I have a lot of people requesting a workshop in California. I have a week available June 15-21 and would like to have someone step up and host a workshop on their property. You can see what is involved at www.StrawBaleWorkshops.com on the “Host a Workshop” page. It’s a sweet deal if you are planning to build a small straw bale structure. We can do anything from 300 square feet to 1000 square feet. The smaller structure would make an awesome studio or guest cottage.
Check out my website for details and then let me know if you are the host I am looking for. I will take leads on a first come first served basis as always. Hope to hear from you soon!
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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March 5th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
How about a straw bale garage?
March 5th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Sure. The garage door walls will need some special attention as the openings are so big. I suggest you make that wall stick frame so you can build in standard garage wall shear panels or moment frames as required by California code. What size structure are you considering by the way? A 2 car garage or a 2 car garage plus RV storage with a mother in law unit above? The answer will have an impact on whether we can do the workshop there or not.
March 8th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
we own 7 acres in Amador Co. about 45 miles outside of sacramento or stockton. what does it entail to host a building party?
March 11th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Hi Mary,
I may have secured a host for June of this year, but nothing is solid yet. You can see what is required at the following link: http://www.strawbaleworkshops.com/Host_a_Workshop.html
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
My June workshop is now officially hosted. Thanks for any interest and there’s always 2010! I will be teaching in Willow Creek, CA. If you want to sign up, please visit http://www.StrawBaleWorkshops.com
March 1st, 2011 at 1:03 pm
I live on the Mendocino Coast in California,a town called Albion.I have 2 Cedar yurts 16′& 17′ diameter from David Rait’s yurtpeople.com.I would like to connect them with a cobb/straw bale structure.They are 25′ apart,would like the connexion to be 25′x8′,2 story,if possible.It’s very important to create this so my partner who has degenerative neurological problem can live here with me.
March 1st, 2011 at 1:24 pm
Hi Michele. Thanks for contacting me. I am a bit unsure about the dimensions you quoted in your comment. A bale structure 25′ long and 8′ wide, 2 stories sounds like a very tall and narrow hallway. Is that what you are envisioning? I assume that your yurts are two stories tall as well. You might consider widening the footprint a bit to make the space usable.
A standard hallway is 4′ wide (3′ is the bare minimum allowed by US code) and the smallest room dimension allowed is 7′ in any one direction. If you have an 8′ wide room (bale to bale), then you only have 5′ of usable space which can only be classified as a hallway. If the 8′ is the interior dimension, you just barely have a room width and that room would have to be a total of 25′ long because if you were to put a hallway in any part of it, the remaining space next to the hallway would not be allowed as a legal room.
Lots to consider, I know, and I do not want to discourage you from building. I do, however, want to make sure you get something functional and beautiful in the end. Let’s talk a bit more about your plans and see what details we can clear up. Assuming you like the way the conversation goes and that you want to host a workshop to complete your structure, what time line are you considering? Please take a look at the “Host a Workshop” page on my workshops website (www.StrawBaleWorkshops.com) to learn more about the process of hosting and to see the available dates to host.
Thanks again for contacting me.