Earthship Pomonal
Sustainable Construction Course
(after Easter) 11 Apr - 9 May 2026, Pomonal VIC (Grampians Region)
We’re charting course for a new Earthship adventure on the lands of the Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali peoples — join the eco-construction crew!
Come and experience Earthship construction and community by helping Dee to rebuild after a bushfire destroyed her home recently. Dee is rebuilding with an Earthship at the heart of her beautiful bush block, plus there are also some innovative outbuildings made with shipping containers.
For four whole weeks, we’ll be crafting a radically sustainable, bushfire resilient, off-grid home from natural and recycled materials — think tyres, earth, straw, bottles, cans, and a lot of community spirit. You’ll also get experience with some conventional materials – concrete, steel, and timber. It’s hands-on. It’s brains-on. It’s all hands on deck for this community build. And yes, you're gonna get a bit muddy! Once a week, we will take a day-off, to rest, relax, celebrate community, and to explore Pomonal, the Grampians and beyond.
No building experience? No worries. If you’re keen to learn, up for a challenge, and happy to lend a hand with dishes now and then — you’re perfect. We all take turns cooking, cleaning, and keeping the site joyful. Community care is part of the curriculum.
Come and experience Earthship construction and community by helping Dee to rebuild after a bushfire destroyed her home recently. Dee is rebuilding with an Earthship at the heart of her beautiful bush block, plus there are also some innovative outbuildings made with shipping containers.
For four whole weeks, we’ll be crafting a radically sustainable, bushfire resilient, off-grid home from natural and recycled materials — think tyres, earth, straw, bottles, cans, and a lot of community spirit. You’ll also get experience with some conventional materials – concrete, steel, and timber. It’s hands-on. It’s brains-on. It’s all hands on deck for this community build. And yes, you're gonna get a bit muddy! Once a week, we will take a day-off, to rest, relax, celebrate community, and to explore Pomonal, the Grampians and beyond.
No building experience? No worries. If you’re keen to learn, up for a challenge, and happy to lend a hand with dishes now and then — you’re perfect. We all take turns cooking, cleaning, and keeping the site joyful. Community care is part of the curriculum.
What You’ll Get
What You Need
White Card (safety training)
We need everyone on site to have a valid "White Card". This ensures everyone has a basic level of understanding about safety on a construction site.
If you don't already have one, you need to invest 1 day of your time (6hr course) and about $100 to obtain one. In Victoria White Cards must be done face-to-face (not online). This is a basic qualification required for you to legally be allowed on a construction site in Victoria.
You will be asked to send a photo of your White Card prior to the workshop so if you don't have one yet, get ahead of the curve and get one ASAP!
Click HERE for info about how to get a White Card or to upload a photo of your current White Card.
- Real skills and knowledge in natural building, passive solar design, bushfire resilient design, off-grid systems, wastewater systems, and earth-friendly construction. And how-to navigate design, engineering and council approval processes.
- Building the tyre wall including the cooling tubes, thermal wrap and earth berm (disaster resilient earthen armour)
- Building the ferro-cement bushfire resilient earth-covered roof - "the vault"
- Building the indoor greywater garden in the greenhouse/sunroom
- Cob stomping ! Mixing sand, clay and straw - with your feet!
- Making bottle bricks and creating some beautiful bottle walls
- Delicious meals – cooked by us, shared by all, all diets catered for. Please note: to give the chief chef a break, on the weekly rest day you should plan to support a local café, pub, restaurant, supermarket etc. But otherwise, all your meals will be provided and are included in the cost.
- Camping under the stars, in the bush. Bring your own swag, tent or van. Camp site will be either on Dee's construction site (if the local community and council are supportive) or at a nearby campground.
- Daily rhythms – morning warm-up exercises, community check-in, safety briefing, days of creating with natural and recycled materials, evenings of design theory, food and games, campfire fun.
- Certificate of Completion to mark the epic journey and to pave the way for meaningful employment in the sustainable construction industry.
What You Need
White Card (safety training)
We need everyone on site to have a valid "White Card". This ensures everyone has a basic level of understanding about safety on a construction site.
If you don't already have one, you need to invest 1 day of your time (6hr course) and about $100 to obtain one. In Victoria White Cards must be done face-to-face (not online). This is a basic qualification required for you to legally be allowed on a construction site in Victoria.
You will be asked to send a photo of your White Card prior to the workshop so if you don't have one yet, get ahead of the curve and get one ASAP!
Click HERE for info about how to get a White Card or to upload a photo of your current White Card.
Camping Gear
Bring your tent, swag, or van. A solar shower bag may be a good investment, otherwise it could be a daily rinse at the local swimming spot. Click HERE for a list of suggested items.
PPE (personal protection equipment)
Appropriate footwear, gloves, safety glasses/safety sunnies, ear plugs - please bring your own personal supplies and we will supply any specialised PPE you will need such as hard hats etc. Click HERE for a list of suggested items.
Bring your tent, swag, or van. A solar shower bag may be a good investment, otherwise it could be a daily rinse at the local swimming spot. Click HERE for a list of suggested items.
