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Some straw bale construction workshops currently being offered complete only as much of the building as is possible in a two or two and one half day workshop then tear down the building and reuse the materials. Our workshops use all new materials and we work very hard to complete a permanent building in three and one half days. We feel that if you are trying to learn the fundamentals of straw bale building you get the best benefit from using the materials and processes in the workshop that you will use on your project. This superior learning experience means that our workshops are very expensive to run. The Introduction to Straw Bale Construction Workshop for example costs almost $9,500 to run. It is easy to see that with 20 participants paying $500 each there is virtually no profit. The registration deadline/cancellation date we set for each workshop is hard and fast. We will cancel the workshop on the registration deadline if we do not have sufficient (or nearly sufficient) registrations to run the workshop.
Our Introductory workshops are run either at the Organic Environments Eco-Center in Spencerville, Ontario, at Shanliwood Baptist Church in Spencerville, Ontario, or at another locations if we have a partner wanting to build a small straw bale building. We generally offer an Introduction to Straw Bale Construction Workshop the long weekend in May but may offer them at other times of the year if there is sufficient interest.
Introduction to Straw Bale Construction This three and a half day hands on course covers all of the basics of
straw bale construction. Participants in this course will build a 14'
x 10' load bearing building on a wooden deck with a steel roof, three
windows and a door. The building was designed specifically for this course
and is built using methods and materials common in modern straw bale construction
in the province of Ontario and is well suited to a northern climate. Topics
covered include basic construction safety, wooden decks, curbs, bucks,
top plates, compression, stacking, stuffing, and stitching, weather proofing,
insulation, mixing and applying plaster, plaster detailing, simple ridge
beam and rafter roof systems, and steel roofing. No three and a half day
course can teach you everything that you need to know to build a straw
bale building but this course will give you all of the fundamentals. |
Our Advanced One and Advanced Two Workshops are aimed at the serious amateur and construction or related professionals and are offered only when we have a partner who wants to build a small straw bale building. We maintain a number of contact lists for people who are interested in taking workshops, volunteering, or just staying in touch with the Organic Environments Sustainability Network. If you are interested in taking one of our Advanced workshops please email us and let us know and we will let you know when we schedule one.
| Advanced Straw Bale Construction One This nine and one half day hands on course covers all of the basics of straw bale construction. Participants in this course will build a 24' x 16' light frame building with a rubble trench and concrete grade beam foundation and a rammed earth floor. The building was designed specifically for this course and is built using methods and materials common in modern straw bale construction in the province of Ontario and is well suited to a northern climate. Topics covered include basic construction safety, rubble trench and concrete grade beam foundations, rammed earth floors, curbs, bucks, top plates, stacking, stuffing, and stitching, weather proofing, insulation, mixing and applying plaster, plaster detailing, simple ridge beam and rafter roof systems, and steel roofing. We will also install electrical wiring in the bale walls and focus on the weather and plaster detailing around the electrical outlets and switches and install radiant floor heating in the rammed earth floor. This course is geared toward the serious do it yourselfer. $1000 per person includes drinks, snacks, and meals. Free camping is often available on site. More details |
| Advanced Straw Bale Construction Two This nine and one half day hands on course covers all of the basics of straw bale construction. Participants in this course will build a fourteen foot in diameter bulging walled round straw bale studio with a conical tin bin roof on a wooden pier foundation. The building was designed specifically for this course and is built using methods and materials common in modern straw bale construction in the province of Ontario and is well suited to a northern climate. Topics covered include basic construction safety, pier foundations, curbs, bucks, top plates, compression, stacking, stuffing, and stitching, weather proofing, insulation, mixing and applying plaster, plaster detailing, simple ridge beam and rafter roof systems, and steel roofing. We will also install electrical wiring in the bale walls and focus on the weather and plaster detailing around the electrical outlets and switches and install radiant floor heating in the rammed earth floor. We will spend considerable time focusing on laminating curved structural members and connecting them to straight dimensional lumber, flat windows, and flat doors. We will also be installing a manufactured conical grain bin roof which we will be adapting to insulated home construction. This course is geared toward the serious do it yourselfer. $1000 per person includes drinks, snacks, and meals. Free camping is often available on site. More details |
Our Master Class Workshops are full scale house construction workshops run in partnership with affordable housing partners and municipal, provincial, and federal governments. They are scheduled when funding and land are available. Not only are these workshops a rare and exceptional opportunity to learn the hows and whys of straw bale construction in a small group with constant hands on supervision but your tuition dollars help to fund our efforts to promote sustainable methods for building beautiful, energy efficient, and long lasting affordable housing. If you are interested in taking a Master Class workshops please email us and let us know and we will let you know when we schedule one.
| Straw Bale Construction Master Class This two to four week master class workshop is an intensive study in modern straw bale construction. Participants in this workshop will build a 750 to 1000 square foot one and one half storey light frame straw bale home. The building was designed specifically for this course and is built using methods and materials common in modern straw bale construction in the province of Ontario and is well suited to a northern climate. Topics covered include basic construction safety, rubble trench and concrete grade beam foundations, curbs, bucks, top plates, light frame design and construction, stacking, stuffing, and stitching, weather proofing, insulation, mixing and applying plaster, plaster detailing, ordering and installation of engineered second floor deck and engineered roof rafter systems , and steel roofing. We will also install all of the electrical and mechanical systems and do the interior finishing. This working is designed for the serious owner-builder, for those planning a career in straw bale construction, and for conventional builders planning to enter the straw bale building market. $2500 per person includes drinks, snacks, and meals. Free camping is often available on site. More details |
