Topics Covered In Each
7-day Hands-On Straw Bale Construction Workshop

The seven-day comprehensive workshop is designed to teach participants everything they need to know to build their own straw bale structure. We work with structures that enable the participants to learn, hands-on, about many facets of straw bale construction. Topics covered in the construction of the structures are:

strawbale house workshop
Talent, Oregon 2022

The above list represents the basics of what is covered during the hands-on part of the workshop. These topics are discussed in depth with “on the spot” lectures and question-and-answer sessions. Your questions on these or related topics are welcome and encouraged; they always bring value for the whole group!

The discussions are rich information exchanges. Specific topics covered in the lectures are inspired by the work taking place on the building; however, other topics are often raised, such as:

General Guidelines

The days are full and long. We work hard on the job site in the morning and then break for a leisurely lunch. Our afternoons continue the hard work of the morning. Our dinner and evening break is full of fun and play. We encourage people to bring instruments and their willingness to play together. Although physical work is involved in building the structure, participants are encouraged to work at their own pace. You know your limits, and those limits are respected. Our goal is to get as far as possible in the construction of the building, from setting bales to plastering. In most cases, we will not get beyond the scratch (first) coat of plaster.

Three hearty meals a day are included in your tuition. Delicious and filling, workshop participants always seem amazed at the great food prepared by the hosts and make a point of thanking the kitchen crew for a wonderful week!

Camping is available on site for free, and bathroom facilities are provided, including showers. We ask that showers be kept to a minimum in both duration and frequency to save water and to make sure that every participant has the opportunity to enjoy a hot shower. Some workshop locations may have other accommodations available, such as cabins or tipis. Those accommodations are issued on a first-come, first-served basis and may or may not cost extra based on the workshop host/site. There may also be room for RVs at some workshop locations.

More Than Just Building With Bales

We focus on education in regards to all aspects of the home construction process. Our education does not stop at straw bale construction. We discuss other aspects of the home that can be built Green. Flooring, cabinets, construction adhesives, and other items all play a part in the health of the home. 

Most importantly, we have fun while we explore the concepts of green construction. After all, for us, building without fun is like living without breathing. We love what we do, and that is what makes the difference.

In fact, we often get the feedback that the friendships created during the week are a huge part of the success of the workshop. We’ve even had folks include workshops as part of their honeymoon vacation!

big smiles and laughs while resizing bales

Questions?

Email us (Timbo & Dainella)

at [email protected] with workshop questions.

Hands-On Workshop Frequently Asked Questions

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
You are welcome to stay on-site or at a hotel. It’s up to you.
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.
That depends on the individual hosts and the site location. In most cases, we ask that dogs and other pets stay home.

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.

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.
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.
Top