The best way to celebrate Earth Day this year: Applying earth plaster to a straw bale house!
Please join the California Straw Building Association for a Clay Plaster Scratch Coat Work Party in Ashland, Oregon on Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Oceanspray Townhomes.
What: a work party led by experienced natural builders, with the owners and architects. We’ll learn and work together to apply clay plaster to the interior walls of a straw-bale multi-family residential structure. Oceanspray Townhomes is climate-resilient, low carbon housing with 4 two-bedroom townhome units. In this two-day work party we will be applying the first coat (the scratch coat) of clay plaster into the straw bale walls. This is a fun, exciting transformative day for the project as the bales disappear under the clay.
Why: Building together is fun! Learn about straw bale construction and clay plastering with hands on experience. Meet other folks interested in eco-friendly building.
Clay plastering is the oldest form of wall coverings, prevalent around the world in many variations and atop many substrates: adobe, cob, wattle and daub, straw bales, even on top of drywall and plywood! Clay plaster is locally sourced, has low-embodied carbon, is fun to apply (ask any plasterer!), has numerous health benefits, is fire resistant, and on top of that, creates a beautiful surface- adaptable to many designs and styles.
Who: All are welcome. No prior experience required. There are a range of tasks during plastering so everyone can get involved at every level of interest and skill. Led by experienced natural builder Lydia Doleman , Jim Reiland, along with James Henderson and Kyle Alexander of Goldhill Clay Plaster.
When: Friday 4/19 and Saturday 4/20 : 9am-5pm
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 for the Clay Plaster Work Party at https://www.strawbuilding.org/event-5622020.
For additional information contact Allison Arnold at allisonannearnold@gmail.com or 301-357-0582.
Upcoming Events:
CASBA's Annual Conference: The West Coast Natural Building Conference April 26-28 in Cambria, CA. https://www.strawbuilding.org/event-5600932
Save the Date! June 7-9 Lime Plaster Brown Coat Workshop in La Pine, Oregon. Details coming soon.
