The Perfect Earth Plaster Course

Learn how to understand, mix and apply earth plaster confidently using the clay around you.

A practical online course used by natural builders, renovators and craftspeople around the world.

“It’s really the best of both worlds: extremely detailed hands-on guidance to see and feel how the materials behave, and better information than in most books because it’s grounded in real experience.”
— Rebecca, clay plasterer, Australia

Skill, Craft, and Material Understanding

Earth plaster is one of the most satisfying, useful, and beautiful skills I’ve ever learned.

It opens up a world of possibilities — from plastering walls and restoring old stonework, to sculptural details, cob ovens, wattle and daub, paints, mosaics, and more. Some people come to this work to build entire houses. Others come because they’re drawn to the material itself — its texture, behaviour, and quiet beauty.

This course supports both.

You’ll learn how earth plaster actually works, not through rigid recipes, but by understanding how clay, sand, fibre, climate, and substrate interact. Once you understand that, you can make good plaster almost anywhere, with the materials around you.


A Practical Course - Grounded in Real Experience

I won’t pretend earth plaster is effortless. At the beginning, it can be frustrating. Mixes fail. Plaster cracks or falls off. And a lot of advice out there simply doesn’t work once you leave the conditions it was written for.

This course exists because of my own experience.

Back in 2011, I was stuck on a remote hill, unable to buy books or materials, with plaster that kept failing, and no clear explanation as to why. What I needed then was not theory, but seeing and feeling what works.

That’s why this course is taught through video, demonstration, and explanation together. It works far better in a digital format than in books.

“I started the course and I think it is guaranteed money well spent.”
— Nick R, Mexico


Who This Course Is For

People plastering their first wall

If you're plastering cob, straw bale, sandbag, or other natural walls, understanding how materials behave will save you a great deal of frustration.

Natural builders rendering a house

If you're plastering cob, straw bale, sandbag, or other natural walls, understanding how materials behave will save you a great deal of frustration.

Renovators working with old buildings

Older walls need breathable finishes. Earth plaster can be a beautiful and appropriate option when it’s applied correctly.

Creative people who want to experiment

Once you understand the material, earth plaster opens the door to sculptural walls, natural paints, mosaics and decorative finishes.

“Very informative and good instructions in the text and videos!”
— Nanda Doornik, Ireland

This entire painted wall sculpture was created from clays I found on my land.

Who This Course Is Not For

  • Experienced professional plasterers who already work fluently with earth
  • People looking mainly for theory, history, or academic discussion
  • Anyone just wanting shortcuts or rigid formulas without understanding the material

This is a practical course for people who want to actually understand and work with earth.

What You’ll Learn

This is a comprehensive, practical course that takes you from raw materials to finished surfaces.

You’ll learn:

  • How to find and test clay
  • What each ingredient does in a plaster
  • How to design mixes that actually work
  • How to prepare different substrates
  • How to mix, apply, and finish plaster
  • How climate affects your results
  • How to troubleshoot common (and uncommon) failures
  • How to protect, maintain, and finish earth plaster well

There are also additional lessons on:

  • Burnishing
  • Sculpting and mosaics
  • Clay paint
  • Insulating plaster
  • Lime in plaster and lime wash
  • Using earth plaster as a building material (wattle and daub, cob, mud mortar)

This is not a skim. It’s the nuts and bolts explained clearly enough that you can work out why something is going wrong, not just copy instructions.


"Thanks Atulya! I am going through your videos and finding them very useful!" Muriel Kakani, plastering a school in India.

Success Stories

Over 200 people have enrolled in the Perfect Earth Plaster Course. Here are just a few of the results.

Camilla's farmhouse in Germany,"I've fallen in love with clay."


Jen's gorgeous plasterwork in Australia


Cath Coffey's earthbag house in London. Cath took the Perfect Earth Plaster Course before applying this render. "This course was invaluable," she said.

Help Desk

Contact The Mud Home at atulyakbingham@themudhome.com

You will receive a reply within 2 working days (usually much faster).

FOR THE FULL CURRICULUM CLICK ON THE ARROW AFTER SECTION 2


DISCLAIMER:

The author is not responsible for any damages, accidents, or injuries that may result from creating and applying natural renders, or by living with them. Testing all earth plaster mixes on the substrate you intend to render is always necessary.



Your Instructor


Atulya K Bingham
Atulya K Bingham

Hi! I'm Atulya. I've lived off-grid and built with mud for over ten years. My love of natural building arose from nowhere. Back in 2011 I was living in a field in Turkey. Bit by bit, out of necessity I taught myself to build with mud. It became a creative passion. Within a year I had constructed a house. A year later I installed solar power. I have been in nature, mud building and writing about it ever since.

Today I am founder and author of The Mud Home natural building and off-grid freedom website. I also write about natural building for publications such as Mother Earth News and the Owner Builder Magazine.


Course Curriculum


  Introduction
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  1. Understanding and Finding Your Ingredients.
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  2. How to Mix Your Plaster for the Best Results.
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  3. Testing Your Plaster
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  4. Preparing the Surface you Want to Plaster.
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  5. Applying the Plaster.
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  6. What Went Wrong? A Trouble Shooting Guide.
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  7. Other Ingredients You Can Add to Your Plaster.
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  8. How to Make Earth Plaster Water Resistant.
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  9. Maintaining, Repairing, and Protecting Your Earth Plaster.
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  10. Creating Beautiful Finishes (Advanced).
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  11. From Plaster to Cob: Using a Mud Mix to Build
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Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends. It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
I like happy people. The intention of this course is to be useful and empowering. So, if you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact me (atulyakbingham@themudhome.com). In the first 28 days and I will give you an automatic full refund no questions asked.
Is this course suitable for beginners?
Yes absolutely. It will take you through earth plaster from beginning to end in 9 structured lessons. Even if you've never touched dirt before, you will soon become a pro.
I'd love to have a go at plastering but don't have a house.
This course was designed for pretty much any location. It's actually a super idea to learn this skill before you have a house! You will save yourself a lot of time and trouble in the long. And you can use earth plaster for so many other things: Sculptures, cob ovens, pet homes, and more. The course gives instructions on how to make a plaster board if you don't have a wall. You can do the practicals in your garden, in a small back yard. Even on a balcony.
I'm having trouble with my earth plaster. Will this help me?
It is awful when your plaster fails (ask me how I know). An entire section of the course is devoted to understanding what makes plaster tick, and why it can go wrong. By the end you should understand how to get plaster right in pretty much any climate, with various soils and on different surfaces. If not, feel free to ask for your money back.
Is the course all theory?
Not at all! There are easy practical assignments at the end of each section that you can do pretty much anywhere.
Can I download the material?
The course has especially been designed with off-gridders and limited internet in mind, so everything can be downloaded for reference and later study.
Is this course going to teach me how to build a house?
No, this isn't a house building course. It's all about mixing, applying and protecting earth plaster.
Where can I get support?
If you need help or you're having trouble with the course, write to atulyakbingham@themudhome.com . Although I usually respond within a day, because I'm off-grid and time zones vary, it may take up to 48 hours. Please check your spam folder if you can't see my email, I always reply! Please add EARTH PLASTER STUDENT in your title for a faster response.

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