Many of you have been asking me about specific details of each workshop that I’m offering this year. I figured the best way to address this is for the hosts to tell you a little about their projects and the area in which the projects will take place. I’m going to start with the Montana workshop because it’s on its way to being full. I imagine that some of you are considering attending but have not yet made up your mind. That’s fine, and I hope that the details of this entry help you make your decision to attend. Like I said, the spots are going fast, so don’t wait too long to decide.

I’ll write more posts about each workshop over the next few days, so stay tuned to learn about each location and what’s in store.

So first of all, this workshop is in Missoula. How cool is that? A straw bale workshop in downtown Missoula! I expect there will be some local interest in the project and the workshop and wouldn’t be surprised if we get some news coverage as well. I’ve been to Montana several times in my life and I love it. You may have heard the term “Big Sky Country,” well it’s true. The sky really does seem bigger there. Why, I don’t know, but it is some beautiful country for sure. Okay, enough from me, here’s what the hosts have to say about the project and the location.

We designed and are building a two car garage and upstairs art/cooking/hangout studio to accommodate our large family and hobby interests. The studio has a simple, open layout with lots of windows for natural lighting. The structure has a single pitch roof, on which we plan to have a solar panel system installed–our hope is to have an annual net zero balance for electricity use/production. We also hope to have a large green house attached to the southern end of the structure, though that will most likely be built after the workshop.

About our workshop and Missoula, MT:
We live in central Missoula which means there are a lot of possibilities for evening activities: music, bars, coffee shops, walks by the river, fishing, hiking local mountains, or campfire/hangout in our backyard (we have a fun ground-level trampoline). “First Friday,” the first Friday of each month, downtown shops stay open late and host various artists, musicians, and is generally a fun evening out. Saturday there are two farmer’s markets downtown with fresh local goodies and produce, and the people’s market where local artists display their works. Missoula is known for its overall laid back, liberal attitude, and is a friendly place to visit. Outdoor activities are easily accessible and late May/early June is a beautiful, green, and lush time to be outside.

Generally the weather in late May and June is warm during the day (high 60s- 70s) and sunny, but these are our wetter months too. Some days can be chilly and with rain showers, and yes, snow occasionally visits some years even into July! Night temperatures typically dip to about 40 degrees.

We are a family of six (kids ages 9 yrs, 6 yrs, 2yrs, and 6 mos). Our home is very busy and kid friendly. We are more than happy to host people and want those here to feel comfortable. We will be able to accommodate some indoor sleeping (on beds/mattresses, couch, and sleeping bags on the floor) while space is available. In addition we have space for a few tents in the front yard, tents in the neighbors yards and multiple friends and relatives in town that can house folks in beds. We have 2 bathrooms with baths and showers and plan to have a port-a-potty on site as well. Friends and neighbors are also available to let people shower at their homes or we can get passes for the showers at the town pool. We will have an outdoor canvas tent set up for mealtime and hanging out. We plan to have plenty of good foods on the menu (vegetarian options included), as we love creating, sharing, and enjoying good foods!

We encourage people to come to Montana early or stay later to enjoy the beauty of Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park. These parks are each about three hours from Missoula.

In addition, the Missoula Valley is home to the confluence of 3 world-class trout fishing rivers (Blackfoot, Clarkfork and Bitterroot) as well as numerous well known creeks. Depending on when the snow run-off hits, early June can offer some of the best fly fishing in Montana with the hatch of Salmon Flies.

Andrew here again. I’m really excited about this workshop and the location. I can see that many of you are too as slots are going fast, especially for this early in the workshop season. Sign up today to reserve your spot at www.StrawBaleWorkshops.com. I look forward to seeing you there!

About the Author

Andrew Morison is a specialist in straw bale and green construction. He has shown thousands of people how to build their own straw bale projects through his comprehensive series of instructional straw bale, concrete foundation, and plastering DVDs. You can check these out at http://www.LearnStrawBale.com.com.

Email Updates

To be notified of new entries and to get our "7 Essential Steps to Straw Bale Success e-course" absolutely free, enter your email address below then check your inbox to confirm. More Info>>