Meet The Hosts - Missoula MT 2024
Welcome to the heart of Montana, where straw bale construction gets real and hands-on this June. Picture this: a week-long adventure immersed in the art of building with bales, surrounded by classic western Montana beauty, and your every burning bale question answered.
Timbo and I are excited about this workshop and wanted to introduce the Missoula workshop hosts to you. Angela, Lucas, and their two kiddos have all been hard at work this winter, hand-shaping the timber framing for their new straw bale studio.
workshop hosts, Montana 2024
A Little Background...
Years ago, Angela and Lucas climbed a peak in the Ninemile Valley on a date and dreamed about what it would be like to live there, thinking they’d probably never be able to afford the opportunity. They did just that in 2019 with the help of Craigslist, a little luck, and a willingness to take on a bit of a project.
They were both raised on farms in very rural areas, and one of the things they appreciated most about Ninemile was the sense of community and neighborliness—something I think many of us can relate to and enjoy!
Now, they are stewards of 20 acres of gently sloping woods featuring Montana’s iconic state tree, the ponderosa pine. (Have you ever smelled one of these on a warm day?! The bark smells just like vanilla!) The land is also home to Douglas firs, western larch, and a mix of diverse understory species.
This land has become home, and now they are adding a bale studio to complement the cabin they remodeled. Last year they did a practice run by handcrafting a timber-framed car port, so if combining a timber frame with straw bale walls has intrigued you - this just might be the workshop you’ve been waiting for!
From Your Host
What had you chosen to build a straw bale timber frame structure?
One of the best things we can do to protect the Earth we love is to build things to last, out of as many local materials and recycled materials as possible, and as energy-efficiently as possible.
There's something here, too, about honoring a heritage of craftsmanship and the old ways of working with large pieces of wood by hand or with simple power tools as a contrast to the get-it-done quick ethos of stick framing and drywall.
Lucas introduced me (Angela) to timber framing, and now I can't imagine building any other way. When we first started talking about combining strawbale and timber frame we combed the internet and books for images of how our vision might come together. What we found were spaces that were ethereal, inviting, and functional. This is a dream several years in the making!
What is your family looking forward to most about the workshop?
June is a gorgeous time of year in western Montana and we are glad to be able to share our home so that people can experience that.
The kids live very much "in the moment" and don't really comprehend the scale of what we're building in the backyard, but they know we will be celebrating not one but two family birthdays during the workshop, so I think they are mostly excited about the prospect of more cake and ice cream.
What was it like when you were a workshop attendee?
In Talent Oregon 2022, there was a distinct sense of camaraderie and inclusion. There were jobs for everyone to do, no matter their ability level.
The pace wasn't forced or overly production-oriented, so there was time and space for questions and experiential learning. The modest size of our build as well as the inviting surroundings I think, will lend themselves well to replicating this type of experience.
What would you share with someone who is thinking of building their own timber frame straw bale structure?
Plan well ahead, and don't be daunted by bureaucracy when it comes to permitting. Our county planning department didn't give us a hard time, they just wanted to make sure that we were following the rules, and the burden of proof is a bit more rigorous for uncommon (or un-coded) building techniques in our area.
We were patient and (mostly) kept our cool when asked to provide additional information. We hope we've made it a bit easier for the next timber frame-strawbale builder in Missoula County to get through the planning process.
Read more about straw bale building codes and permitting processes tips.
Let's Get Baling!
Ready to join a crew of like-minded folks for a good old-fashioned barn-raising (er, studio raising!), experiential learning, and to enjoy the process of building something meaningful together? Us too! See you in Montana this June!
Have questions about this workshop or others? Email your questions to me (Dainella) at info@strawbale.com.
See you at a workshop soon!
Dainella & Timbo
