Natural Building Course
with Lola Byron
A Comprehensive Foundations Workshop
Join us for our most in-depth workshop—a nine-day journey into the art of building with the earth. Guided by Lola Byron, this course offers the unique opportunity to start a new demo-house project from the very beginning. We bridge the gap between deep theory and intensive practical work, giving you the foundation to create healthy, beautiful, and sustainable spaces from the soil beneath your feet.
Why Natural Building?
Building with the earth is a return to a way of living that respects the landscape, our health, and our future.
Healthy & Breathable Natural walls are vapor-permeable. They "breathe," naturally regulating humidity and filtering the air for a toxic-free, peaceful living environment.
Thermal Comfort By combining thermal mass (clay) with insulation (straw), these buildings stay cool in the Portuguese summer and hold warmth in the winter.
Low Impact We use materials sourced directly from the land—clay, sand, and timber—resulting in a nearly zero-carbon footprint and a house that can return to the earth.
Empowering Natural building is accessible. It is a collaborative process that invites everyone—regardless of age or experience—to put their hands in the mud and create.
What to expect?
This course is a balanced blend of classroom theory and site-based practice. By starting at the very beginning of a new project, you will gain a holistic understanding of how a natural building comes to life.
In the Classroom: Dive into ecological design principles, soil science, and inspiring examples of earth-building from around the world.
On the Site: Get hands-on with a wide range of techniques, including site preparation, timber framing, adobe, cob, and slip-straw.
The Flow: Practical building sessions are supported by theory, evening films, and nourishing vegetarian meals.
Who is this course for?
This is for the dreamer, the future builder, and the curious soul. Whether you are planning your own home or simply want to reconnect with ancestral wisdom, this 9-day journey is designed to be inclusive and empowering for all skill levels and backgrounds.
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.
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:
● Free Camping: Bring your own tent or campervan and stay in our wild forest or peaceful camping areas at no extra cost.
● 3 wholesome vegetarian 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
Private rooms/cottages available on request (extra fee).
Prices
905€ with your own caravan or tent
1.025€ 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.
Your course fee supports both our facilitators and the ongoing regenerative projects at A Quinta.
How to Book:
Click "Book Now" to fill out our registration form.
After submitting, you will be redirected to Stripe to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your spot.
The remaining balance is due upon arrival (Cash or Bank Transfer).
Note: If we cancel the course, your deposit is refunded in full. If you cancel less than 7 days before the start, we ask for 75% of the total fee to cover our costs.