Natural Building Certificate / Intensive

The Natural Building Certificate is a unique course of study that brings together a collaborative group of experienced and enthusiastic instructors with students in an in-depth, hands-on experience in natural building, from the design and planning stages through the finishing touches. Students enrolled in the Summer 2008 program will help design and build a complete structure from start to finish- a workshop handcrafted from natural stone, straw, timber, and clay right down the road from Yestermorrow in Fayston, Vermont. This program provides the opportunity to develop a range of natural building skills for owner-builders and aspiring professional natural builders alike. Additionally, the Natural Building Certificate will incorporate natural building methods with more commonly utilized building techniques, emphasizing an integrated approach to natural building systems for a northern climate.

There are no prerequisites for entering the program. Applications will be accepted on a rolling admissions basis through May 1, 2008.

The Natural Building Certificate includes all of the courses listed below (8 full weeks of classes) for a total tuition of $4,800 plus food and lodging. The advisor for all students in this program will be Jacob Racusin and the workshop project will be the practicum for all certificate students.

The Natural Building Intensive is a comprehensive 11-week program and includes tuition for all the courses listed below, plus an additional 3 weeks of tutorials in between the classes covering all aspects of the building process. Intensive students will complete all requirements for the Natural Building Certificate as well. Tuition is $5,800 plus food and lodging.

2008 Course Schedule

Click here for the full curriculum
and course descriptions

Click here for the
Natural Building Certificate/Intensive Application


Scholarships and Work Trade

Yestermorrow offers a number of scholarship opportunities for students. Our goal is to make our classes affordable for everyone who is interested. We encourage all scholarship students to participate in our work trade program, although we can sometimes make exceptions (in the form of tuition grants) for people who can demonstrate that work trade is not a viable or adequate option for them. Work trade credit is calculated at $10 per hour of work on campus, and must be completed prior to the start of the class to which it is applied. The maximum amount of work trade which can be applied to Certificate Program tuition is 100 hours, or $1000. Click here to download a Scholarship Application.

Vermont Residents

Residents of the State of Vermont may be eligible for assistance through the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) Non-Degree Grant Program. The application process takes two weeks to a month, and funds are limited. Please contact VSAC in Winooski, VT at 800-642-3177 for more information.