Please join the California Straw Building Association for the newly rescheduled:  

Oceanspray Townhomes Bale Raising Work Party

Ashland, Oregon

Friday, April 12th and Saturday, April 13th, 2024

What: a work party led by experienced natural builders, with the owners and architects. We’ll learn and work together to use straw bales to insulate the walls of a multi-family residential structure. Oceanspray Townhomes is climate-resilient, low carbon housing with 4 two-bedroom townhome units. In this two-day workshop we will be preparing, trimming, stacking, and securing straw bales into walls, as well as stuffing and preparing the bale walls for plaster. The project uses the method of Bales on End Between Studs (BOEBS) in order to simplify framing and installation. 

Why: Building together is fun! Learn about straw bale construction with hands on experience. Meet other folks interested in eco-friendly building. 

Straw is the stalk of grain crops, an agricultural by-product. When baled, it’s a good insulator and doesn’t burn easily. Kept dry in a well-designed wall system, it does not decay. Straw is also carbon storing: using it in buildings keeps the carbon in the plant matter from being released back to the atmosphere.

Who: All are welcome. No prior experience required. There are a range of tasks in a bale raising so everyone can get involved at every level of interest and skill. Led by experienced natural builders Lydia Doleman and Jim Reiland, together with Arkin Tilt Architects.

When: Friday, April 12th and Sunday, April 13th,  9am-5pm each day.

Lodging: There are numerous accommodations and campgrounds nearby the project site. Please let us know if you would like recommendations.

Lunch: A pizza lunch will be provided both days, as well as a light breakfast and coffee/tea.

Cost: Free

We ask that you commit to at least a half-day shift, and are welcomed and encouraged to attend both full days. Please indicate in your registration when you expect to attend as this will help us coordinate the workflow and plan appropriately for mealtimes.

Registration at https://www.strawbuilding.org/event-5535348.   

For additional information contact Allison Arnold at allisonannearnold@gmail.com or 301-357-0582. 

And one week later: Oceanspray Townhomes Clay Plaster Work Party, April 19 & 20!! Registration now open: https://www.strawbuilding.org/event-5622020