Workshop Participant Hub 2026
All your important workshop information in one place
Welcome to your Workshop Hub, the central place for all your workshop details and action items. From required surveys and FAQs to learning materials and helpful updates, everything you need to prepare for your straw bale adventure is right here.
Please Complete These Four (4) Items ASAP!
Bellingham, WA - 2025
Welcome! Please Read This Entire Page! 🙂
🔸🔸🔸
Welcome! Please Read This Entire Page! 🙂 🔸🔸🔸
Oregon City, OR
July 10 - 12, 2026
We are so glad that you’ll be joining us in this unique opportunity to learn on an actual job site with hosts who are realizing the dream so many of us have — building their own homes.
Our gratitude to the hosts for choosing to share their homeplace and providing this experience, where community emerges as we learn and laugh together, rain or shine.
Our events are highly educational and fun — we have alumni come back again and again to enjoy the summer-camp for adults and old-fashioned barn-raising vibes!
Here, you will find critical details to keep handy and directions to set up Lifetime access to your Workshop Learning Materials.*
While it is not required that you review all of the Learning Materials before the workshop, it is highly recommended!
In support,
Timbo & Dainella (yep, Dainella will be there as an instructor)
Your Instructors & Mentors
*You’ll have Lifetime access to the Workshop Learning Materials through your Strawbale.com Account to support your straw bale process; however, this page will expire on 11/01/2026.
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July 10, Friday - Opening breakfast at 8 am
July 12, Saturday - Closing 4 pm
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Sara Pilorget
saramarcotte1@gmail.comDillon Pilorget
dpilorget@gmail.com
(503) 201-2227*If you are bringing tools/materials, need a camping spot for an RV, or have serious dietary restrictions, please email the Host ASAP to help them with planning. TY!
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14063 S Carus Rd
Oregon City, OR 97045Please check back for updates
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We will start each morning with breakfast at 8 am and we begin work at 9 am. We break for an hour-long lunch around 1 pm and end the work day around 6 pm. Dinner is usually around 7 pm. We usually eat pretty close to that time, but some flexibility is appreciated.
You’re welcome to arrive the night before the start of the workshop to get set up; anytime after 2 pm is ok. We’ll finish up no later than 4 pm on the final day of the workshop. Once again, you’re welcome to stay for another night if that makes your travel plans easier. There won’t be meals provided on the night prior to or after the workshop, so you’ll need to prepare for that.
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You’ll be fed three hearty meals per day and you’ll have access to snacks. If you have a sweet tooth, don’t worry – there will most definitely be dessert at least once a day! The Hosts goal is to keep everyone well fed and happy!
If you have any serious food requirements, please email the Hosts ASAP so they can do their best to accommodate you. We cannot guarantee that they will be able to meet your needs, but the more time you give them, the better the chances. (Menu planning is finalized 2 weeks prior to the workshop.)
If you need to stash supplemental food you want to bring somewhere critter-proof, just let us know ASAP and we’ll find a safe place for it.
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View and Download your equipment list here.
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For more Workshop FAQs scroll below.
As always, feel free to reach out to us at info@strawbale.com — This email goes directly to Timbo and is the fastest way to connect.
You can also schedule a call with Timbo here to chat about logistics and workshop questions. 🙂
Please Complete These Four (4) Items ASAP! TY!
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#1 Your Participant Agreement
Please read and sign your Workshop Participant Agreement & Waiver.
It’s super quick, and you’ll sign digitally, so no need to print anything.
NOTE - If you would like to have a non-participating Guest join you at the workshop, either joining in meals or just camping, please contact Dainella ASAP so we can verify if the site facilities and Host’s meal plan can accommodate the additional humans!
See more details on Guests in the FAQs below.
Contact Timbo at info@strawbale.com -

#2 Group Meal Planning & Dietary Restrictions
As the Host prepares the menu, they must know what serious dietary restrictions are in the group.