PPE (personal protection equipment)
Appropriate footwear, gloves, safety glasses/safety sunnies, ear plugs - please bring your own personal supplies and we will supply any specialised PPE you will need such as hard hats etc. Click HERE for a list of suggested items.
TICKET PRICES
🌿 Early Bird
$1,400
For the quick and committed (until 1 March 2026)
🐢 Late Bird
$1,600
If you need more time (after 1 March 2026)
🎓 Early Student / Concession
$1,200
For the quick and committed, students or unwaged (until 1 March 2026)
🎓 Late Student / Concession
$1,400
Students and unwaged not ready to jump yet (after 1 March 2026)
💚 Returning Earthshippers
$800
You've done 2+ weeks on a workshop with Martin? You’re golden. Limited places
🖤 Indigenous Scholarship
$200
3 places reserved for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander participants – we respect you.
We believe learning and building should be accessible. Got a story or circumstance you’d like us to consider? Reach out.
🌿 Early Bird
$1,400
For the quick and committed (until 1 March 2026)
🐢 Late Bird
$1,600
If you need more time (after 1 March 2026)
🎓 Early Student / Concession
$1,200
For the quick and committed, students or unwaged (until 1 March 2026)
🎓 Late Student / Concession
$1,400
Students and unwaged not ready to jump yet (after 1 March 2026)
💚 Returning Earthshippers
$800
You've done 2+ weeks on a workshop with Martin? You’re golden. Limited places
🖤 Indigenous Scholarship
$200
3 places reserved for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander participants – we respect you.
We believe learning and building should be accessible. Got a story or circumstance you’d like us to consider? Reach out.
EARTHSHIPS
For more information about Earthships go to:
- Earthships are super energy and water efficient homes that are typically off-grid but can also be grid connected. This means minimal (or zero!) water and electricity bills plus the empowering feeling of self-sufficiency. Due to their energy and water efficiency these buildings require much smaller off-grid systems than comparable off-grid homes. Earthships are ideal for off-grid locations.
- Earthships are made with natural materials such as earth and straw and up-cycled materials such as tyres and bottles. Other conventional materials as used too: steel, timber, glass, concrete etc - you will learn about all of them.
- An array of amazing and beautiful design features (sunroom, berm and earthtubes) are integrated ingeniously to ensure that winter sun gets in and summer sun stays out, resulting in glorious indoor living conditions without the need for an air-conditioner.
- A beautiful indoor food producing garden is also part of the typical (non-tropical) Earthship design.
- Earthship construction methods are easy to learn so you can save money by putting in your own labour and only pay the builder to do the stuff you can't do. It is ideal for owner-builders.
For more information about Earthships go to:
- Earthship Eco Homes official website: www.earthshipecohomes.com.au/
- Earthship Ironbank official website: www.earthshipironbank.com.au/
- Earthship Biotecture USA official website: www.earthshipglobal.com/
Amy's Earthship Goolwa - photo credits Amy Mackenzie and Martin Freney
Photos from Earthship Inman Valley Workshop 2020 (photo credits: Luke Marshall, Elliott Clarke, Amy Mackenzie, Kim Kamo
Workshop photos from Earthship Ironbank over the years 2013-2017
EDUCATORS
Dr Martin Freney is one of world's most enthusiastic and prolific Earthship builders, designers and researchers. In fact Michael Reynolds, Earthship god-father, refers to him as "the data guy" because of Marty's research that involves monitoring the thermal performance (temperature, humidity) of Earthships. Marty is the designer and owner-builder of Earthship Ironbank, Australia’s first council approved Earthship which is a wildly popular BnB. He has designed numerous Earthships throughout Australia via his sustainable design consultancy Earthship Eco Homes. He has visited Taos, New Mexico, USA - home of the Earthship - twice, once as an intern in 2008 and a second time in 2011 as part of his PhD which investigated the thermal performance of Earthships and their eco footprint compared to other types of housing. He has built Earthships with Earthship Biotecture in the USA, Indonesia and Australia. With a background in academia at the University of South Australia, Marty now channels his love of teaching into sharing what he knows (and loves) about Earthships and sustainable living.
Dr Martin Freney is one of world's most enthusiastic and prolific Earthship builders, designers and researchers. In fact Michael Reynolds, Earthship god-father, refers to him as "the data guy" because of Marty's research that involves monitoring the thermal performance (temperature, humidity) of Earthships. Marty is the designer and owner-builder of Earthship Ironbank, Australia’s first council approved Earthship which is a wildly popular BnB. He has designed numerous Earthships throughout Australia via his sustainable design consultancy Earthship Eco Homes. He has visited Taos, New Mexico, USA - home of the Earthship - twice, once as an intern in 2008 and a second time in 2011 as part of his PhD which investigated the thermal performance of Earthships and their eco footprint compared to other types of housing. He has built Earthships with Earthship Biotecture in the USA, Indonesia and Australia. With a background in academia at the University of South Australia, Marty now channels his love of teaching into sharing what he knows (and loves) about Earthships and sustainable living.
Marty won't be teaching this course alone! Announcing more eco-construction educators soon....
