Thank you for your interest in attending our Charleston Hempcrete Building Workshop!!!
This will be a fun, hands-on learning experience where you learn about and build with Hempcrete (Hemp-Lime)!
INSTRUCTORS: These workshops will be taught by April Magill + several of our trained RDBC team members. April is an Architect, and the Founder/director of the Root Down Building Collective. She has been teaching natural building workshops for over a decade. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the American college of Building Arts, and is the Region 10 co-lead for the US Hemp Building Association (USHBA).
WHEN: Saturday, April 25, 2026 (9am-5pm) & Sunday, April 26, 2026 (9am-3pm)
COST: $250.00 USD
AGE: 16 and up
DESCRIPTION:
Join us for this Charleston Hempcrete Building Workshop!!! Students will be co-building the hempcrete (hemp-lime) walls of a permitted, historic accessory building in downtown Charleston, SC. Learn how you can utilize this plant-based, biogenic insulation system for historic restorations, conventional renovations, and for new construction.
Expect to get lots of hands-on experience with mixing the material properly and safely, and then installing it into a movable formwork in a stud-framed wall system. We will discuss different options for utilizing hempcrete as a part of a building’s wall assemblies. Students will be exposed to other materials and methods, both hemp-based and more.
In addition to our scheduled learning time, there is a wonderful community aspect to our workshops. We will provide lunch and dine together each day.
TOPICS COVERED:
mixing hempcrete / binder & hurd options / material sourcing
installing hempcrete with a movable form-work
framing options, structural considerations
natural plasters and finishing options
Building science - vapor-open assemblies and why that’s important
utilities, permitting, cost, code development, and more!
SAMPLE SCHEDULE (subject to change):
9:00-9:30 Arrival & Meet & Greet
9:30-12:45 Morning work session
12:45-1:30 Lunch
1:45-4:00 Afternoon work session
4:00-5:00 Topic discussion & Q/A
LOCATION:
This workshop is held at a residential address in historic, downtown Charleston, SC. The exact address will be provided to students as time nears.
FOOD:
Lunches will be included. We provide water, coffee, and tea, and light snacks. We will do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions. On Saturday, we’ll provide a Cob Oven Pizza Night!
LODGING:
Lodging on-site is not provided.
For camping and cabins, James Island County Park is 5 min. from the project location; they have a campground and cabins for rent.
The Not So Hostel hostel is located in downtown Charleston, 15 min. from the project location.
Folly Beach is a 15 min. drive from the project location; it's a good time of year to find an off-season beach house to rent for the weekend!
Otherwise, Charleston is a touristy town with many options for hotels and rentals.
CANCELLATIONS & WEATHER:
ALL SALES ARE FINAL!!!
We are a small organization and rely directly on workshop sales to help make these events possible; we simply cannot give refunds. We may have a wait list for each event; if we do, and you need to cancel, if we have someone on our waitlist who can take your spot, we will transfer your ticket to them. If there is no one on the waitlist, we will not be able to do so.
This is a 'rain or shine' event. In the event of a tropical storm, hurricane, or major weather event prediction, we will cancel the workshop if necessary. If this does happen, we will honor all ticket holders and work to reschedule the workshop within the next few weeks; we will offer credits for any ticket holders who cannot attend at the rescheduled time.
More info will be sent to all students leading up to the event.
Each workshop is limited to 10 people
We hope to see you there!
Thank you for your interest in attending our Charleston Hempcrete Building Workshop!!!
This will be a fun, hands-on learning experience where you learn about and build with Hempcrete (Hemp-Lime)!
INSTRUCTORS: These workshops will be taught by April Magill + several of our trained RDBC team members. April is an Architect, and the Founder/director of the Root Down Building Collective. She has been teaching natural building workshops for over a decade. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the American college of Building Arts, and is the Region 10 co-lead for the US Hemp Building Association (USHBA).
WHEN: Saturday, April 25, 2026 (9am-5pm) & Sunday, April 26, 2026 (9am-3pm)
COST: $250.00 USD
AGE: 16 and up
DESCRIPTION:
Join us for this Charleston Hempcrete Building Workshop!!! Students will be co-building the hempcrete (hemp-lime) walls of a permitted, historic accessory building in downtown Charleston, SC. Learn how you can utilize this plant-based, biogenic insulation system for historic restorations, conventional renovations, and for new construction.
Expect to get lots of hands-on experience with mixing the material properly and safely, and then installing it into a movable formwork in a stud-framed wall system. We will discuss different options for utilizing hempcrete as a part of a building’s wall assemblies. Students will be exposed to other materials and methods, both hemp-based and more.
In addition to our scheduled learning time, there is a wonderful community aspect to our workshops. We will provide lunch and dine together each day.
TOPICS COVERED:
mixing hempcrete / binder & hurd options / material sourcing
installing hempcrete with a movable form-work
framing options, structural considerations
natural plasters and finishing options
Building science - vapor-open assemblies and why that’s important
utilities, permitting, cost, code development, and more!
SAMPLE SCHEDULE (subject to change):
9:00-9:30 Arrival & Meet & Greet
9:30-12:45 Morning work session
12:45-1:30 Lunch
1:45-4:00 Afternoon work session
4:00-5:00 Topic discussion & Q/A
LOCATION:
This workshop is held at a residential address in historic, downtown Charleston, SC. The exact address will be provided to students as time nears.
FOOD:
Lunches will be included. We provide water, coffee, and tea, and light snacks. We will do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions. On Saturday, we’ll provide a Cob Oven Pizza Night!
LODGING:
Lodging on-site is not provided.
For camping and cabins, James Island County Park is 5 min. from the project location; they have a campground and cabins for rent.
The Not So Hostel hostel is located in downtown Charleston, 15 min. from the project location.
Folly Beach is a 15 min. drive from the project location; it's a good time of year to find an off-season beach house to rent for the weekend!
Otherwise, Charleston is a touristy town with many options for hotels and rentals.
CANCELLATIONS & WEATHER:
ALL SALES ARE FINAL!!!
We are a small organization and rely directly on workshop sales to help make these events possible; we simply cannot give refunds. We may have a wait list for each event; if we do, and you need to cancel, if we have someone on our waitlist who can take your spot, we will transfer your ticket to them. If there is no one on the waitlist, we will not be able to do so.
This is a 'rain or shine' event. In the event of a tropical storm, hurricane, or major weather event prediction, we will cancel the workshop if necessary. If this does happen, we will honor all ticket holders and work to reschedule the workshop within the next few weeks; we will offer credits for any ticket holders who cannot attend at the rescheduled time.
More info will be sent to all students leading up to the event.
Each workshop is limited to 10 people
We hope to see you there!
