In-PERSON COURSES

Upcoming Courses

Spring 2026 Registration

Limited
Space
Available

Spring 2026

5-day Course Fee: $2,500
Breakfast & Lunch provided every day.
All necessary tools, equipment & materials provided.

Dates: May 11 - 15, 2026
Location: White Salmon, WA

Map of the course area
(exact address provided after you register)

Receive a 10% early registration discount when you register before March 17, 2026. Use code 2026SPRING10 to receive the discount during registration.

Registration closes 2 weeks before the course starts
Space is limited. Registration will be closed as soon as the course is full.

COURSE BASICS

FIVE DAY PRACTICUM
Get your hands dirty, learning the mixing, delivering, forming, ramming and form-stripping phases of our SIREWALL system. Experience the construction of an active SIREWALL build.

ONLINE CLASSROOM
To maximize the hands-on practicum, we are creating an online component provides you with the opportunity to study the history, vocabulary, science, and theory of SIREWALL.

PERSONAL PROJECT CONSULTATION
Bring your project plans, ideas and dreams and get personalized feedback tailored to you. Whether you are building on a budget, creating a non-toxic space or focused on sustainability, we can support you in making your vision a reality. Meet one-on-one with a SIREWALL Master builder, a SIREWALL rammed earth expert architect, and a sustainable designer.

Although the focus of this course is on the SIREWALL rammed earth processes, we also give personalized attention to your project and dive into each component of a build with such as foundations, waterproofing, windows, roofing, off-grid systems, and design practices/theory.

Learn Special Details

In addition to forming, mixing, delivering and ramming, you will get instruction and/or experience with:

  • building blockouts for windows and doors

  • running conduit for electrical

  • sleeving plumbing

  • placing rebar and insulation

  • detailing and constructing connection details

  • finishing the tops of walls

  • forming and ramming corners

  • detailing waterproofing

What Sets Our COURSES Apart?

SIREWALL rammed earth courses teach you about building with rammed earth...but that is just the beginning.

We know people come to our courses because they want to do something with rammed earth (like build a home), not just learn about building with rammed earth.

Our course will also give you access to everything you need to complete your rammed earth project.

After over 30 years of experience building with rammed earth, we have figured out most everything there is to know and can provide those details to you.

We can put you in touch with architects, engineers and laborers/installers who have experience with rammed earth.
We can support you with finding the right mix design, formwork and equipment.
We can support with the permitting process.
We can support you the throughout the building process.
And much more.

For example: At SIREWALL, we only build rammed earth walls that start at 3000 psi and go up to 8000 psi, and can help you develop the right mix design for your walls, building codes and environmental conditions.

SAMPLE Daily Schedule

Day 1:

  • Safety procedures discussion and demonstration

  • Classroom session on rammed earth building, the SIREWALL system and forming

  • Build formwork

  • Start installing formwork

  • Introduction to mixing, delivering and ramming

Day 2:

  • Complete installation of formwork

  • Break into rotating small groups for mixing, delivering and ramming

  • Small group session on sustainable design with Expert Rammed Earth Architect

Day 3:

  • Break into rotating small groups for mixing, delivering and ramming

  • Special details

  • Small group session on DIY rammed earth building

Day 4:

  • Break into rotating small groups for mixing, delivering and ramming

  • Small group session on rammer and equipment maintenance

Day 5:

  • Remove formwork from remaining completed wall(s) 

  • Completed wall analysis

  • SIREWALL Rammed Earth Q&A

Meals

We provide breakfast and lunch to participants during the course. We will do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions.

Lodging and Transportation

Are not included in the course registration fee. We are happy to offer guidance on lodging and transportation services in each course location.

Recommended Gear

We provide all necessary tools and equipment. We ask that you bring your own PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), including: steel-toe boots, safety glasses, work gloves, work-appropriate clothing you don’t mind getting dirty.

Arizona

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Texas

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Washington State

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British Columbia

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We are looking for Hosts in other Areas

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Arizona :: Texas :: Washington State :: British Columbia :: We are looking for Hosts in other Areas ::

Participant COMMENTS

What were your key takeaways?

"That there is a community network of rammed earth enthusiasts that I can access and use as a resource."

 " That rammed earth is possible and that the SIREWALL process is the best in the world".

What new perspectives did you gain from participating in this course?

"I have been looking at rammed earth building for 20 yrs, I now know the SIREWALL process is the best."

"I confirmed that rammed earth will be my building material of choice."

General Feedback

"I was really excited to be surrounded by a bunch of people in this industry who have like-minded views about construction and how we can improve our impact on the world."

Expert INstruction

Learn from experts in modern rammed earth architecture and sustainable design. Attend classroom sessions and one-on-one consultations with our course instructors. 

Michael Palethorpe

Michael is a project manager for SIREWALL USA with approximately 10 years of rammed earth building experience. Including project managing for SIREWALL USA on one of the 10 largest homes in the United States, constructing features that had never before been built out of rammed earth.

Course Leader
SIREWALL Master Earth Mason and Co-Owner of Sirewall USA, LLC.

Joss Krayenhoff

Joss has 25+ years of SIREWALL experience and has been involved in much of the R&D creating and evolving our systems. Starting out as the clean-up kid on site and growing through each role in the company, Joss now operates the Canadian and overseas branches of SIREWALL and lends his expertise to course participants

One-on-One Project Consultations
SIREWALL Master Earth Mason and Co-Owner of Sirewall USA, LLC.

One-on-One Project Consultations and Architect at 4D Design

Andrea Keller

Andrea Keller is a licensed architect with 25 years of experience in multifamily, residential and boutique hotel design. A key component of Andrea’s work lies in the life-long study of sacred geometry, symbols and pattern language.  Andrea uses unique geometry and proportion systems for each project, bringing power and resonance to the design. Visit her website here.

Course Instructor
Director of Raising Earth

Arin sMITH

With over a decade of experience designing and building homes, Arin has always looked for better ways to create spaces of contentment. Seeing housing slip further out of reach for many families pushed him to find a new way forward - one rooted in human connection. Arin draws on a background in construction, sustainable planning, community development and natural resource
management. He approaches each project with a spirit of creativity and care, weaving together purpose, learning and our relationship with the Earth. Visit RaisingEarth.org here.