Rammed-earth + tadelakt workshops · El Valle Retreats

The Art of Building with Earth

Spend a week building with earth by hand in a working mountain village in Samaná, Dominican Republic. You'll help raise rammed-earth walls, then learn the polished lime finish used to protect and beautify them. Come for one workshop or stay for the full week.

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28 August – 3 September 2026El Valle, Samaná15 spaces

The workshop

EarthLab is a week of building with earth in El Valle, Samaná, led by the team at Terra Crua.

Two workshops, both hands-on. EarthWall runs four days, raising the first real rammed-earth walls for El Valle's retreat village. Tadelakt is three days, learning the polished, waterproof Moroccan lime finish.

We start with theory, how the material actually works, then get to the real work on site. Mixing. Setting formwork. Tamping courses. Troweling the finish.

No prior experience is needed, but there's enough depth here for architects, engineers, and builders. Come for one workshop or stay the full week. Either way, you go home with a certificate of participation, and a project still standing long after you've left.

Inside the process

You'll learn the principles first, then apply them in the field.

Theory

Evolution: Explore the history and evolution of earth construction.
Principles: Understand how rammed-earth walls gain their strength.
Soil Analysis: Learn how to identify and test suitable soils.
Mix Design: Create balanced mixes for strength and durability.
Bioclimatic Design: Discover how buildings naturally respond to climate.
Structural Design: Understand the fundamentals of earth-building structures.
Quality Control: Ensure consistent results throughout the building process.
Case Studies: Explore successful earth-building projects from around the world.

Hands-on

Mix Preparation: Prepare earth mixes using proven techniques and methods.
Formwork: Build and assemble the forms that shape each wall.
Compaction: Master layer-by-layer compaction for lasting strength.
Moisture Control: Manage moisture for durability and consistent performance.
Surface Finishes: Create clean, refined finishes using traditional techniques.
Site Workflow: Work efficiently as part of the building process.
Problem Solving: Identify common issues and learn how to correct them.

The full experience

A week shaped by more than the work.

Between workshops, there's time to slow down, move your body, explore El Valle, and connect with the group. The week is as much about connection as it is about building.

Movement in the garden

An intentional slow morning practice for recovery and restoration.

Breathwork + ice bath

A guided session to unwind and recover after a full day of meaningful physical work.

Cacao ceremony

A shared gathering rooted in local tradition, designed to bring our group together and taste the gifts of this land.

Come as you are

This workshop is for

Architects, engineers and builders

You'll go deeper into how earth structures work in practice, from soil to structure to finish.

Curious makers and students

No prior experience is needed. You'll learn everything on site through doing.

People who like working with their hands

A chance to spend a week building something real, getting hands-on with materials and being part of a shared process.

Terra Crua

Who teaches it

Terra Crua

Both workshops are led by Terra Crua, an earth-building practice. With care and expertise, they developed this program. It is guided on-site, and the instructors are there to support you through every stage of the build. At the end of the week, they provide you with a certificate of participation.

A week at EarthLab

Seven days building together — the rammed-earth wall, then the tadelakt finish.

Friday 28 August

EarthWall · Day 1 — Arrival, welcome + cacao

1:30 – 5:30 pmOfficial start of the EarthWall workshop. Group welcome, introduction to the build space and the earth material, soil selection, first mixing, and the first steps of the rammed-earth process.

6:30 – 8:00 pmTheory class. Welcome to EarthLab, an introduction to earth building, the history of rammed earth, and a first look at the soil we'll use during the workshop.

8:15 – 9:15 pmCacao circle. An opening gathering to bring the group together, connect with the land, and begin the experience with intention.

9:15 pmDinner.

Saturday 29 August

EarthWall · Day 2 — Soil, strength + first layers

8:00 amBreakfast.

8:30 am – 12:00 pmHands-on class on site. Learn how rammed-earth walls gain their strength; prepare and stabilize the earth mixture.

12:30 pmLunch.

1:30 – 5:30 pmHands-on class on site. Assemble the formwork and begin the first compacted layers. By the end of the day, the build has officially begun.

6:30 – 8:00 pmTheory class. Structural principles of rammed earth, mix proportioning, stabilization, and how the wall carries load.

8:15 – 9:15 pmYin yoga. A gentle practice to stretch, rest the body, and recover after the first full day on site.

9:30 pmDinner.

Sunday 30 August

EarthWall · Day 3 — Compaction + wall building

8:00 amBreakfast.

8:30 am – 12:00 pmHands-on class on site. Compaction techniques and how moisture affects the strength, density, and finish of the wall.

12:30 pmLunch.

1:30 – 5:30 pmHands-on class on site. The wall keeps growing layer by layer. Every participant gets hands-on experience and contributes to the build.

6:30 – 8:00 pmTheory class. Quality control, common mistakes, site organization, and how to spot and solve problems during the build.

8:30 pmDinner.

Monday 31 August

EarthWall · Day 4 — Reveal, finishes + closing

8:00 – 9:30 amBreathwork + ice bath. A guided session to activate the body, focus the mind, and prepare for the last day of the EarthWall workshop.

9:30 amBreakfast.

10:00 am – 12:00 pmClosing hands-on class. Remove the formwork and reveal the finished wall for the first time. Introduction to surface finishes, common challenges, and how to solve them.

