Alô! I’m Tom, in 2020 I started living and learning in farm settings. Fascinated by humans, materials and shelter, I set out on an exploration of the connection between these, learning many techniques with masters of their crafts in different countries. What really get’s me going in specific is working with clay and wood. The last years I dove deeper into COB, building houses from top to bottom, COB ovens, rocket stoves and benches. More recently I’m timber framing more and more, combining this with COB or wattle and daub for example makes for beautiful houses. As for now, I’m immersing myself in Japanese earthen plastering in Japan. If you want to hire me for a job or join a workshop, contact me!

O Tom da Terra Teaching a COB workshop in Portugal
Yay! A bit of everything, working on all sides of the Kura in the narrowest spots, mixing a big batch of brown coat, cooking like wizards and new friendships. Big wall or 0.5 cm wide opening, I don’t really mind what I’m plastering, just
Techniques developed over centuries, old and proven to work by time itself. Grateful to spend my days learning and conserving lessons from the past to share and put them to use in the present and future. We’ve been working on… an earth
The Japanese plastering course and the days after have been awesome. Bamboo lattice, base coats, brown coats, Japanese finish coats, tadelakt, exposed aggregate, a lot of difficult words, amazing food and new friends. Thanks @kyleholzhueter , awesom
My first flirt with earthen plastering at @ecoaldeiadovale some years ago. At the eve of my long-awaited 3-month japanese plastering / permaculture journey to Japan I look back at this bloke with love and admiration, no idea what was awaiting him in
[ENGLISH TRANSLATION ARTICLE IN COMMENTS] Last week the provincial newspaper, @delimburger , came by for an interview. Thanks to journalist Joos Philippens for skillfully and without any fuss typing this. I feel aknowledged and proud! p.s. I think
[𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗕𝗨𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗣 | 𝗖𝗢𝗕, 𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥, 𝗟𝗜𝗠𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗭𝗘𝗗 𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗛 & 𝗧𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗞𝗧 | 𝟳-𝟭𝟬 𝗔𝗨𝗚𝗨𝗦𝗧] The very first natural building camp is officially online, a platform for expl