Workshops (2026)

The Regenerative Building Workshop

Earth • Ecology • Economy

Why settle for conventional when you can build for health, longevity, and the planet?

This 3-day immersive experience at Regen Bristol moves beyond "how-to." We start with the science of why Earth is the most sophisticated building material available today, followed by hands-on training to turn your own soil into a high-performance home.

• Dates: June 26–28, 2026 (This window offers the most reliable weather for outdoor material handling and soil testing, and it aligns with the "recreo-touristic" season when the property is most accessible for camping and trail use)

• Location: 36 Ch. Ragged Chute, (Regen Bristol), Pontiac Region (Bristol), Quebec

• Led by: Frederic Pouyot, Founding Partner of Regen Bristol, E3Habitat and GPEKS Constructions Inc.

• Cost: FREE (Introductory Session)

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Before pressing a single brick, we'll dive deep into the E3 Framework to understand why the current building industry is failing our health and our wallets—and how Earth construction fixes it.

1. The Health Revolution (Ecology)

• The Third Skin: Learn how earth walls act as a "breathable" membrane, naturally regulating indoor humidity to 40–60%—the perfect range for human respiratory health and the elimination of mold.

• The EMF Shield: Discover how the density of earth provides a natural barrier against electromagnetic frequencies (5G, smart meters) that lightweight wood frames cannot block.

• Toxic-Free Living: Eliminate VOCs and off-gassing. Build a home that smells like the forest, not a chemical plant.

2. Thermal Intelligence (Economy)

• Thermal Mass vs. Insulation: Understand why earth walls keep you naturally cool in the summer and warm in the winter without heavy HVAC reliance.

• The 300-Year Asset: Unlike modern homes that depreciate, earth structures are multi-generational assets that appreciate in value due to their extreme durability and low maintenance.

3. Environmental Integrity (Earth)

• Zero-Carbon Footprint: Learn how using the earth from your own site removes the need for high-CO2 materials like concrete and steel.

• Preserving Forests: Building with earth saves an average of one acre of mature forest per home.

Agenda

THE VISION & SCIENCE

• Friday: The E3 Deep Dive

  • Afternoon Session 1: The Case for Earth: Health, Soundproofing, and Fire/Insect resistance.

  • Afternoon Session 2 : The Economics of Earth: Cost-comparison with traditional builds and "Sweat Equity" models.

  • Evening: Community welcome social at the lakefront.

THE APPLICATION

• Saturday Morning: The Material Science

  • Geology 101: Understanding your site's soil.

  • The "Jar Test" and "Ribbon Test": Practical labs to analyze soil samples.

• Saturday Afternoon: The Production

  • Hands-on with the CEB Manual Press.

  • The "Secret Sauce": Determining the unique recipe for stabilization and strength.

• Sunday: Architecture & Integration

  • Designing for the Canadian climate:

  • Special Tour: Exploration of the Regen Bristol estate

Beyond the Workshop

• Free On-Site Glamping in Cabin, Tipis (18) or Tents: Enjoy a property spanning over hundreds and well over 10 km trail network. Spots are reserved for the first 20 registrants.

• Community Mixer: Saturday night features Beach Volleyball and Latin Dance in the Saloon (community hall).

• The Next Step: This workshop is the prerequisite for our Advanced Paid Masterclass (Fall 2026), where we cover more details of construction, structural engineering, building permits, and commercial-scale production.

Note: A small "Sensory Station" opportunity to experience local (Ottawa, Gatineau area, Peterborough) earth building be provided as a pre or post session:

1. Sample of an Earth wall vs. a standard drywall/insulation section.

2. People will be able to feel the temperature difference and hear the sound-dampening qualities.

Logistics

• Accommodation: For those traveling from outside the Pontiac region, free boutique camping and farm-stay spots are available on-site for the first participants to register. Participants will have access to the property’s extensive trail network and private lake during their stay.

• Cost: Free. (Materials and instruction are provided at no cost to encourage sustainable building practices in the region).

