Yes! I will be teaching an olla hand-building class this spring at South Seattle Community College. The class will take place over two Saturdays; March 23 and March 30 from 10am-1pm. We will briefly go over the history and how-to of clay pot irrigation. Then we will get our hands ‘dirty’ hand-building a pot (or two!) to take home.
To sign up for this class, register online (Starting Feb 16) or by phone with the Continuing Education program at SSCC. Details in flyer below!
Sustainable Scientist 
So cool! I totally want to take your class…. but the commute is a bit far 😦 We might have to set up a weekend workshop sometime (and that way we can drink wine whilst working)!
-Erin
I’m trying to find the class online and not having any luck! I live right by you and walk past your olla’s daily with my dog. Found your blog before moving over here and knew exactly who it was when I say them in your garden beds. I would love to learn how to make them!
Hi April,
Thanks for your message and your interest! You can register for the class online following this link:
http://learnatsouth.org/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&int_class_id=22775&int_category_id=1&int_sub_category_id=10
Thanks so much!
I discovered your website after Googling around, trying to figure out how to make my own ollas. I wish I’d seen this class in time–it’d’ve been a great excuse to visit Seattle! (I’m in Chicago.)
I just read the post you wrote last year regarding the different clay bodies you’ve tried:
“I have made 15 ollas now from 5 clay types, all fired at ‘bisque’ temperatures (cone 06 ~ 1000 degC); Akio, Sculpture Buff, Red Art, Red Art with Sand, Brown Terracotta. The Red Art ollas are beautiful, but became vitreous – they hold water instead of seeping it. The other 4 clay bodies ‘work’ – in that they are porous and water the roots of nearby plants.”
I’m wondering which one you used for the class–or which one you’d ultimately recommend or opt for yourself. I’d appreciate any advice.
Thanks so much!
Amy
Hi Amy and Alicia, sorry I didn’t see this – TWO YEARS AGO! Unfortunately, I still don’t have a satisfying answer. What I have noticed is that the brown terracotta drains more quickly than the others, but I have not been able to determine if the plants prefer that! In general, I feel that the sculpture clays work best (akio, sculpture buff). If you are going to try this, please keep in touch – I would love to know how it works out for you!
Hi, I am a Colorado gardener. Would also love to know the answer to Amy’s question.
Thanks,
Alicia
Hi, I am a Colorado gardener, also interested in ollas. I would also love to know the answer to Amy’s question.
Thank you!
Alicia
Hi Alicia, I replied on the original post. I’ll just copy it here: Hi Amy and Alicia, sorry I didn’t see this – TWO YEARS AGO! Unfortunately, I still don’t have a satisfying answer. What I have noticed is that the brown terracotta drains more quickly than the others, but I have not been able to determine if the plants prefer that! In general, I feel that the sculpture clays work best (akio, sculpture buff). If you are going to try this, please keep in touch – I would love to know how it works out for you!