Join us for a hands-on natural building workshop on a beautiful 130-hectare regenerative farm in the heart of Alentejo’s cork oak landscape. Over the course of 8 immersive days, we’ll be building, from the foundations up, a wood-fired, rocket stove, sauna – blending ancient building techniques with functional, modern design.
Why a Slip Straw Sauna?
This is a unique chance to learn by doing — building a real, full-scale structure from the ground up. Through the creation of a wood-fired slip straw sauna, you’ll gain hands-on experience in natural building techniques including slip straw insulation, timber framing, clay plastering, and integrated design. Though compact in size, the sauna is a richly layered and technically diverse build — making it an ideal project to develop practical skills that translate directly to larger natural building endeavors. Throughout the workshop, we’ll also weave in theory sessions, presentations, and slideshows to deepen your understanding of the methods, materials, and ecological design principles behind the work.
What You’ll Learn:
You’ll leave with practical skills and confidence in natural building. Topics include:
● Test clay sub-soils and use the results to create the perfect construction mix
● Learn about ecological design and application
● Learn how a rocket stove works and help construct one for the sauna
● Learn how to make adobe bricks
● Mix and build with cob
● Create a timber frame structure
● Mix and apply slip straw
● Mix and build a wattle and daub wall
● Learn how to use and work safely with power and hand tools
● Learn about natural plasters
● Learn about different roof systems for natural builds
● Create beautiful artwork and sculptures with earth
There will be theory sessions about:
● Ecological Design – passive heating, airflow, and moisture control
● Natural Building Theory – history, global techniques, and climate specific design
● Sauna-Specific Design – how to build for heat, steam, and durability
Plus evening sessions with optional films, group activities, personal reflections, and access to our digital library on Permaculture and Natural Building.
Who Is This For?
This workshop is open to everyone – all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels. Whether you're a total beginner, a curious creative, or someone dreaming of building your own natural home, you’ll be welcomed into a supportive, inclusive environment that celebrates collective learning.
FacilitatorS:
Lola Byron
Lola Byron is a passionate Permaculturist, natural builder, facilitator, and consultant with over a decade of experience creating sustainable, ecological buildings worldwide. Originally from Birmingham, England, Lola has spent many years building across Southeast Asia and now calls Southern Portugal home, where she teaches, builds, and raises her two children. Her journey began in 2010 with the completion of her Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC), sparking a lifelong commitment to sustainable living and regenerative design. With a background in Fine Art and Sculpture, plus a postgraduate teaching degree, Lola blends creativity and practical skills to build not only structures but also resilient communities.
In 2020, she founded the Women Natural Building Collective (WNBC), a global network dedicated to empowering women in natural building through education and connection. Over the years, Lola has taught and built internationally, including a three-year role as Natural Building Manager at the Panya Project in Thailand. Since 2017, she has also worked as a consultant and project manager with Surplus Permaculture Design, leading innovative sustainable projects worldwide.
For this workshop, Lola will be joined by fellow WNBC builders, sharing their specialist knowledge and skills to enrich your learning experience.
Ferry elsinga
Ferry Elsinga is the initiator of the Aquinta Project, a space dedicated to sustainable, regenerative living and fostering community connections. With a strong background in natural building, passive solar design, and rocket stove mass heaters, Ferry has spent the past 15 years exploring and sharing practical, earth-conscious solutions for living in harmony with nature.
His journey is deeply rooted in community building and hands-on education. At Aquinta, Ferry focuses on creating environments where learning is not just about acquiring skills but about co-creating resilient and inspired communities.
In this course, Ferry, together with Lola Byron, will guide participants through the principles of rocket stove design and function, with a particular focus on building a rocket stove mass heater for a sauna. Together, they will lead you through every step — from theory to construction — offering insights not only into the "how" but also the "why" behind natural building methods.
Participants in this course will learn the principles of rocket stove design and build a functioning rocket stove mass heater, specifically for a sauna. This hands-on experience is designed to be both empowering and connecting — a space to learn, build, and grow together.
Ferry and Lola are excited to welcome participants to Aquinta and share in this creative process together.
"I believe that when we build with natural materials, we also build stronger communities."
After four years of co-facilitating Natural Building and Permaculture Design Courses (PDCs) with Lola Byron, Ferry and Lola decided to combine their strengths and shared vision to offer a broader, more integrated learning experience. Their collaboration brings together practical building skills, deep ecology, and interpersonal awareness.
🏕 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
● 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.
1.100€ with accommodation in camping site, dormitory or bell tent
We have private cottages and rooms available, if you prefer this option please contact us to inquire about availability and pricing at events@aquinta.org
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.
Food: We will be serving nutritious, mostly locally grown and lovingly prepared vegetarian meals 3 times a day. Vegan options are always available and we can accomodate for gluten free or other requirements with prior notice.
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.