We are planning to finish off the top of the curtain wall in our Roundhouse the weekend of 28th/29th June.
Date & Time
Saturday 28th &Sunday 29th June 10.00am – 4.00pm
The section of wall above the ring beam features some glass bottle bricks and other areas are just cob and bottle infill, we are going to infill these areas and finish off with an attractive clay render.
If you would like to help with these renovations and learn about some natural building techniques, please email us for more details.
Thanks to GoodGym Harringey for harvesting six bags of clay from our clay pit for using to make our straw clay for the Roundhouse!
Where and when?
Date: Event to be rescheduled later in the year.
Time: 12.00 – 4.00pm
Location: The Roundhouse, Meadow Orchard Project, 151 Park Road, N8 8JD
How to get involved?
If you’d like to join our Sustainable Building Team and help with this building task, please send us an email using the link below. The activity is free but we would be happy to accept a donation towards Meadow Orchard Project.
Building with Light Clay Straw
As this infill is purely aesthetic we will be using a light clay straw mix, rather than a sand, clay and straw mix as per the cob walls.
Light straw clay, slipstraw, or “straw clay”—is a natural building material, it provides some insulation, regulates moisture, and creates an excellent base for natural plaster finishes. It can be used for both interior and exterior walls, in various thicknesses. It is often used as infill in wooden frame structures.
Mixing Light Clay Straw
Making light clay straw is a straightforward process. Depending on the application, if insulation is a priority, the straw should be coated with just enough clay to bind it together. If strength and density matter more than insulation, a heavier clay mix can be used.
The basic method is to add a small amount of clay slip (clay mixed with water, to a muddy consistency. Add the straw and mix with the clay slip until all of the straw is coated. A wheelbarrow works for small quantities, but larger projects require a more space, a pit lined with a tarpaulin is ideal. It’s a little adding dressing to a leafy salad, you just want to make sure everything is coated.
The clay slip should have the consistency of thick cream, without any bits of undissolved clay. Filter out any stones or debris before use. The slip is easily mixed by blending clay and water in a bucket or trug, using an electric drill with a paddle attachment to break up the clay.
Packing the Walls
The next step is to pack the clay/straw mix into the wall, tamping down with a length of 2×4. In our application we will be using the material primarily for insulation, a lighter tamp allows for more air pockets, which helps improve the thermal performance.
Once finished the light clay straw wall should have a smooth, uniform surface with minimal loose strands of straw protruding. If the wall is uneven, with bits of straw sticking out it will be more difficult to plaster.
Other Sustainable building projects at MOP
We recently built a small COB Rocket Stove and would love to offer this as an activity for our volunteers and visitors. Skills learnt from future sustainable building activities include, using a shave horse and riving brake, building from green and reclaimed timber, coppicing, weaving, using a bow saw, adze, draw-knife, hatchet, froe, bowl gouges and hook knives. Harvesting our wild clay for pottery and cob building, clay render, natural pigments and much more.
Learn skills such as:
- Coppicing
- Natural Building
- Greenwoodworking
- Using Sustainable Materials
- Traditional Hand Tools
- Tool sharpening
Green Woodworking
Green woodworking is a traditional method of woodworking where freshly cut, or “green,” wood is used, that is wood that hasn’t been kiln-dried or “seasoned”. Green woodworking mainly relies on using hand tools and traditional techniques to work the wood while it is still in its green state, unlike traditional carpentry or joinery where mainly power-tools are used to shape and form the seasoned timber.
The main characteristic of green woodworking is that green wood is easier to work with due to its higher moisture content. This moisture makes the wood more pliable, allowing for easier shaping and carving. Green woodworking techniques use hand tools like axes, adzes and hook knives (for bowl carving), froes and wedges (for splitting) draw-knives, spoke-shaves, augers and carving tools such as knives and chisels to shape the wood.
stones
Spoons & Spatulas
A nice example of greenwoodworking is spoon carving or making a simple spatula from a freshly cut or coppiced green wood. Other simple structures such as stools hurdles, plant supports, frames and shelters can be made using a combination of oak, willow and dogwood, all of which are grown as managed coppice at Meadow Orchard.
Craftsmanship
Additionally, green woodworking can be a therapeutic and meditative practice, allowing craftspeople to connect with the natural materials and engage in a slower, more deliberate process of creation. Overall, green woodworking is a versatile and rewarding approach to working with wood that emphasises craftsmanship, sustainability, and a connection to nature.
Workshops
The volunteers at Meadow Orchard have access to a good range of green woodworking tools and sharpening stones. If there is sufficient interest the Site Leaders would be more than happy to arrange a series of workshops to demonstrate a range of green woodworking techniques.
Meadow Orchard Project 
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