Name: Straw Bale Plastering Workshop Colorado | Strawbale.com
SKU: WS2024-08-CO-Westcliffe
Availability: InStock

Westcliffe, Colorado welcome sign, location of straw bale workshop

view of Sangre Mountains from workshop location

person putting NHL lime plaster on table for others to apply to the straw bale wall

Group of workshop participants in a corner they finished plastering

Straw bale building workshop, evening music and campfire

Straw bale workshop, building and chalkboard

Strawbale home construction workshop, note left by participants on stud, "Made with Love"

Westcliffe, Colorado – Plaster 3-Day Plaster Workshop

Taught by Timbo Scurso & Dainella Nartker

Join us for discussion and hands-on skills learning of best practices for lime & clay natural plastering application. Ask all the questions and know how to approach your project with confidence! (Held at the same location as the July 14-20 7-day Straw Bale Workshop.)

Tuition is non-refundable. See "Purchase Details" below.

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In The Host’s Own Words

Westcliffe, Colorado

Welcome to Westcliffe! This classic, small Colorado mountain town is nestled between the Sangre de Cristo and Wet Mountains. It is a hiking and camping destination ideal for outdoor recreation. We are in a Dark Sky community and wish to share these fantastic skies with you! As they say, “Come for the mountains, stay for the stars.” As the seat of Custer County, it is the hub for everything in the Wet Mountain Valley and has a rich history. From outdoor recreation, arts, and stargazing to historical tours, be sure to add extra days to your visit. So much to explore!

Your Host

Hi everyone! I’m Paula. My dog, Tuuli, and I are planning an awesome adventure for fellow straw bale enthusiasts (although Tuuli doesn’t know it yet.) I grew up in Wisconsin, helping my parents with the finishing work on various construction projects. As soon as I could hold a paintbrush, I began staining millwork. That environment made me want to create a space of my own someday. Decades ago, I fell in love with straw bale homes. Life at the time didn’t allow me to build, but my dreams always led me back to Straw. Now, at sixty-two, I’m finally seeing my vision come true. Yay!

My love of straw bale comes from its naturalness – All the way from the straw itself to the finishes that complete a build. When it’s done, sound and light move through the space to create that perfectly imperfect feel I want. I also appreciate that it’s better for the earth than other types of construction. Not to mention the benefits of living in a space free from toxic chemicals. I know there will be both failures and successes on this journey. With Strawbale.com, we will be able to learn from years of hands-on experiences from people just like us. I want to prove that no matter who we are or what our level of expertise is, we can do this. So, let’s go!

The Build

My 37-acre lot is in the Wet Mountains to the east, with fabulous views of the Sangres. You can see two 14ers, Humboldt and Crestone, from my place. My build is a timber-framed home wrapped by bales. It will have 1,450 square feet of interior living on two floors. The main living space will be wide open, allowing you to see the hand-hewn oak timbers between 17-22 feet high.

I will be heating the space with a masonry heater (that’s part of the beauty of the bales… excellent insulation!) The bale walls will be coated in lime plaster on the exterior and earthen plaster on the interior. (Check out the 7-day Hands-on Straw Bale Construction Workshop that will be held here July 14-20.) At this Natural Plastering workshop, we will be focused on taking the next steps in the plaster layers, both exterior lime brown coat and interior earthen-clay plaster scratch coat. Let’s get muddy!

I’m also planning for earthen floors over the slab and a future four-season greenhouse.

Your Stay

If you love sleeping out under the stars, this might be your dream campsite. In true Colorado high country character, you’ll be greeted with a grand sky each sunrise and set, feel the freedom of big country space, and maybe get to see the frequent wildlife that passes through to enjoy the thick grasses and herbaceous vegetation. Left in its natural state, you’ll be camping on this rather lumpy mattress with the occasional surprise pincushion cactus, so I suggest bringing a cot, thick mattress, or car camping. The camping and parking area is just after passing through the gate, and there are plenty of walk-in spots for tent campers who’d like a bit of privacy. Each evening, there will be plenty of room to relax and enjoy downtime together, watching the sunset show over the Sangres.

RV parking will be limited to make sure there is room for everyone, so be sure to coordinate with me early to reserve a spot. If you’d like other options than camping, Westcliffe and neighboring Silver Cliff are within a scenic drive away and have options for inns, Airbnbs, and campgrounds within 5 to 30 minutes away.

I hope you are able to spend some time in the local area outside of the workshop! Here’s an excellent resource for exploration of the Wet Mountain Area and check out this Historical Digest for Custer County for more ideas.

Transportation

Colorado Springs Airport (COS) is ~1 1/2 hours away and the most convenient option. Denver International Airport (DIA) may offer slightly cheaper flights and is just under 3-hours drive to the East from Westcliffe. Both airports offer rental car options.