HOST & OWNER BUILDER
Dee Kelly is the intrepid owner builder embarking on this voyage. Dee's home burnt down in the Pomonal bushfire in early 2024 and she is rebuilding with a bushfire resilient Earthship plus some outbuildings made from shipping containers. Dee is a dedicated and active member of the Pomonal community, driving a sustainable future through her gutsy yet nonchalant leadership. Just do it. Way to go Dee!
DESIGN
Dee's Earthship is based on the EarthBnB design that was built in Willunga SA in 2023 but with a few differences to suit Dee's situation and preferences. Read more about the EarthBnB design on the EarthBnB webpage.
Dee Kelly is the intrepid owner builder embarking on this voyage. Dee's home burnt down in the Pomonal bushfire in early 2024 and she is rebuilding with a bushfire resilient Earthship plus some outbuildings made from shipping containers. Dee is a dedicated and active member of the Pomonal community, driving a sustainable future through her gutsy yet nonchalant leadership. Just do it. Way to go Dee!
DESIGN
Dee's Earthship is based on the EarthBnB design that was built in Willunga SA in 2023 but with a few differences to suit Dee's situation and preferences. Read more about the EarthBnB design on the EarthBnB webpage.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS - PLEASE READ!
1. No refunds (with a few unlikely exceptions - see below). Please be sure you have made all the necessary arrangements to your life before you make payment. If necessary, you may transfer your place in the course to another suitable person (who has been accepted via the online registration system) but your payment is non-refundable.
2. In the event of lack of insufficient interest in the event/course/workshop, mishap with council approval, bushfire, extended heat-wave, pandemic shut-down/border closures/quarantine, or other calamitous event, the course will be postponed or cancelled. If the organisers postpone the event, you can decide to receive a 90% refund (10% is retained to cover administration expenses), or you can keep your ticket and attend on the new (postponed) dates. If the organisers cancel the event, you will receive a full refund.
3. Your travel expenses will NOT be refunded under any circumstances.
4. Your place in the workshop/masterclass is finalised on receipt of full payment.
5. Participants who are unable to comply with instructions regarding the safe and the orderly running of the event/course/workshop will NOT be allowed to participate any further in the activities (including camping) and will forfeit their payment for the workshop (NO refund).
6. Be kind to each other - sexual, racial or any type of harassment will not be tolerated.
7. If you are under 18 years of age, you must have your parent/guardian's permission (ask them to send an email).
8. All participants must complete the online registration form and agree to these terms and conditions.
If you have any questions please email Martin Freney via the web form here: https://www.earthshipecohomes.com.au/contact.html
1. No refunds (with a few unlikely exceptions - see below). Please be sure you have made all the necessary arrangements to your life before you make payment. If necessary, you may transfer your place in the course to another suitable person (who has been accepted via the online registration system) but your payment is non-refundable.
2. In the event of lack of insufficient interest in the event/course/workshop, mishap with council approval, bushfire, extended heat-wave, pandemic shut-down/border closures/quarantine, or other calamitous event, the course will be postponed or cancelled. If the organisers postpone the event, you can decide to receive a 90% refund (10% is retained to cover administration expenses), or you can keep your ticket and attend on the new (postponed) dates. If the organisers cancel the event, you will receive a full refund.
3. Your travel expenses will NOT be refunded under any circumstances.
4. Your place in the workshop/masterclass is finalised on receipt of full payment.
5. Participants who are unable to comply with instructions regarding the safe and the orderly running of the event/course/workshop will NOT be allowed to participate any further in the activities (including camping) and will forfeit their payment for the workshop (NO refund).
6. Be kind to each other - sexual, racial or any type of harassment will not be tolerated.
7. If you are under 18 years of age, you must have your parent/guardian's permission (ask them to send an email).
8. All participants must complete the online registration form and agree to these terms and conditions.
If you have any questions please email Martin Freney via the web form here: https://www.earthshipecohomes.com.au/contact.html
REGISTRATION AND TICKETS
STEP 1 - ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM
Please fill out the online registration form by clicking on the I'M ON BOARD button. We need your contact details and would like to understand a little bit about who are, what you like to eat, what type of vehicle you are bringing, why you want to attend the workshop etc. You also need to accept the terms and conditions that are listed above.
STEP 1 - ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM
Please fill out the online registration form by clicking on the I'M ON BOARD button. We need your contact details and would like to understand a little bit about who are, what you like to eat, what type of vehicle you are bringing, why you want to attend the workshop etc. You also need to accept the terms and conditions that are listed above.
STEP 2 - PURCHASE TICKET
At the end of the online registration form there are bank details you can use to make a deposit or purchase a ticket. Or click HERE for bank details.
At the end of the online registration form there are bank details you can use to make a deposit or purchase a ticket. Or click HERE for bank details.
STEP 3 - GET READY!
Put those dates in the diary and get ready mentally and physically... you're in for an adventure!
And please help us spread the word about this workshop - tell your friends!
Put those dates in the diary and get ready mentally and physically... you're in for an adventure!
And please help us spread the word about this workshop - tell your friends!