I’m looking for four hosts for workshops this summer. If you plan to build a house or a studio cottage this summer, you can get a lot accomplished in one short week by hosting a workshop. Imagine having 20 or more people working on your project with the guidance of a straw bale expert. That’s a lot of free labor! I need hosts for the following four dates.
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March 22-28
July 19-25
August 9-15
September 13-19
If you think you're the one, then let me know. It's a blast, a great way to meet new people with similar interests, and a wonderful way to get a lot of work done in a short amount of time. I hope to see you this summer!
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 www.LearnStrawBale.com..
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December 1st, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Hi Andrew–I just e-mailed you, but got a message saying you can’t respond personally to e-mails, so I thought I’d leave a comment here. We’re building a straw bale house in the Texas hill country, and the March date might work for us. We’re getting construction documents this week. I’m not sure about the timing just yet (how long the process takes from CDs to bank loan to starting construction), but we’d definitely be interested in learning more about hosting a workshop.
December 4th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Hi Andrew – I emailed you a couple of weeks ago, as well as this summer, indicating that we would like to build a straw bale house in north-central Idaho, and would be interested in hosting a workshop during the August dates.
December 5th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Excellent Jill. Did I get back to you? I have so many emails each day, I never know if I missed one. Some end up in spam as well for some reason. Let’s connect and discuss the details.
December 6th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Hi – we live in the West Kootenays, British Columbia. I would like to build a small straw bale cabin there, and would be interested in hosting a straw bale workshop in July.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:35 am
We might be interested in hosting a workshop this summer. We’re looking to build an extension onto our 1927 house and are thinking about straw bale to do it. We’re in Victoria, BC.
December 10th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Hi April, Just thought I would mention that if your proposed build date slips we are having a workshop in Hico,TX on June 14th. Andrew reccomends that it will really help if you attned a workshop before you host a workshop and he was REALLY right. I attended the Grants workshop last September and it has really helped me to learn how to prepare and how to save money. Good building……….Charles
December 12th, 2009 at 10:17 am
We are thinking of a remodel on a current brick/stick home, with the addition of a large greatroom, live in western Kansas, have the ability to bale my own straw. Please contact me…we would love to host a workshop!!
December 13th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Hello Andrew
I am planning on building a strawbale barn with south wall of slanted polycarbonate as an attached greenhouse.
I would like to have you teach the workshop here in Ohio if it is feasible.
Thanks
Dr Nelson
December 15th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
“THE DANGERS OF ALLOWING THE PURSUIT OF SOMEWHAT IMPERFECT SUSTAINABLE CARBON ZERO HOUSING AS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN CERTAIN ‘POCKETS OF FREEDOM’ THROUGHOUT THE LANDS ARE NOT NEARLY AS GREAT AS THE DANGER OF NOT PURSUING IT AT ALL.”
- Michael Reynolds
Earthship Biotecture
biotecture@earthship.com
December 16th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
I will be purchasing the cottage strawbale plans in January and would be interested in hosting a workshop as well. I live in Tulsa, OK.
December 19th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
We are looking at building with flax bales. Since we are still in the planning stage we would be interested in hosting in the fall of 2010 or summer of 2011. I would really be interested in learning more about the requirements of being a host. Thank you
Just as an FYI, we are located in Saskatchewan, Canada and already own the land the home will be built on.
December 21st, 2009 at 6:51 pm
I am located in Marietta, Ohio, and would be glad to host a workshop if it would work out. I have used “chip-crete”, and rammed earth fill w/locust post, cans, bottles, etc. If we could talk, and the location would work, let me know.
December 24th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
We are looking to get land for an ecovillage this summer. As such we would love to host a workshop! A few questions first: do you do any in Canada? What is your fee?
December 30th, 2009 at 7:02 am
I would like to build a small straw bale house and would love to host a workshop in Alabama. I have not started so the project can start from the ground up. Any date will do.
December 31st, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Andrew – we are planning on building a 2000+ sq. ft. – two story home here in Brownsville, OR the summer of 2010. We have the lot and the $$ in hand and are working with a local engineer experienced in strawbale construction. We would be interested in hosting a workshop sometime in August – September.
Don Andrews
January 4th, 2010 at 11:47 am
Andrew- We live in Northwest Ohio. My wife and I are sculptors. We have already taken an old barn on our property and converted it into a studio house. We have two phases of strawbale construction we would like to pursue. One is a smaller 16×40 (living room/foyer) addition off of the front of the barn. My electric is ready and no plumbing will be involved. Slab on grade is being designed. Simple shed roof. I we were to host we would be open to load or non load. Though I will build a non load naturally. I also have a 5 acre forest of which I will harvest our own posts. Second phase equals addition off the back.. greenhouse, bedroom building, and master bath. Septic is in, water lines are ready, power is ready. Hip roof one story apx. 24×40. We are surround by farms can get thousands of bales real cheap. Open for experimentation.
