Eco-building project at the Clare Island Retreat Centre

Among our many plans for the future is to make use of eco friendly building techniques for a number of small scale buildings near the Centre.

While the Centre itself is quite eco-friendly: a timber building with excellent insulation qualities, using passive solar heating as well as solar panels for water heating, we are nowtying our hand at something more ‘down-to-earth’ and on a scale where we and other like-minded people can do most of the work.

Our previous attempts at eco-building so far have been a small wooden shed behind the main house, a small timber barn on a concrete base, a cob bread oven and the renovation of our old cottage using hemp and lime. We have learnt a lot in the process and are definitely getting better at this. 

We are currently working on the convertion of an old stone barn, using only natural material (lime mortar and plasters, wood, slates, sheep's wool insulation, etc.).
In 2008, the walls were rebuilt and partially pointed using lime mortar, and the building was roofed.
During the next work periods, we will finish the pointing and plastering of the walls and insulate the building with sheep's wool from the island.

This project is a great opportunity for anyone planning the renovation of an old stone building to learn and practice some of the techinques involved, such as lime mortar pointing, hemp and lime plastering, etc.  

We are inviting people who have either experience in eco-building techniques and/or high levels of enthusiasm and energy to help us in these projects.  Carpenters amateurs or professionals, are particularly welcome! Unless you have been here before or have definite building skills which can easily be put to use, we are asking you to commit to at least 5 days with us. There is no charge for staying at the centre at this time, but you will be expected to work for about 6 hours / day (depending on weather) in exchange for accommodation and food, and the work can be physically demanding.

This project will be running a number of work periods on the eco-building project in 2009.The next ones are from the 19th to the 25th of June (plastering the outside with Lime plaster) and from the 7th of September (mostly indoor work, including sheeps wool insulation and hemp and lime plastering). 

If interested click  with details of your relevant experience (if any) and dates you would be coming.

Newly pointed wall  Pointing in progress  Preparing for plastering  
more pictures...