Please be kind to them and only mention what you truly require. They will do their best to accommodate you. If they cannot accommodate all of your needs, you may need to bring some supplemental food, so you'll need to know that in advance.
If you do not have serious food restrictions, please share that with the Host in the Group Food Survey.
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#3 Announcements - Don't Miss Out!
To make sure you don't miss any of the upcoming group emails and updates:
1. Please add ‘timbo@strawbale.com’ to your email contacts.
2. Set your inbox filters to deliver emails from me to your primary folder.
If you have site-specific, camping, or tool questions, need help with directions, or want to discuss dietary restrictions, email me - Timbo, your All Things Logistics Coordinator - and I'd be happy to help you.
If a quick chat is easiest, you can schedule a time for us to connect under “I have a question…” in the dropdown menu above. 📞
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#4 Tools! Review & Email Us If You Have Questions
If you want to bring tools to share with the group, that is MOST appreciated.
If you are bringing any of these, feel free to let the Host know to help with their planning.
If you are flying or have other concerns about bringing tools/camping gear, email Timbo. 🙂 info@strawbale.com
From Your Host & Local Information
I can’t wait to meet each of you and share what I’ve learned. My hope is that this build inspires you the way so many others have inspired me. Let’s make this one the best workshop yet!
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May weather is typically pleasant, with temperatures in the seventies and the possibility of a light spring rain before summer’s dry season begins. If evenings get cool, we can gather by the fire or enjoy a relaxing cob sauna session.
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The property is located at an elevation of 3,000 feet and is primarily open with native grasses.
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Meals will feature fresh, healthy ingredients.
We will do our best to accommodate serious food restrictions. Please let us know as soon as possible so we can add it to the menu planning.
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Nearby Recreation and Attractions
Clearwater River - World class stealhead fishing
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As much as we love dogs... To be fair to the Host’s neighbors with dogs who might get overly excited about visitors, we ask that you leave your furry friends at home. If you have a therapy dog, please reach out to us at info@strawbale.com.
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There’s plenty of space for tents and trucks on my property and a neighbor’s nearby. For RVs, I recommend the Freeman Creek Campground at Dworshak Reservoir, about ten minutes away.
There is plenty of camping space for both tents and RVs on the property.
There’s plenty of space for tents and trucks on my property and a neighbor’s nearby. For RVs, I recommend the Freeman Creek Campground at Dworshak Reservoir, about ten minutes away.
Workshop FAQs
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In most cases, we can accommodate serious food restrictions, such as, gluten-free, lactose intolerance, peanut allergy, vegetarian, etc. (To be kind to the Hosts, who always pour their heart into providing delicious, nourishing meals, please note that this doesn’t mean things like: “I don’t like Brussel Sprouts.”)Be sure to let us know ASAP any requirements you have so we can see what’s possible. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate every need, but we will do our best to do so. Email Dainella at info@strawbale.com with questions. :)
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Airline tickets are often less expensive the earlier you buy them, so we understand the desire to buy early. That said, we recommend that people buy their tickets no earlier than 30 days prior to the start of the workshop.
This is when we will connect everyone in the group together in an email and with a group survey to help coordinate ride-sharing, and often folks with also be open to sharing off-site accommodations for those that don’t wish to camp.
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You are most welcome to arrive the afternoon of the day before the workshop and stay over on the last night after the class ends if that helps your travel plans.
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You are welcome to stay on-site or at a hotel. It’s up to you. It is always a mix at every workshop!
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Kids are welcome to join us as Guests or Participants, depending on their age. We require that the parents/guardians take full responsibility for the kids and their safety.
Contact Timbo at info@strawbale.com to coordinate so we can help ensure the best experience for them.
Keep in mind that it is an active construction site and, therefore, inherently dangerous. We trust parents/guardians will make the choice appropriate for their kids.
Kids under 12 cannot be left unattended, so a non-participating adult must accompany them. If you plan to bring your children, please contact us in advance to work out the arrangements.
