The Upland Hills School just down the road, is a long-time friend of Strawbale Studio. This May 22, 2025 Deb Byrd brought her “Sassafras Group” of 10-12 year olds to visit Strawbale Studio for a tour of the buildings and an Earth Sculpting Class.
The Earth Sculpting class was an experience all the way from digging and screening the sub-soil earth from the land, to mixing it on a tarp, then sculpting a project of their choice on a wooden board. This technique is also called “cob” ~ an old English word meaning rounded lump or mass.
Many traditional houses & earth ovens are made of “Cob”.
The whole time was delightful! It was a time of joy and great enthusiasm! Digging & sifting was a favorite part, using wheel barrows, mixing the earth with bare feet or in shoes….and even sculpting with involvement and focus through a light rain, even when offered the shelter of being under the building roof lines! This group is used to being outside! During covid they held school in outdoor tents, and teacher Deb Byrd said it was a magical year!
So far this school year the class has eaten their lunch outdoors every day but three! They are a strong, sturdy, kind group….and well guided by their gentle and competent teacher! Upland Hills School is a caring place that support the youth, as well as the parents, in a warm community. There are arts and theater, outdoor multi-age activities, a little village of stick structures made by the youth, academic classes, and lots of relationship with nature! Highly recommended!
When Deb requested a field trip here this year she wrote: The last time we visited, the parents used the words “magical” and “enchanting” to describe our time with you. And the children got back to school and ran to their “clay mine” in the woods, to begin making cob! How lovely! ”
It was a highlight of the year for me to be with the class in this way. I love the flow of sharing, teaching, and interacting with these awesome souls!
Deanne
