Green Building Workshops 
Using Straw and Plaster

Two Saturdays in July!

July 12, 2008 - Straw Bale Workshop

July 19, 2008 - Plastering Workshop

9:00am - 5:00pm both dates

Location: Nisse Farm, Manteno, Illinois

Yes, you read it right!! A building made out of straw!!!  
No, this isn’t part of the Three Little Pigs saga. 
No, it will not catch fire easily.
No, not every small animal within 100 yards will be calling it home.
Yes, they are cost-effective, very energy-efficient and extremely beautiful!

Tying bales into a straw wall.

Natural Building methods such as Straw Bale creatively utilize local, unprocessed, abundant, and/or reused materials to create beautiful, extremely efficient structures. Straw Bale construction uses modular bales of straw, the by-product of wheat harvest, to make sturdy, thermally-intensive walls which are then coated and protected by layers of clay and lime adobes.  

Not only are these workshops a great chance to learn about natural building, but you will have the opportunity to get down and dirty.  Over the course of two adjacent week-ends (weather permitting), you will gain hands-on experience constructing a storage shed.  The frame and roof will be in place on a former corn crib foundation so it will be ready for straw bale placement to go up from there.  

Straw Bale construction is very energy-efficient in material production, in construction, and in interior comfort control.  The two-foot thick straw walls effectively insulate to keep the cold out in the winter and the heat at bay in the summer.  The humidity regulating clay adobes keep the indoor air quality healthy and fresh.  Because the bulk of the building is made out of straw bales, this building method is very sustainable and cost-effective as well.  And if these aren’t enough reasons to learn more about these structures, the fact that they are so beautiful will certainly win you over.

July 12 – Straw Bale Workshop 

o       Shaving bales 

o       Placing Straw Bales in Hut 

o       Quilting the hut: Tie bales to bamboo rebar 

o       Making half bales 

o       Interfacing at doors and windows 

o       Interfacing at roof 

o       Stuffing gaps 

July 19 – Plastering Workshop

         Introduction to Clay Plasters:

o        Overview: From Cob to Fine Finish Plasters  

o        Types of clays and aggregates  

o        Types of trowels and applicators

o        Protective lime finishes

         Get to Work: 

o       Make clay plaster 

o       Begin Plastering 

o       Continually make plaster and feed applicators 

o       Special Details - rounded edges, champhering, etc.  

Cost for each Saturday is $75 or $135 for both if you register before June 15.  After June 15 the cost will be $90 for one and $160 for both.  Class size is limited to only 16 people for each week-end, so early registration is encouraged.  Lunch is included.                  

If you are planning to attend please send us an email, or
call Julie at 708-828-4325.
--Thank You --