Retirement News + Exciting Introduction to the New Team!!
You know when something is meant to be, and the stars align in just the right way, and unimaginable possibilities suddenly come to light? Well that pretty much sums up our last six months! Here’s the scoop:
The Many Uses of Vinegar in Straw Bale Construction
There are so many uses of vinegar when working with lime paster; from neutralizing the acids in lime plaster, saving your hands, your clothes, and your… [read more]
Amazing Couple Builds the Applegate Cottage on Whidbey Island
They were determined to build the house themselves, even though they didn't have much experience in residential construction. Their success is a testament to people around the world who build their own straw bale homes.
BIPOC Straw Bale Workshop Scholarships
We offer a limited number scholarships per straw bale workshop season to the BIPOC community. Learn more here.
The Ultimate Hole Saw for Drilling Through Straw Bale Walls
Check out this ingenious hole saw makes drilling holes through existing straw bale walls easy and effective, even in three string straw bale walls.
Bale Stops Strengthen and Simplify Your Build
Bale stops are a simple framing solution in a straw bale house. They both strengthen the walls and simplify the construction process. Learn more...
How a Straw Bale House Can Change the World
A straw bale house has the power to change the world, one occupant and one home at a time. Learn more.
Fire Resistance of Straw Bale Walls Outperforms Conventional Construction
The fire resistance of straw bale walls is superior to that of conventional construction. Learn why that matters and how it's possible.
Avoiding Plaster Burn Marks
Avoiding plaster burn marks when building a straw bale house is easy to accomplish if you know what causes them. Here’s what to do about them.
Adding Shingles to Gable Walls
Adding shingles to gable walls may not seem like a straw bale specific topic at first glance. That doesn’t mean it’s not an important skill for you to learn for several reasons. Lot of straw bale houses use shingles on the gable end walls.
Wildfires and Straw Bale Construction: Four Case Studies From California
The tragic wildfires in California have created massive devastation across the state; however, they have also given us an opportunity to see, first hand, just how well straw bale structures perform in wildfires.