I couldn’t be happier than to welcome you to this special land and build something amazing together!

Is This Workshop For Me?

It is if…

You don’t want to be that person that says “How hard can it be?” and then becomes the cautionary tale amongst your friends and family.
You’re an experienced builder but want to learn all the nuances & ins and outs of straw bale construction.
You want to save money by building your own straw bale house yourself but also want to avoid costly mistakes.
You’ve already designed your home, or even started to build. Now you’re running into a lot of questions and challenges and aren’t sure how to move forward.
You've never built anything before and don't know if you're insane for even considering building your own straw bale house.

Topics Covered

What will you be learning?

Click HERE for a detailed outline of topics covered.

Strawbale building - installing a Running Bond in a stacked bale wall

Bale Stacking Details

Create strong and durable walls by learning the techniques used by master balers.

Retying and Resizing Bales

Master the fastest knot tying system to save time and money on your project.

Framing Considerations

Our framing system speeds your construction and lowers your budget.

Electrical Details

Learn how to simplify the incorporation of electrical wiring in your bale walls.

door and plaster detail view of straw bale house

Shaping Bales

Create gorgeous curves and sexy transitions to create an inspiring home with the art of bale shaping.

Windows, Doors, and HVAC

Keep your house moisture & mold free with proper ventilation and window/door installations.

Straw Bale House Plans - Mountain View Cabin 200

Creating Niches

Include pockets of beauty in your home with the installation of straw bale niches or “nichos”.

Strawbale building - bale wall with cabinet backers and electrical boxes installed

Cabinets and Special Installs

Master effective strategies to install cabinets, partition walls, and other special installations.

Plaster Prep Techniques

Build a strong foundation for your home’s plaster and ensure years of protection for your investment.

Natural Plastering

Learn the art of plastering in order to create a beautiful and durable finish for your home.

Financing and Insurance

Navigate the confusing world of paying for and insuring your straw bale home.

Timbo Scursso teaching cob at a straw bale workshop

Endless Q&A

Ask us anything related to your personal project or general straw bale construction. ANYTHING!

What's Included

"A Modern Look At Straw Bale Construction," instant download eBook ($24.99 value)
How-to Straw Bale Construction Video Series: Concrete, Framing, Post & Beam, Load-bearing, Lim Plastering ($79.99 value)
"Be Your Own Contractor" Instant Download Video Series ($34.99 value)
Straw Bale Details, a 22-page Instant Download Booklet ($20 value)
7-days of Top Notch Instruction from Timbo & Dainella (priceless!)
3 Healthy Meals per Day
Shower & Toilet Facilities
Camping Space

Your Mentors

StrawBale.com has been empowering people to build their own beautiful straw bale homes since 2004. Over the years, thousands of people have learned best practices at sb.com 7-day hands-on straw bale workshops and from that process it is clear that with passion, focus, and dedication pretty much everyone can hand craft their own beautiful straw bale home.

Our mission is to create and offer the highest quality resources and instructional material possible, so that you can save time, money, and your peace of mind as you build. We are glad that you have found us and we hope to empower and support you as you go through your personal process of creating your dream straw bale home.

Learn more about Team DeeBo, the next generation caretakers of the StrawBale.com community and resources dedicated to helping you build better with straw bale construction.

Timbo embodies the spirit of the Master Builder of pre-modern times. Rooted as a practical designer and an accomplished builder, his simple designs and finely-crafted details exemplify what is achievable in straw bale construction. He is excited to share his lifelong construction experience and the wisdom of twenty years of specific straw bale design/build knowledge with a larger community.

Dainella weaves together people, places, and processes to make it easy for community members to access the resources they need for building their dream straw bale home. Her background includes a B.S. in Environmental Science & Experiential Education Training from University of Oregon, a career in the electrical trade, and over a decade of business ownership. She’s delighted to be applying her business skills to grow the craft and awareness of straw bale construction. But, really, it is being witness to and facilitating the empowerment of our community members through their learning process that fuels her most!

What Others Are Saying

The information was presented in a way that you felt was backed by both hands on experience and from lots of researched knowledge. I enjoyed the time and would recommend this instruction to anyone remotely considering an interest in Stray bale or any other type of alternative use of building materials. Well worth the small cost.

This class literally PAID FOR ITSELF in the first day.

Instruction materials and discussion were super helpful. I loved learning more about sourcing/storing straw, prepping the site, design options for dwellings and how to use the hybrid option. Instruction quality was excellent. I also appreciated the group size (large enough for interesting variety of discussions, small enough to connect with people).

Timbo was phenomenal! His wealth of experience and instructional delivery made for an enlightening weekend. Dainella was amazing as well. The lectures were cogent, interesting and relevant. I hope to attend a hands on workshop in the future. Thanks to Timbo and Dainella!

