CASBA announces the 2008 Summer
Introduction to Straw Building Workshops 

The Bale Raising Workshop dates are Friday – Sunday; July 11^th, 12^th, and 13^th

Location: Chartwell School, a private school in Seaside, near Monterey. This campus is the first school in the country to achieve a U.S. Green Building Council Platinum rating for Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED).

Further details and driving instructions will be provided with registration confirmation)

Workshop participants will help construct a permanent and permitted, load bearing building on the school grounds that will be used as an outdoor science lab by the students.  The building is 16’X22’ or the size of a small guest cottage or storage shed.  

 The workshop’s goal is to accommodate every participant’s interest and skill level; each participant can expect to rotate through all bale wall construction and plastering activities to ensure the broadest possible hands-on experience. 

The instructors for the workshop are Greg McMillan and John Swearingen, both long time experienced strawbale contractors. John’ web site is www.skillful-means.com

Here’s what to expect at Workshops;

Bale Raising Workshop

Friday Evening, July 11^th 7pm

CASBA will host an evening slide show program featuring the history of building with straw, with examples from previous CASBA workshops. The presentation will be held in the schools media room and plenty of chairs are available.

Saturday, July 12th

Morning Meal, project review and instruction, final foundation detailing, bale stacking including cutting, notching and bracing. Mid day meal, build and install window/door bucks, continue bale stacking. Clean up followed by evening meal and social time

Sunday, July 13th

Morning meal, finish bale stacking, construction of beam roof plates and place on top of bales. Install strapping and buckles, tighten over walls.  Mix and apply earthen slip plaster as fire retardant coating to walls.   Mid Day Meal, finish odds and ends, clean up and prepare for departure.

Plastering Workshop

Friday evening, September 12^th

CASBA will host an evening slide show program featuring plastering options and issues, and details of the building construction to date. 

Saturday, September 13^th

Morning Meal. Tour of the structure, discussion of natural plaster options, plastering tools and techniques and review of sample plastered bales.  Review or complete window sill and door details.  Begin preparing, mixing and applying scratch coats on both inside and outside walls.   Mid Day Meal.  Continue prep, mixing, and applying plaster coats. Clean up followed by evening meal and social time

Sunday, September 14^th

Morning Meal.  Discuss finish coat options for exterior and interior walls and additional ways to protect walls.  Prep, mix, and apply final plaster coat to exterior walls. Mid Day Meal, finish odds and ends, clean up and prepare for departure.

Details and Fees. 

July Bale Raising 2 day Workshop Cost                $250.00                   

September Plastering 2 day Workshop Cost                  $250.00

Register for both workshops (save $50.00!)                     $450.00

Participants signing up for both workshops “bale raising and plastering” before June 1 will receive a free one-year subscription to The Last Straw, a quarterly journal covering straw building issues and events. All participants will receive a free one-year membership in CASBA.

These prices include meals on Saturday and Sunday.  For the Friday evening presentations you’ll need to eat before, or bring something to eat but there are numerous restaurants and stores in Seaside, just minutes from the workshop site.    

To reduce using disposable paper and plastic products, please bring your own service wear; plate, cup, utensils, water bottle etc. for meals. 

Accommodations 

The school grounds will accommodate camping in a protected area near the building site for those wishing to do so. There is no additional charge to camp on site, in fact we encourage it as it provides more time to relax and chat with other attendees. You will want to arrive early Friday to set up your tent during daylight (Friday 4pm is earliest) and make sure to bring a flashlight besides your tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag and other necessities.  Showering and toilet facility will be provided.

There are many hotels and motels in Seaside as well as a Hostel in Monterey.

Registration.   Download a registration form .  Be sure to include a phone number, email, and mailing address when you register so we can send you driving directions and more details. 

A phone call or email does not guarantee your registration.  Send your check and completed registration!  Space is limited, and participants will be accommodated on a first come, first served basis.  Your paid registration is your only guarantee of admission. 

This is a hands-on workshop taking place at a building construction site.  Safety is discussed and monitored, and proper use of simple hand and power tools will be demonstrated and practiced, but each participant is responsible for their own safety. 

Mail registration with fee to:

CASBA,

P.O. Box 1293

Angels Camp, CA 95222-1293

For more information about registration, contact Maurice & Joy Bennett at mbennjr@mac.com  or 209-785-7077

For questions on workshop, contact CJ Cavet at cjbwpv@sbcglobal.net or 530-559-6275 or the Host: Jay Tulley at jayt@danielsandhouse.com

Summer Work Parties.  Several informal weekend work parties will complete interim tasks that will ready the building for the late summer plastering workshop: e.g. roofing, window and door detailing, etc.  This is not part of the class; no fees are charged.  All workshop attendees are welcome to participate in these weekend opportunities to exchange labor for experience.  If you are interested in these weekend work parties be sure to leave your contact information with CASBA organizers and the workshop host during the workshop.