12:30 pmLunch.

1:30 – 5:30 pmFinal hands-on session. Review the full rammed-earth process, go over finish details, final technical questions, and close the on-site work.

5:30 pmEnd of the EarthWall workshop.

8:30 pmDinner.*

Tuesday 1 September

Tadelakt · Day 5 — Introduction + first coat

8:00 amBreakfast.*

12:30 pmLunch.*

1:30 – 5:30 pmOfficial start of the Tadelakt workshop. Group welcome, an introduction to Tadelakt — its history, traditional uses, lime preparation, surface prep, and the technical logic of the process. Participants begin preparing the lime-based materials and the application surface.

5:30 pmEnd of the day.

8:30 pmDinner.

Wednesday 2 September

Tadelakt · Day 6 — Second coat, color + polishing

8:00 amBreakfast.

8:30 am – 12:00 pmHands-on class on site. Apply the first coat and learn the hand techniques that give Tadelakt its characteristic finish.

12:30 pmLunch.

1:30 – 5:30 pmHands-on class on site. Continue the finish, exploring texture, color, and compaction.

6:30 – 8:00 pmTheory class. Color, texture, compaction, polishing rhythm, working times, and how to read the surface as it closes.

8:30 pmDinner.

Thursday 3 September

Tadelakt · Day 7 — Soap treatment, final polish + closing

8:00 amBreakfast.

8:30 am – 12:00 pmHands-on class on site. Polishing with natural stone as the surface transforms into a smooth, compact finish.

12:30 pmLunch.

1:30 – 5:30 pmFinal hands-on session. The traditional olive-soap treatment that gives natural water resistance, then the final polish, surface review, final questions, certificates, and a closing circle.

5:30 pmEnd of the Tadelakt workshop and of the full EarthLab training.

Meals marked with * are only for participants in the full EarthWall + Tadelakt program with the full meal pack. All other meals are included according to the meal pack for each workshop.

“Before modern materials, most buildings were formed from the earth itself. What do we reconnect with when we build this way again?”

Tickets

Choose your workshop.

Take one workshop or the full week. Add a meal pack if you'd like meals handled. Reserve with a $200 deposit. The rest is due before the workshop.

Your package

Full Training · EarthWall + Tadelakt

Add Full Meal Pack · $1897 days of meals across the full programme.

Full Training · EarthWall + Tadelakt$589

Total$589

Deposit today$200

Balance of $389 due before the workshop.

Questions? Ask on WhatsApp

Secure card payment via Stripe.

Deposit & payment

A 50% deposit reserves your place. Pay it securely online by card.
The remaining balance is due up to 3 days before the workshop starts.
We send balance payment details (transfer or link) over WhatsApp after you reserve.
Booking within 3 days of the start? Contact us on WhatsApp to pay in full directly.

For your security, we never post bank details publicly. We send them privately over WhatsApp once you've reserved.

Where to stay

Accommodation, if you need it.

Rooms are separate and optional. A few options nearby, from a shared hostel bed to a private villa. Availability is confirmed directly over WhatsApp.

Shared hostel bed

Per person

$27 / night

Private room

Up to 2 people

$65 / night

Deluxe private room

Up to 2 people

$100 / night

Villa

Up to 3 people

$115 / night

Villa

Up to 4 people

$140 / night

Private pool house

Up to 8 people

$300 / night

Ask about a room

Subject to availability · confirmed over WhatsApp.

Good to know

Questions, answered.

Can I do just one workshop?+

Yes. Book EarthWall on its own (28–31 August), Tadelakt on its own (1–3 September), or the Full Training for both across the week at a better price.

What is tadelakt?+

Tadelakt is a traditional Moroccan lime plaster, polished with a stone and sealed with olive soap into a smooth, waterproof surface used on walls, sinks and baths. Over three days you learn to mix, apply and polish it.

Do I need building experience?+

No. Terra Crua teaches and directs, and we work as a group. You learn the recipe and the technique on site. There is also enough depth for architects, engineers and builders.

Is there a certificate?+

Yes. Every participant gets a certificate of participation from Terra Crua for each workshop they complete.

How physical is it?+

It is hands on and physical, in the heat. You will be mixing, lifting, tamping and troweling across the days. Tell us about any limitations and we will advise.

What should I bring?+

Closed shoes, clothes you do not mind getting muddy, sun protection, and a water bottle.

How do I get to El Valle?+

Fly into Samaná (AZS) or Santo Domingo, then take a road transfer to El Valle. We will help you plan the last leg over WhatsApp.

Where do I stay, and what about food?+

Accommodation is a separate, optional add-on with a few options from a shared hostel bed to a private villa, and we confirm availability over WhatsApp. Meal packs are an optional add-on to any ticket, and we cater to dietary needs.

What language is it in?+

English and Spanish.

Deposit, payment, and cancellation?+

A 50% deposit reserves your place and is paid securely online by card. The balance is due up to 3 days before the workshop, we send those details over WhatsApp after you reserve, and share the cancellation terms before you pay.

Why earth

Rammed earth and lime are simple materials with an extraordinary track record. They're local, low-impact, and built to last. Instead of telling you why they're remarkable, we'd rather hand you the tools and let you discover it for yourself.

15 spaces · 28 August – 3 September 2026