When kids come as non-participating guests that are joining in group meals, but not participating in the workshop learning and activities, we ask that the parents/guardians pay for their food so that it’s not an extra financial burden for the hosts.
The fee is forwarded 100% to the hosts. The costs are $65 for 14 years old and younger and $80 for 15+.
Supervising adults not attending as paid Workshop Participants will also be charged the 15+ food contribution of $80.
If the kids will be participating in the workshop, then they would pay a normal registration fee.
Guests and Guardians must sign a waiver and agreement to be present on the property during the workshop.
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Kids are welcome to join us as Guests or Participants, depending on their age. We require that the parents/guardians take full responsibility for the kids and their safety.
Contact Timbo at info@strawbale.com to coordinate so we can help ensure the best experience for them.
Keep in mind that it is a construction site and, therefore, inherently dangerous. We trust parents/guardians will make the choice appropriate for their kids.
Kids under 12 cannot be left unattended, so a non-participating adult must accompany them. If you plan to bring your children, please contact us in advance at info@strawbale.com to work out the arrangements.
When kids are coming as non-participating guests that are joining in group meals, but not participating in the actual class, we ask that the parents/guardians pay for their food so that it’s not an extra financial burden for the hosts.
The fee is forwarded 100% to the hosts. The costs are $65 for 14 years old and younger and $80 for 15+.
Supervising adults not attending as paid participants will also be charged the 15+ food contribution of $80.
If the kids will be participating in the workshop, then they would pay a normal registration fee.
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Tuition is nonrefundable. Because organizing these events is a significant undertaking with many moving pieces, and planning, and involves many people, over months and often years, we maintain this policy.
That said, if you are unable to attend the workshop location and date that you originally selected, we will gladly work with you to transfer, or credit, your tuition towards a future workshop (assuming there is a future workshop.) You must contact us before the start date of your initially scheduled workshop purchase for this credit to be issued. Your tuition credit would be valid for one (1) year from the start date of your original workshop.
Alternatively, you can transfer your tuition to another person to attend in your place if that is your preference.
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Absolutely. The level of work performed on the site is entirely up to you. We have had people come and limit their physical work to sweeping up the job site and tidying up. That plays a critical safety role in the workshop and is more helpful than you might imagine! They learned a ton and had a great time.
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Every workshop is different, but the goal is always to have a large enough class to allow people to work at a reasonable pace and be safe.
We want you to have fun, learn, take notes, ask questions, move around to a variety of tasks to learn skills, and feel like you can take a break when necessary.
To give you an idea, technically “full” varies per workshop from 10 to 20 and depends on the size of the project and terrain for safety reasons.
Again, it’s not about keeping you flat-out busy all week. It’s about allowing you to learn at your pace and have fun all week while still contributing work to create a beautiful home for the workshop host — who has welcomed us all to the rare experience of learning on an active, no-artiface job site!
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This is something that we work hard to avoid and is rare in the overall schedule of events. That said, because there are elements of the workshop that are outside of our control (acts of God, COVID, etc.), there is always a slight chance that it could happen. If it were to occur, we would offer you the following options to choose from:
1. Switch your tuition to another workshop location in the current year’s schedule.
2. Transfer, or credit, your tuition to a location in the following year’s schedule.
3. Receive a full refund for your tuition. Cancellation of a workshop is the only situation in which the non-refundable tuition becomes refundable.
Your Workshop Learning Materials
Here’s how to setup your Workshop Learning Materials to appear in
your Strawbale.com Account for Lifetime Access.
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Step #1
Click the button below to ‘Sign Up’.
Use the SAME email address you used at the time of purchase.
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Step #2
Check your inbox for an email with subject, “Please Confirm - Strawbale.com”
Select the button ‘Click to Confirm’
(This will add the Participant-Only Course to your Strawbale.com Account!)
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Step #3
To view the Workshop Learning Materials in your Strawbale.com Account:
From Strawbale.com, Click “Account” in the header menu.
Click on Digital Products. Enjoy!
Oregon City, OR Photo Gallery