See 6 great examples of straw bale homes in Nevada & Placer counties! Details here

Registration is open! Join us April 13-15 at Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria (near San Luis Obispo and Hearst Castle) for our annual Spring Conference, with a particular focus on fire-safe construction. This year we also celebrate women in natural building and invite all who thrive on earth & straw to join us for CASBA's West Coast Natural Building Conference. Sleeping cabins are of strawbale construction!

While architects and builders have known for years that the strawbale walls of their buildings
have superior fire-resistance, several examples of homes surviving recent wildfires bear further evidence of this quality.

To read the rest of this article Click Here

The tour of straw homes in the Grass Valley and Nevada City area has been postponed until May of 2018. We'll post more information at the beginning of the new year. If you'd like to help with logistics, please let us know!

The Conference Committee is planning another great CASBA Conference!  Please send a note to info@strawbuilding.org if you have an interest in presenting or hosting a workshop.  

Registration for the conference will open by mid-February.  We hope to see you there!

See 2017 conference and presentation details here!

One Percent for the Planet business partner Three Twins Ice Cream sweetened up our conference by donating an array of scrumptious ice cream flavors for attendees to enjoy!   Through their Ice Cream for Acres program, every time your purchase their ice cream you are helping to conserve precious habitat! You can read about it here . 

We’re happy to introduce you to MyDomino, our new clean energy partner, and to extend their offer of a free one-year membership to their energy savings concierge service. (a $99 value)

MyDomino will also make a $50 donation to CASBA when you speak with a MyDomino concierge by phone the first time! (with no commitment)  

Why has CASBA partnered with MyDomino?

MyDomino has a similar mission. They share knowledge gathered from research & practical experience to help fight Climate Change, and they help you avoid sales hype and save money! Our members & supporters deserve to know about this resource, so we're glad to spread the word. 

Your free MyDomino membership includes:

• A quick and easy energy consult for your home by phone – whether you rent or own.
• A personalized clean energy plan with advice on actions such as using LEDs, smart thermostats, heat pumps, solar power, EVs, and more.
• A customized dashboard to track your progress and get unlimited clean energy guidance.

Feel free to share this offer with your clients and other straw balers! 

Details can be found here.

Not only does this open new doors to funding for us, it also offers new networking opportunities with other non-profits concerned about Climate Change and the way in which we occupy our planet.  

Excerpted from the 1% for the Planet press release...

CASBA is now eligible to receive donations from 1% for the Planet member companies, placing them among a diverse, global network of environmental organizations. 1% member businesses fuel this nonprofit network through their annual contributions. Partnership with 1% greatly expands the potential pool of funding to which CASBA can look to for support.

"1% for the Planet member businesses donate at least 1% of their annual sales to support environmental nonprofits," says Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet.  "We believe deeply that these nonprofits play a critical role in solving the many challenges facing our planet, and our core work is to grow the corporate support that enables these nonprofits to accomplish even more."

About 1% for the Planet

1% for the Planet is a global network of businesses that donate one percent of annual sales directly to approved environmental nonprofit organizations. More than 1,000 businesses give back to a network of approved nonprofits addressing critical environmental issues.  Started in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, former owner of Blue Ribbon Flies, 1% for the Planet helps people buy better products and protect the planet we play on. To date, our network has given more than $130 million back to the planet.

To learn more go to:  www.onepercentfortheplanet.org. 

 

Register now!

Breaking News Flash(back)
[THE FOLLOWING INVITATION IS PATTERNED AFTER ONE FROM 2003]

THE
PERMANENT DANCE AND DECORATING COMMITTEE
OF THE

CALIFORNIA STRAW BUILDING ASSOCIATION

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS THE HONOR OF YOUR PRESENCE

April 21, 22, 23, 24 - 2016

FOR THE
20^TH ANNIVERSARY MEETING, HOEDOWN, GABFEST AND CONFERENCE
CALIFORNIA VALLEY MOTEL

CARRIZO PLAIN, S.L.O. COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Personally Constructed Strawbale Shelters for your dreamtime
Dramatic Carrizo Plain views for your eyes
Gourmet food and grog for your body
Information for your mind
Music for your soul

Cost:$225.00 early bird thru March 31
$275 until April 15
$325 at the door

Lodging cost varies depending upon the tenderness of one’s bones
Conference cost includes all meals and program for the duration

The theme of this conference/meeting will celebrating CASBA’s first 20 years and plotting the course for the next 20 years of Low Carbon and Natural Building.  In addition our Keynote Speakers Athena and Bill Steen, we will have feautured speakers, panels of experts on topics including ‘Affordable Straw Bale’, ‘Insurance and Financing’, ‘Carbon Sequestration’ and ‘Plaster, Moisture & Durability’.  Plus discussion about your projects large, small, sedate or wild.

If you would like to present your project, idea or product in a 5 minute ‘Pop-Up Presentation’, send a 50 word synopsis of your presentation to Chris Prelitz: chrisprelitz@gmail.com  NOW.

Demonstrations on bale stacking, knot tying, plaster applying or of any other sort are welcome.  So inclined?  Email info@strawbuilding.org

There will also be ‘20x20’ presentations again this year, on Friday evening. 20 slides, 20 seconds each; 6 minutes 40 seconds total. Bring your slides in a single PDF, PPT or JPGs and we’ll make it happen.

The social side of the weekend will feature dancing and decorating to the baleful (sic) tones of ‘The Straw Balers’ Band.  There will be a ritualistic burning of bales, hurling of flaming projectiles with a 12’ trebuchet, drumming of drums and reminiscing to the depths of our failing memories (thank goodness for photos, which if you have to share, please send to Lesley Christiana: jchristiana@sbcglobal.net )

Finally, assistance is absolutely needed for Set Up before, During the Event, and Clean Up after.  If you are willing and able to assist with any of these, please indicate so in your registration, and/or send a note to our conference committee via info@strawbuilding.org. 

Please visit www.strawbuilding.org for registration and full schedule.

Register now!

There will be field trips!!!