Natural Building Course
with Lola Byron
Join us for a nine-day journey into the art of building with the earth, guided by Lola Byron.
This hands-on course introduces the principles and practices of natural building — from soil testing and mixing cob, to making adobe bricks, straw slip, and working with wood and foundations.
Natural building is much more than a technique — it is a way of reconnecting with the earth, our ancestors, and the wisdom of sustainable living. Together, we will learn how to create simple, healthy, and beautiful spaces using materials available right beneath our feet.
You’ll gain practical experience each day on-site, while also diving into design principles, building theory, and examples of ecological homes around the world. Whether you dream of building your own home or simply wish to learn how to work in harmony with nature, this course offers a grounding and inspiring foundation.
Who is this course for?
This workshop is open to everyone — no previous experience is needed.
Natural building welcomes all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. The process is collective, creative, and inclusive; each person finds their own role in the work, and every contribution matters.
About Lola
Lola Byron is a Permaculture and Natural Building facilitator, practitioner, and consultant, based in Southern Portugal. She has taught and built internationally for over a decade and is the founder of The Women Natural Building Collective, a supportive learning space and network for women builders worldwide.Lola’s courses weave together practical knowledge, collaboration, and the creationof a safe, heartfelt environment where everyone is encouraged to learn and share openly.
What to expect?
Each day includes both theory and hands-on learning. We’ll begin with morning sessions in the classroom, followed by full afternoons on-site — mixing, shaping, and building with the earth. There will also be time for reflection, sharing, and rest, nourished by locally grown vegetarian meals from A Quinta’s kitchen.
Location & Logistics
A Quinta da Lage is a working permaculture off-grid farm just outside São Luís, with beautiful landscapes, freshwater springs, wild forest, and peaceful camping areas.
Included in the fee:
● 3 wholesome vegetarian (vegan options available) meals/day
We can accommodate for gluten free or other requirements with prior notice.
● All tools, materials & tuition
● Course Handout made by the WNBC team
● Transport to/from São Luís
Private rooms/cottages available on request (extra fee).
Prices
980€ without accommodation.
1.120€ with your own caravan or tent in our camping site.
1.140€ with accommodation in dormitory
We have private cottages, rooms and bell tents available, if you prefer this option please contact us to inquire about availability and pricing.
These prices include all meals, the tuition fee and all materials. Hosting courses and workshops helps A Quinta to continue to develop the regenerative systems on the land. The money paid for your course fee will be divided between A Quinta and the facilitators, meaning A Quinta can go forward with developing the project, paying staff and purchasing materials, and the facilitators can continue with their passion to teach and inspire.
Contact: Please feel free to email us on events@aquinta.org for any additional information you may need.
Payment: We kindly request a non-refundable deposit of €450 from all registrants to confirm their spot. After completing the form, you will be directed to the payment page. The remaining fees can be settled in cash upon arrival or transferred to A Quinta's bank account on the first day of the course.
Please Note: In the unlikely event of us canceling the course, your deposit will be refunded in full; additionally, we will however not be held responsible for any other financial losses.
Deposits are non-refundable if you choose to cancel. If cancellation is made less 7 days prior to the course starting date, we ask for a contribution of 75% of the course fee to cover our losses. We will accept late bookings if there is space available.