The Straw Bale Building Workshop

"BUILDING YOUR
STRAW BALE HOME"
from foundations to the roof

Over the four days of the workshop I will share with you in intimate detail the core skills and competencies that I have acquired from over 30 years in the construction industry. I am prepared to let you in on the tips and secrets that only time can teach. This is not stuffy old theory taken from a TAFE college textbook, I will teach you, step by step, EVERY action point you need to know to get started. On the fourth day you will be equipped to start building your own straw bale home, I guarantee it (more details to follow).

We have decided to limit the number of places available for this workshop; this enables me to give you my greatest level of focus and attention. I deliberately make myself available during the workshop so you can pick my brains. Ask me the pressing questions that are keeping you from getting started on your own home.

Meet with other like-minded people and share ideas. People who attend our workshops often build relationships with other attendees where they can help one-another on an ongoing basis.

During the workshop we will share our proprietary straw bale construction techniques that will make your life easier in so many ways!

Drafting, engineering and building permits made easy!

All course participants will not only have access to our design service, but also to our engineers and drafts people. People that are committed to and understand straw bale construction. We will introduce you to our Building surveyor who is licensed to issue building permits and do the necessary on site inspections for the construction of your own straw bale home anywhere in Victoria. Again, a company that understand and supports straw bale owner builders, with inspectors that will help you rather than authoritarian inspectors that may be more inclined to cause trouble than to help.

The workshop to suit all levels of experience

The workshop is targeted specifically at owner builders without any building experience, however the feedback from tradesmen and designers that have done the course in the past is extremely positive. Listen to what Peter Vasila a designer from Lancefield said:

Dear Brian,

Just a short note to thank you for all your work regarding a very enjoyable Straw Bale Workshop.

I found the whole experience very informative and worthwhile. In particular I gained a great deal from your ability to patiently explain the process of building Straw Bale and owner building in general, which obviously came from your wealth of experience.

The mix of 'hands on' and theory was just right and of course I must thank you for your warm hospitality.

I'm happy to recommend the course to anyone who would like to call me Personally.

All the Best

Peter Vasila

The hardest part of building a straw bale house is knowing how to build a house. The straw bale part is easy. Throughout the course you will learn key factors in building your own home, and almost more importantly, when and who to ask for help.

Whilst I am extremely concerned about our environment, this is not a course on compost toilets or any other ecological issues. It is a course on how to build a complete straw bale house from the foundations up to the roof. NOT just about how to build straw bale walls. It is for this reason that Saturday, Sunday and Monday will be about 75% theory and 25% practical. It is obviously not possible to build a house as part of the workshop, so the practical sessions will deal exclusively with the various facets associated with the straw bales.

Hands on practical experience

During the afternoon sessions, you will get hands on experience in:

Stacking bales in a wall
Cutting notching and shaping bales
Compression of straw bale walls
Assembling walls around corners
The installation of electric cables in straw bale walls
The installation of pipes in straw bales
Earthen render

A tour of straw bale buildings

During the workshop we will visit a local straw bale cellar door. We will also spend time looking over our own home, a structural infill home built on a timber floor, with extensive use of local timber poles. Whilst we are living in this home, having gained a certificate of occupancy in 2008, it still has many finishing touches to be done. You will also have the opportunity to look over our new office, which is a load bearing straw bale built on a concrete slab.

How each day unfolds

Each day will commence at 9-00AM and break for morning tea at around 10-00AM. Lunch will be around 12-00 noon and afternoon tea just before 3-00PM. You will be involved in the construction and rendering of straw bale walls, and many other practical activities. It is essential that appropriate clothes be worn to the practical sessions. This is not a time to dress to impress. Each day will be made up of practical and theory, with about one third of the course being practical hands on application.

Apart from Tuesday, each day finishes at 5-00PM. On Tuesday we finish at 3-00 PM however I will be available until 5-00 PM to answer any questions.

Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea will be provided each day free of charge to avoid delays in people leaving the facility. br>

During the course you will view over 200 photographs and drawings to help you understand the application of the theory presentation. At the time of registration on the first day, you will be given a 200 page workshop manual, which has space in it for you to take notes for future reference.

Here’s what a couple of previous course attendees had to say about our course:

"Having completed Brian’s course my husband and I now have absolute confidence that we can build our own straw bale house. Brian’s ability to break every facet down into simple steps enables people of every ability to tackle the building process. We have had the most fantastic time on this course.."
-Jackie & Jason Bell of Singleton NSW

"As a Kinglake bushfire surviror my priorities as an owner builder, are speed, eas, cost and fire-proofing. Anvill provide the information and the confidence to use it. Strrawbale also allows beauty and individual expression."
-Julia Holmes Kinglake Victoria

At each workshop we ask the participants for ideas on how we could improve on the presentation. At the second workshop a number of the participants suggested that we provide tables to sit at throughout the course, as this would make it easier for taking notes and drinking coffee during the sessions. At a latter workshop, someone asked if it would be possible to includesome live footage of building walls and fitting stumps, which we have now incorporated into the course. Over a period of time participants made suggestions as to how we could improve the workshop manual, and so we now have a brand new 200 page workshop manual to further improve your learning experience.

At the risk of sounding like you are about to get free steak knives,

There's more!

You’re 100% Protected By Our
‘Better-Than-Risk-Free-Guarantee’

Our promise to you:

Attend our workshop until lunchtime on day three…we won’t consider that we have earned your registration fee until then. If then you are not 100% satisfied with the workshop and feel that you haven’t gotten your moneys worth in grass-roots applicable knowledge, you can resign from the course and we will give you back your money, every single cent, we don’t deserve to keep it if you’re not happy!

Not only will we give you your money back but we will ask that you keep the workshop manual (and the food you have already eaten :-) ) as our way of saying sorry for wasting your time.

What Investment
Do I Need To Make?

Our fees are based on the excellent value that you will get out of the workshop; you will find the skills and confidence to build your own straw bale house. Remember, you are covered by our ‘Better-Than-Risk-Free-Guarantee’. Prices are currently:

$820Per Attendee
PLUS
You can bring a partner for only $680

Workshop Location

The workshop will be held in Heathcote, which is in Central Victoria, approximately 2 hours from Tullamarine airport. I will send you all the details of course location and additional information about the course following receipt of your registration & receipt of payment.

Workshop Dates

Saturday March 17th to Tuesday 20th 2012

Saturday November 17th to Tuesday 20th 2012

Saturday March 2nd to Tuesday 5th 2013

Saturday November 16th to Tuesday 19th 2013

Phone Brian on 0428 246 868 for more details.

Terms & Conditions

A 50% deposit must accompany all bookings. The balance of the course fee is to be made at the time of registration on the first day of the workshop. (Credit card facilities are available)

Telephone & email bookings will be held for 7 days until payment of a 50% deposit is received.

Cancellations of bookings will only be accepted up to 45 days prior to the workshop. A booking fee of $50 per person will be charged on all cancellations.

The money back guarantee applies to people who attend all sessions up to the lunch break on the 3rd day, and leave prior to the afternoon session on the 3rd day.

Bookings are made on a first in first served basis.

Prices quoted are subject to change without notice, however any bookings made accompanied by full payment of the deposit will be honored at the price quoted at the time of booking.

For more information call
0428 246 868
or email brian on
brian@anvill.com.au