• Concrete Benefit: Participants with active construction projects are encouraged to bring a soil sample from their own site. We will perform tests on your specific soil so you leave with a clear understanding of its viability for earth construction.

Take Action Now

Secure your spot and start your journey toward a healthier, more sustainable way of living.

"We don't just build walls; we build ecosystems that support life." — E3Habitat

Registration

Please complete the online registration form below to reserve your spot and secure on-site camping.

Focus: High-volume brick pressing and organized curing. Price: $200 (to cover accommodation and materials). Goal: Produce 1,500+ bricks for the interior partitions and thermal mass of Cabin 1.

• Morning (The Mix): Participants learn the specific "soil recipe" of Regen Bristol. Hands-on labs for sifting and mixing soil with stabilizers.

• Afternoon (The Press): Operating the manual CEB presses in teams.

• Curing Science: Learning the "Laying Out" protocol. Bricks must be stacked with proper airflow and kept out of direct sun/rain to prevent cracking.

• The Volunteer Incentive: Every participant in Session 1 gets a 50% discount on the build session or a free night of camping at Timberland. 

Objective: Construct walls of 100 sq. ft. demonstration unit utilizing four distinct wall assemblies and finishing methods.

By showing the "Hybrid" approach (load bearing CEB + Laminated wood post and beams), we address both the needs and expectations of affordable housing advocate with "Single-Wall" approach as well as the need and expectations of "high-end" green builder for multi-family buildings. 

Day 1: Structural Foundations & Load-Bearing Systems

We begin with the skeleton. Participants will be divided into two teams to test different load-bearing philosophies.

• Track A: Load-Bearing Masonry (iCEB): Constructing a single-wythe load-bearing wall using interlocking Compressed Earth Bricks. Focus on corner stability, leveling, and vertical reinforcement.

• Track B: Hybrid Post-and-Beam: Integrating Laminated Wood (GLULAM) framing with earth-fill. This allows for larger window spans and high-ceiling designs.

• The Science: Afternoon lecture on structural engineering calculations for seismic and wind-load resistance in earth buildings.

Day 2: The Thermal Envelope (Insulation & Air Barriers)

Today we solve the "Quebec Winter" challenge. We will apply two different insulation strategies to the walls built on Day 1.

• The Double Wall System: Creating a "Cavity Wall" using a double layer of CEB with a Roxul (Mineral Wool) core. This provides both massive thermal storage and high R-value.

• External High-Performance Wrap: Applying rigid insulation and MgO (Magnesium Oxide) boards directly to the earth structure to demonstrate a "monolithic" thermal break.

• The Science: Vapor permeability lab—testing how different assemblies "breathe" while maintaining airtightness.

Day 3: The Protective Skin (Siding & Finishes)

The final day focuses on aesthetics and durability. We will finish the building with four different "faces" to compare performance.

• Traditional Stucco (Lime/Earth Render): Applying a natural, breathable lime-based plaster directly to the brick.

• Rainscreen Wood Siding: Installing a vertical cedar rainscreen over the insulated MgO boards to show how to achieve a "modern" look.

• Direct-to-Brick Sealing: Testing natural silicates and oils on raw earth bricks for those who want the "exposed brick" aesthetic.

• The Science: Lifecycle analysis and maintenance schedules for different siding types in high-moisture environments.

Focus: Hands-on interior construction inside the log cottage. Date: 3–4 weeks after Session 1 (to allow for full curing). Price: FREE for volunteers (or $50 for new learners). Goal: Install the cured bricks into the cabin to demonstrate thermal mass and interior finishing.

• The Hybrid Shell: Participants see how to integrate earth bricks with the existing wood logs.

• Structural Approaches:

  • Internal Thermal Wall and rebars or wood post and beams : Building external wall and inside wall partition near the heat source (stove) for maximum thermal retention.

  • Insulation: Applying insulation and accessories to the cabin’s perimeter sections to demonstrate high-performance building envelopes.

• Finishing (Siding & Stucco):

  • Applying breathable lime stucco to the new interior brick walls.

  • Discussing the transition between the exterior log siding and the interior earth finishes.