January 4th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Andrew, we are planning on building a straw bale house for my wife’s mother on her land in the Bryan/College Station area of Texas in August and would be very interested in hosting a workshop to do so. July might also work.
Dom and Maya Smith Parry.
January 7th, 2010 at 8:12 am
My, good response here. I’ll add another. We are in the North West corner of Montana, and have built a straw bale house – (your videos helped in this process). A friend, who loved ours, is now building his. The frame is up (both houses are timber framed) and he will be ready to stack straw bales next summer (either the July or August dates would be fine). I can send pictures of the structure if you would like. We have a lot of friends here who like to help out with these kind of projects.
January 7th, 2010 at 11:46 am
Hello, My name is Matthew Jenkins, and I’m 25 years old canadian who would love the oportunity to help build a straw bale home in north america, Canada or the United States I work for super cheap, have good work ethic and am eager to learn this trade. I have verious qualifications in the oil and gas inspection feild, but I’m looking to change careers and follow my passion for sustainable living. If your building your straw bale home and want a strong back and an open mind then I’m in! I’m also willing to work for even less if theres room and board.
January 19th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Can a straw bale passive solar house be designed and built in Maine? New England has weather ranging from crazy hot to freezing with several feet of snow. I wonder if it’s possible at all.
January 19th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Hi Craig. Straw Bale Homes do very well in Maine. The cold climate is perfect and so is the hot climate. You’ll need to consider snow drifts and rain protection. Other than that, you’re all set to build with bales.
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Andrew,
my wife and I puchased 32 acres of lakefront property on Lake tenkiller in NE Oklahoma. We are contemplating building an eco friendly type resort. Any type of building could suit our needs for a workshop, fron small single unit cabins, to multiple units as well as activity buildings, etc. We have lots of camping room and have a 6 stall boat dock. I think it would be a great place fo a workshop.
February 6th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Andrew,
Hello, I have been subscribing to your newsletter for some time now and I wanted to let you that I would like to host a straw bale workshop in July or August. I live on 5 acres of land in Albany, Ohio (near Ohio University) which is a great location to find like-minded participants. I would like to build a 12×16 structure to be used as studio apartment and I can accommodate up to 20 people. Please let me know if this fits your schedule.
Thanks,
Cory
February 7th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
Hi Cory. Sounds great. Take a look at the Host a Workshop page and make sure you are down with all the details of the process. Once you’ve done that, shoot me an email
February 10th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Hello Andrew. We are planning on building a straw bale home on our 5 acres of land in Oklahoma. We have been planning this for a few years now. We would love to host a workshop anytime. We have a very flexible schedule and would be more than happy to host a workshop any of these dates. Just let us know what we need to have ready for you. =) Thank you very much.
February 10th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Hi Christia. Great! Take a look at the Host a Workshop page of my website to see the host requirements. I’d love to teach in the heartland! You can see the three available host dates on that web page as well. I’d love to do July there if possible. I have some other potential hosts looking at all three dates, but I don’t know if they’ll be able to host or not. The first to get their deposit in will be the first to secure the date. If you have questions after reviewing the host a workshop page, let me know. I look forward to hearing back from you soon.
February 11th, 2010 at 10:50 am
Hi I am interested in building a One room Kitchen about 10′ 14′ I am studying green build in school and would most certainly be interested in hosting a workshop here. I look forward to hearing from you. I am in Ellenville, NY. which is lockated in the catskills of New York.
February 11th, 2010 at 11:56 am
Hi Anthony. When do you envision being ready to host? I have a workshop in New York in April and wonder if I could hold two out there this year with success in filling them both. Are you hoping for this summer or 2011? Check out my website http://www.strawbaleworkshops.com and review the host a workshop page for more on what is required of hosts. Let me know your plans and thanks for your interest.
March 14th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Hi there,
I’d love to volunteer on a build this summer (2010) as much as a day’s drive from Winnipeg or Regina. I’ve worked on bits of three builds (wood frame construction, baling/sewing, plastering), have needles, and am self-contained (tent, etc). Just love the work!
Margerit
March 15th, 2010 at 9:51 am
Margerit. I hope you find a project to volunteer on. If not, you can always participate in one of my workshops if you want to learn some new tricks.
Check out http://www.strawbaleworkshops.com for the schedule and locations. I’d guess that the Montana or Michigan workshops are the closest to you, although they are about 18 hours drive according to Google maps.
October 4th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Can you use flaxseed straw to build the strawbale homes?
October 12th, 2010 at 9:32 am
Hi Romala. Just want to make sure you got my response that you can indeed use flax straw to build with. Same details about bale quality apply to flax as to other crops.