Natural Building Course

Natural Building Immersion. 

Come to EcoMaste and experience the abundance of life in the jungle. Here you will have an opportunity to commune with nature, ground yourself, enjoy our nature trails, cascading river, harvest fresh foods from the property, vibrant delicious plant based meals, and learn the skills you need to build with bamboo as well as natural materials.

Our goal is to give students a transformational and regenerative education so that they can be empowered to create a lifestyle rooted in sustainability and collaboration with nature. Learn from world renown Bamboo Master, artisan craftsman, with over 35 years of experience and founder of Bamboo School CR, Rodolfo Saenz.

On this course, we will be finishing a small dome cabin using natural construction techniques utilizing bamboo, adobe and its combinations as well as learning tips and tricks for building furniture with bamboo.

It is not necessary to have previous knowledge. If you already have some knowledge, the instruction will be adapted to match your skill level, so you can improve on your own skills or progress to more advanced techniques.

There is the possibility to stay longer if you are looking to become an apprentice, practice more, receive additional instruction and orientation. EcoMaste is calling on apprentices for a 6-12 month period, that understand the value of building and would like to learn from Bamboo Master "Rodo". After the course, you will be able to apply these learned skills later for own projects and build a variety of unique structures. Please let us know if you are interested. *Your ticket will be applied towards the apprenticeship program*

 The Flow & Highlights:

• Meditation and Yoga daily
• Instruction from expert master craftsman with more than 35 years of experience. Rodolfo Saenz.
• Suitable for any level. From no experience to expert.
• You must be over 18 years old.
• All sample and practice will be in 1/10 scale
• Fresh fruit through out the day from the property and surrounding area plus 3 meals plant based food. 
• Reiki session or a guided personal healing session, at additional cost.
• Access to river and pond.
• Opportunity to become an apprentice and learn from a Bamboo Master, (6-12 month program).
• Hiking trails on property. 

 Bambú: 

• Learn about bamboo varieties for adobe walls
• Harvesting, processing, treatment and curing methods.
• Demonstration of tools and how to make a special knife
• Proper use of manual and electrical tools
• Splitting of bamboo, bending, drilling, pegging, lashing, fish mouths and other joinery techniques.
• How to make a fish mouth
• Make bamboo nails.
• Make a bamboo blanket
• Prepare walls before application of adobe

 Adobe: 

• Collect clay
• Test the % clay and recognize the quality of the clay
• Tests of clay cookies to measure resistance
• Different techniques of walls with clay
• Make adobe mixes
• Make blocks
• Make walls
• Plasters with clay and natural materials
• Clay paint
• Plasters with hydraulic lime
• Painting with hydraulic lime
• Tuning walls
• Creation of a living roof

*Limited space available*

*Accomodations vary according to room and privacy

$589 BYOT | $689 - $889 shared room | $889 - $989 for private / shared room*

*Ticos receive a 50% discount. Locals 20%*

Must be 18 or older. Please make sure you bring your own yoga mat and water bottle. We will send you an email with a list of prefered tools to have. 

Nos vemos en la jungla!