Every Monday from November 9, 2026 to April 12, 2027, Magora opens its gate for a day of building, learning and shared food. You do not need any experience, and you do not need to stay all day. Come for the work, the pizza, or both.
Community build day, from 10 a.m.
Volunteer work starts at 10 a.m. The tasks change with the season and with whatever the land needs most, but they usually involve natural building, land restoration or the systems that keep an off-grid site running. One week might be mixing earth and filling hyperadobe bags; another might be shaping a swale, planting natives or helping set up a monitoring node. Someone experienced works alongside newcomers, so you learn by doing rather than by watching.
Cob-oven pizza night, from 5 p.m.
Around 5 p.m. we light the cob oven. We provide the dough and the fire, and you bring your favorite toppings. A wood-fired earth oven cooks a pizza in a few minutes, so the evening turns into a slow rotation of people stretching dough, swapping toppings and talking while the sun goes down over the desert.
What to bring
Sturdy closed-toe shoes, work gloves, a hat, sun protection and more water than you think you need will make the day comfortable. Bring a layer for the evening, since desert nights cool off quickly once the sun drops. For pizza night, bring a topping or two to share.
Getting here
Magora is in a remote part of the Chihuahuan Desert outside Terlingua, reached by rough dirt roads. Most vehicles with moderate clearance make it without trouble, but if you are unsure about yours, ask us before you set out. Write to themagoraproject@gmail.com for directions or any other questions.
Why we do it
Restoration only lasts when people care about a place, and people come to care about places they have spent time in. Monday at Magora is a simple way to share that time: a few hours of useful work, a fire, good food and conversation with neighbors, visitors and people passing through Big Bend country.
Want to go deeper?
Weekend and two-week Co-Labs offer a longer, more immersive version of the same experience. Ask us about upcoming dates on a Monday, or see all events on our Events page. Full details for Mondays live on the Monday Pizza Nights page.
