What Still Makes Our Straw Bale Workshops Special
Enjoying a moment of shade. Photo Credit: Courtney Tuxbury
Why I’m writing this now
I revisited Andrew Morrison’s “Why Workshops Work” the other day. It has been more than a decade since he wrote it, and I have now led or supported a good number of workshops. I wanted to share that his read still matches what I see on site.
Every workshop week starts on Sunday. Names are new, tools may feel awkward, and the project can look big. By Saturday, people who met six days earlier are swapping photos, planning visits, and standing in front of the walls they raised together. That shift is the point.
What changes, what lasts
Over the years, some things have changed, including the instructors, materials, and techniques. That is normal. We keep what works, refine what does not, and stay flexible. What has not changed is the heart of the week, steady hands, clear goals, and care for one another on site. Adults learn fast when the mood makes space for a little play. A joke at morning Q&A. A cheer when the last bale goes in. Someone who was nervous on Sunday is grinning behind a new tool by midweek. Beginners and old hands find a steady pace together. Respect grows over shared meals and small wins on the wall. The walls rise, and people do too.
For new readers, Andrew led StrawBale.com for close to 20 years and first wrote about this in The Last Straw Journal. His take still fits; the value lives in the people, the shared work, and the rhythm of learning by doing.
One more thing, thank you for how welcoming you have been as I step more fully into this role. Your notes, your smiles on site, and your willingness to pitch in have made the transition feel like home. I am grateful for what we built together, and I am excited for what comes next.
If you want to learn by doing, start on the Workshops page for dates and locations. For the day-to-day flow, read the Workshop FAQ, we run Sunday through Saturday. After that, join the waitlist or register if a seat is open.
With warmth and support,
Timbo
