Ernie and I would be happy to travel there if the price is right. Rocket stoves are business to us, though, so we'd need travel costs covered plus a stipend for the weekend.
We've done workshops in the Toronto area in April 2009 and May 2010, and one of our students might be able to come down and give you some help for less cost. We plan to be back again in spring 2011, so you could cut the travel costs by synchronizing your workshop for spring.
If you can allow 6 months ahead to advertise, and put some energy into getting the word out, you can usually get enough paying participants to cover most of the costs or even turn a profit. But most people start planning when it starts getting cold, want a stove ASAP, with no budget. Spontaneous workshops rarely fill with paying participants, though you can often get a good crowd for a free work-party.
We're also happy to help from long distance, for unreasonably low consulting rates. We can send books, take a look at emailed plans, or answer questions on these forums and privately.
If you've got basic masonry experience (blocks and mud-pies), and can follow directions, it's very do-able to build a standard rocket mass heater without an expert on site. Standard means no exceptions to the design guidelines in the book. That's the only way to get the ultra-low costs that Ianto brags about: DIY and scavenging, no hired help.
We'll be in touch over email to talk specifics.
Yours,
Erica and Ernie Wisner
http://www.ErnieAndErica.info See also:
http://www.cobcottage.com (workshops twice a year in Oregon)
http://www.rocketstoves.com (get digital or print copies of The Book)
http://www.naturalbuild.ca (the Toronto connection)