I have you guys to thank for a monumental shift in my life and honestly, it has been the best set of decisions I've ever made to better myself and it all started with attending the workshop in Killdeer ND two summers ago.

What did you find most valuable?... Timbo’s openness and responsiveness to questions

The information I obtained regarding the design and build considerations was invaluable. Really good, technical information on building with straw bales. The class was everything I hoped it would be.

Purchase Details

Your purchase information is protected and secure. We do not share this information.

Yes! Discounts can be combined!

How does it work if I pay with a Deposit? If you purchase your workshop tuition using our Deposit option, then you are guaranteed a registered ‘spot’ in the workshop. The remaining balance is due thirty (30) before the beginning of the workshop. We will send you a secure payment link in a Reminder Email to the address you used at the time of purchase.

All the downloadable ‘What’s Included’ eLearning Materials are shared with you at the time of purchase, whether you pay using a Deposit or Pay In Full.

Deposits and tuition are nonrefundable. Because organizing these events is a significant undertaking with many moving pieces, and planning, and involves many people, 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 deposit/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 for events led by Timbo and Dainella. Alternatively, you can transfer your tuition to another person to attend in your place if that is your preference.

What happens if the workshop is canceled? 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 deposit/tuition to another workshop location in the current year’s schedule.
2. Transfer, or credit, your deposit/tuition to a location in the following year’s schedule.
3. Receive a full refund for your deposit/tuition. Cancellation of a workshop is the only situation in which the non-refundable deposit/tuition becomes refundable.

FAQs

What gear and tools do I need to bring with me?

That depends on what you feel like bringing. We send out a tool list once you have signed up for a workshop that covers everything from the essentials like safety gear (glasses, hearing protection, and gloves) to hand and power tools! The list of required tools and gear is small; however, if you think it would benefit the class, you are welcome to bring any tools and gear you like.

What happens if the workshop is cancelled?

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, bank financing, permits, 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 deposit/tuition to another workshop location in the current year’s schedule.
2. Transfer, or credit, your deposit/tuition to a location in the following year’s schedule.
3. Receive a full refund for your deposit/tuition. Cancellation of a workshop is the only situation in which the non-refundable deposit/tuition becomes refundable.

What happens if I need to cancel my attendance?

Deposits and tuition are nonrefundable. Because organizing these events is a significant undertaking with many moving pieces, 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 deposit/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 for events led by Timbo and Dainella.

Alternatively, you can transfer your tuition to another person to attend in your place if that is your preference.

I have special food requirements. Can you accommodate my dietary needs?

In most cases, we can accommodate people’s needs (gluten-free, lactose intolerance, peanut allergy, etc…). This doesn’t mean things like: “I don’t like Brussel Sprouts.” Be sure to let us and the host know as soon as possible 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.

I want to buy my airline ticket, at what point does it make sense for me to do so?

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.

Can I arrive a day early to get set up before the class starts?

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.

Do I have to stay on site and camp? I’d prefer to stay in a local hotel.

You are welcome to stay on-site or at a hotel. It’s up to you.

I have mobility challenges. Can I still come?

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 jobsite and tidying up. That plays a critical safety role in the workshop and is more helpful than you might imagine! What’s more, we’ve had participants who could only watch the entire process without any hands-on work. They learned a ton and had a great time.

I’d like to bring my dog. Is that okay?

That depends on the individual hosts and the site location. In most cases, we ask that dogs and other pets stay home.

I’d love to bring my kids. Are they welcome?

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 us at [email protected] 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 [email protected] to work out the arrangements.

When kids are coming as guests, not participating in the actual class, we ask that the parents/guardians pay for their food (assuming they will be eating with us) so that it’s not an extra financial burden for the hosts. The fee is forwarded 100% to the hosts. The costs are $100 for kids under 10, $150 for 10-14, and $200 for 15+.

Supervising adults not attending as paid participants will also be charged the adult food fee.

If the kids will be participating in the workshop, then they would pay a normal registration fee.

I want to bring a friend or family member who won’t participate in the class. Is that okay?

In most cases, that’s fine. Once again, we ask that the non-participating person pays for their food: $200 for adults (see above for kids’ food prices). In some cases, there will not be enough space in the class for the person to attend as the hosts sometimes “max out” in terms of food preparation numbers, so please ask us ahead of time.

How many people are in each class?

Every class is different, but the goal is always to have a large enough class to allow people to work at a reasonable pace. We want you to have fun, learn, and feel like you can take a break when necessary. To give you an idea, the average number of participants in each workshop in 2021 was 36, whereas 40 is technically “full.” Again, it’s not about keeping you flat-out busy all week. It’s about allowing you to learn, ask questions, try different tasks, and have fun all week while still creating a beautiful home for the workshop host.

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