers out for anyone in the area willing to teach me/my husband and I the ropes of how to work with cob so that we can eventually build a house. Glad to help with what I can if you’re building something, although I do have a few medical conditions to work with. I’m a bit slow moving but I’m tenacious and stubborn. If there are any new recommendations I’d love to hear them. Thank you everyone.

Chris McClellan

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posted 2 weeks ago

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Hey Kat and anyone else, we're having a cob party 6/08/2025 at my place in Burton Ohio. Email [email protected] for more details
Whether are cob-curious or you've been jonesing for a chance to get your hands dirty or you just potluck and hang out, please come. We'll continue sculpting the side of my house with sandy clay (cob), followed by potluck and firing up the sauna.
Bring a dish to pass and your favorite pizza topping to share.
If you're coming from a ways away we can find a place for you to sleep rather than drive home late. RSVP to [email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/share/16X37JcUGF/

Ned Harr

pollinator

Posts: 341

Location: Klumbis Oh Hah, Zone 6

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posted 2 weeks ago

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Chris McClellan wrote:Hey Kat and anyone else, we're having a cob party 5/08/2025 at my place in Burton Ohio. Email [email protected] for more details
Whether are cob-curious or you've been jonesing for a chance to get your hands dirty or you just potluck and hang out, please come. We'll continue sculpting the side of my house with sandy clay (cob), followed by potluck and firing up the sauna.
Bring a dish to pass and your favorite pizza topping to share.
If you're coming from a ways away we can find a place for you to sleep rather than drive home late. RSVP to [email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/share/16X37JcUGF/

I think you meant 6/08/25?

Anyway I won't be able to make it (just got back from a big trip) but this looks great and I hope I'll have an opportunity to attend a subsequent event like it in the future.

Chris McClellan

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Location: Burton, Ohio

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posted 2 weeks ago

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Lol. Corrected Ned. Thank you. 6/8/25 it is.

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