You don't practice on a wall.
You help finish a home.
EarthLab is a 10-day natural building event centered around Casa de Barro our earthen home built with earth, natural materials, and regenerative design principles.
Unlike traditional workshops that focus on temporary practice walls, EarthLab invites you to become part of a real project. Throughout the event you'll contribute to the final stages of Casa de Barro while learning the complete story behind its construction from the first foundation to the final protective finish.
This is an opportunity to understand not only how natural buildings are made, but why each decision matters.
From raw earth to
polished stone
EarthLab follows one material through every stage it can become.
You start in the mud — digging, testing, and mixing local soil, learning what a wall is actually made of. That's the first couple of days.
The rest of the event goes into the finish: lime mixed with finely ground marble, applied in coats thinner than a sheet of paper and burnished by hand until the surface reads like polished stone.
earth → wall → lime → marble → polished stone
This is the marmorino and tadelakt family of finishes — an old craft, rarely taught, and almost never taught on a real house.
Working with Earth
Testing local soil — clay, sand, silt Mixing by feel and correcting ratios Base and body coats Repairing cracks and hollows Texture and sculptural detail
Working with Lime & Marble
How lime cures — and why it turns back into stone. Mixing lime plaster and reading its timing. Applying micro-thin lime and marble coats. Burnishing by hand with trowel and river stone. Waterproofing with soap. Beeswax finishing. Natural pigments
Why Lime?
Lime starts as limestone. It's fired, slaked with water, and applied wet — and then, as it cures, it pulls carbon dioxide back out of the air and turns into calcium carbonate again.
Into stone.
It breathes, it closes its own hairline cracks, and it lasts centuries. In a climate as humid as this one, a wall that manages moisture instead of trapping it isn't a philosophy. It's building science.
You begin with stone weathered into soil.
You end by returning it to stone, by hand.
A rhythm of learning, movement, community & nature
Days begin with Morning Movement and a nourishing farm breakfast before gathering at Casa de Barro. Afternoons continue with hands-on work and collaborative learning then everyone comes together for dinner and evening activities. Beyond the workshops, you'll settle into the slower rhythm of community life: shared meals, conversations around the fire, and time in the surrounding rainforest.
7:00 AM
8:15 AM
8:45 AM
9:30 AM
13:00 PM
Afternoon
6:00 PM
Evening
Morning Movement
Yoga, boxing, workouts etc. The play house invites us all to move and stay physical. The program is co-created, though the community makes sure it's top quality.
Breakfast
Tropical fruits, eggs, fresh bread, banana bread, coffee; healthy food fit for foodies. No specific diets, but we accommodate those who have.
Community Sync Up
Protopia team and volunteers (guests recommended to join) meet for a morning check in. First, we do a quick emotional check, and after we share what is going on during the day, so everyone knows, and can participate on available projects. We close it with a fun fact, or a concept of the day.
Natural Building Sessions
The main working session at Casa de Barro. Mixing, applying, and finishing — with Gonzo and the team working alongside you. Tools, materials, and guidance provided.
Lunch
Lunch prepared daily. The table fills up, conversations start. Sometimes the best ideas come from lunch.
Hands-on Plastering & Workshops
The second working session — usually the finish coats and burnishing, which need patience and time. When the day's work is done, the waterfalls and the jungle are a five-minute walk away.
Dinner
The main meal. Everyone sits together. Views reaching toward Lake Nicaragua. This is where friendships form.
Community Fun
Some nights there’s music and conversation around the fire. Some nights are quiet. The space is open for connection; always an invitation, never an obligation.
Anyone curious about natural building & regenerative living
Whether you're an architect, builder, designer, artist, permaculture practitioner, homeowner, or simply someone looking to reconnect with traditional building methods — you'll find a place here.
No previous experience required. All you need is curiosity, a willingness to learn, and a desire to work with your hands.
WHAT YOU'LL TAKE HOME
Practical experience in earthen plastering
A deeper understanding of natural building
Confidence to begin your own projects
New friendships and community
A lasting connection to Casa de Barro
One price covers everything: the full 10-day program, nine nights of accommodation, all meals, all materials and tools, and the full-day excursion. Choose where you'd like to sleep.
Every stay includes
Nine nights of accommodation
Morning
Movement
Three farm meals
each day
All materials
and tools
One full-day
excursion
Access to all workshops & discussions
Fire
Circle
Help with
transportation
Frequently asked questions
Facilitated by:
Alon "Gonzo" López
Protopia’s resident natural builder and the lead builder of Casa de Barro.
He’ll share the techniques and craftsmanship behind natural plastering and earthen finishes.
Protopia Community Team
A collective of makers, builders, and creatives sharing years of hands-on experience in natural construction.
"Building with earth is about more than construction. It is about understanding materials, slowing down the process, learning through practice, and creating spaces that are beautiful and deeply connected to their environment. By contributing to Casa de Barro, every participant becomes part of a story that continues long after the event has ended."
Protopia Community
We’d love to get
to know you.
Please take a few minutes to complete this application. We’ll review it and get back to you shortly with availability and the next steps.