The Redwood Empire Chapters of CSI and USGBC will be hosting this FREE event where we will join author Bruce King in discussing his book Build Beyond Zero. Written along with Chris Magwood, the authors show how buildings are culprits but stand poised to act as climate healers. They offer an exciting vision of climate-friendly architecture, along with practical advice for professionals working to address the carbon footprint of our built environment. Click here for more details on this November 7th event in Santa Rosa, CA !

CASBA director Massey Burke and member Bruce King both appear in a video devoted to building with straw, recently released by Patagonia. The credits also thank CASBA and members David Arkin, Jim Reiland, and Anthony Dente. Participating in the making of the video was an unexpected honor, and a delight. Thank you to Yvon Chouinard & architect Dylan Johnson for championing straw building, and giving us the opportunity to help!

Video: https://www.patagonia.com/stories/home-grown/video-141549.html

Dwell article: https://www.dwell.com/article/yvon-chouinard-dylan-johnson-straw-bale-house-interview-9fb6f5c2

Straw bale workshop Oct 7/8 in Ione, CA.  

A plaster workshop in Clermont, NY, October 11-15 at a beautiful Buddhist Retreat center working on a new Ecococoon straw bale building. More information on instagram @cobbetty

Learn how to build with straw bales! This is a two day workshop which will focus on how to use bales as insulation in a new and stunningly unique custom home in Santa Rosa, California. Learn how straw bales increase the insulation value and beauty of the buildings. Participants will participate in bale stacking, notching, bale resizing, and pinning in place. This new custom home is being built by Crafted Earth a design, engineering, and construction firm in the North Bay.  Kita Glass, a natural builder in Santa Cruz, will be instructing the class. Camping on site is available for all participants Friday and Saturday nights. Meals provided.  https://www.strawbuilding.org/event-5266874 

CASBA's West Coast Natural Building Conference will take place at the beautiful rammed earth Shady Creek Event Center in Nevada County this year, on March 31st - April 2nd.  We hope to see you there!

More information and online registration: Workparty: Intro to Light Straw Clay 

Skilled plasterers needed this Saturday April 30th 9am-4pm (will probably finish earlier!)  

633 Hegenberger Road, Oakland CA

Come help Bob Theis apply an acoustic plaster mix (perlite, vermiculite and clay) that will get a surface texturing to the small interior ceiling (less than 200 sq feet of surface) of the feral straw bale art gallery in the Youth Spirit Artwork's Tiny House Empowerment Village. Lunch is provided! Plenty of parking! No registration required. Contact Bob Theis for more info. +1 (510) 235-0616  bob@bobtheis.net Or Allison Arnold 301-357-0582 allisonannearnold@gmail.com

Weather-Resistant Exterior Plasters with Clay and Lime workshop in Phoenix, AZ

This 3-day course replaces a previously arranged straw bale building workshop scheduled for this same time that has been moved to a future date in November. 

Taught by Athena and Bill Steen, this workshop will focus on stabilizing clay plasters for use as an exterior finish. We will explore a variety of ingredients that can be added or applied to help clay resist water. Lime plaster will also be covered to a lesser extent. The course will cover theory and mixes with plenty of hands-on opportunities for all participants. 

Existing exterior strawbale walls plastered with a clay base-coat will be finish plastered during the course. Different methods and techniques will be used on various walls around the two existing buildings.

This workshop will be held Friday March 4- Sunday, March 6, 2022. The cost for the plaster workshop is $375 which includes meals, materials, and instruction by the amazing Steens.

To register, contact Susan Ontiveros at 602 561-9621 or email her: susanontiveros424@gmail.com

CASBA's West Coast Natural Building Conference returns to Westerbeke Ranch in Sonoma, April 22-24, 2022. Please mark your calendars and make plans to join us. We have high hopes that it will be safe to gather in person next Spring!