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 have access 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 or NSW. 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 four straw bale homes

Following registration on the first day, we do a tour of three straw bale homes in the immediate area.

The first is a round house of structural infill construction built on timber stumps nearing completion. The second house is a 10 square house load bearing straw bale home with 2 meter verandahs on all four sides. This is a much talked about home, as it was completed in 2005 for under $23,000. The third, is our new home in the Heathcote area, which will be under construction at the time of the workshop.

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. We will also be doing a tour of three straw bale houses, however the timing of this is dependent on the owners of each property.

Apart from Tuesday, each day finishes at 5-00PM following which we have a 2 hour tea break. 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. After the 2 hour break, I will return to the venue for an open question and answer time, which is optional. In one of the early workshops, we found that it was difficult for people to ask questions particular to their own situation during the day sessions, so I made myself available for two hours each night after tea. The feedback on this was an overwhelming thumbs up, so I have decided to make it an added bonus to all future courses. This is a time to sit and relax with your feet up and a cuppa in hand to talk though your particular building issues or to further clarify matters raised throughout the day.

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 166 page workshop manual, which has space in it for you to take notes for future reference.

Here’s what one of previous course attendees, currently building their own straw bale home in Wallan, had to say about our course before the improvements:

"After this workshop we felt confident that we could build our own house. The technical details, extensive theory, hands on experience and contacts given to us have been invaluable. The course was a great experience and a very valuable asset to building our home."
-Mary and Warren Roberts

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. They also suggested that to have a couple of models of various aspects of the building would make it easier to understand how to build them themselves. As a consequence of this feed back, we will be supplying tables to sit at, and, rather than to simply supply a few models of various components, we will have a scale model of a straw bale house. The model, approximately 1,200mm X 900mm, will cover both load bearing and structural infill (the latest form of building) straw bale construction. At the March workshop the participants made suggestions as to how we could improve the workshop manual, and so the we now have a brand new 170 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 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:

$720 Per Attendee
PLUS
You can bring a partner for only $600

NOTE - Special discounts are available for pensioners and Health Care Card holders.

Sponsorship Program

We have a sponsorship program for those people who are financially or physically disadvantaged. The level of sponsorship is dependent on the needs of the person as decided by a selection panel. Applicants do not have any right to appeal the decision of the panel .For more details, contact Brian Hodge on 0428 246 868.

Workshop Location

The workshop will be held in the Heathcote area, which is in Central Victoria, approximately 1.5 hours from Tullamarine airport. There is an airport bus that runs through Heathcote each day. I will send you all the details of course location and available accommodation following receipt of your registration & receipt of payment.

Workshop Dates

Saturday January 20th 2007 to
23rd inclusive BOOKED OUT!

Saturday April 28th 2007 to
May 1st inclusive BOOKED OUT!

Saturday September 8th 2007 to
September 11th inclusive BOOKED OUT!

Saturday November 17th 2007 to
November 20th inclusive BOOKED OUT!

2008 Workshop: March 1,2,3,4. Make a deposit today to save $100 and secure your place.

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.
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 click here for a postal registration form.