CASBA announces the 2006 Spring – Summer
Two-Part Introductory Straw Building Workshop Series 

CHANGE IN PLASTER WORKSHOP DATES: see below

The Spring Bale Raising Workshop dates are
Friday – Sunday June 16^th, 17^th, and 18^th

Workshop participants will help construct a permanent, load bearing building at a site between Yorkville and Booneville, about 95 miles north of San Francisco.  The building is the size of a small guest cottage or storage shed.  We plan to use an innovative foundation that minimizes concrete use.   The workshop’s goal is to accommodate every participant’s interest and skill level; each participant can expect to rotate through all bale wall construction activities to ensure the broadest possible hands-on experience.  Here’s what to expect at the Bale Raising Workshop, instructed by straw bale experienced architect Bob Theis and straw building wizard Marcus Hardwick.

Friday Evening, June 16th

CASBA will host an evening slide show program featuring the history of building with straw, with examples from previous CASBA workshops.  Dinner not provided.   Also, bring a lawn chair as the evening program will take place at the building site.   BYOB.

Saturday, June 17th

Morning Meal.  Foundation review and final detailing.  Discuss options. Build corner braces, bale wrestling, cutting, stacking, and wrangling.  Mid Day Meal.  Work on door bucks and window frames.  Finish the Bale Rodeo.  Clean Up.  Evening Meal and campfire stories.

Sunday, June 18th

Complete construction of box beam roof plates, place on top of bales.  Apply light earthen plaster fire retardant coating to walls.   Mid Day Meal.   Finish odds and ends, and clean up.

Summer Work Parties.  Several informal weekend work parties will complete interim tasks that will ready the building for the late summer plastering workshop: e.g. roofing, flooring, window detailing, etc.  This is not part of the class; no fees are charged.  All workshop attendees are welcome to participate in these weekend opportunities to exchange labor for experience.  If you are interested in these weekend work parties be sure to leave your contact information with CASBA organizers and the workshop hosts during the workshop.

The Summer Plastering Workshop dates are
Friday – Sunday, August 18^th, 19^th, and 20^th

 NEW PLASTER WORKSHOP DATES:

Friday – Sunday, August  25^th, 26^th and 27^th

Workshop participants will apply earthen plasters to the building constructed during the Spring Workshop.  The workshop’s goal is to accommodate every participant’s interest and skill level; each participant can expect to rotate through all plastering activities to ensure the broadest possible hands-on experience.  Instructed by straw bale experienced architect Bob Theis, straw building wizard Marcus Hardwick, and plaster master Tracy Vogel.

Friday evening, August 25^th

CASBA will host an evening slide show program featuring plastering options and issues, and details of the building construction to date.  Dinner not provided.   Also bring a lawn chair as the evening program will take place at the building site.   Also BYOB.

Saturday, August 26^th

Morning Meal.  Tour of the structure, discussion of natural plaster options, plastering tools and techniques, review of sample plastered bales.  Window sill details.  Begin preparing, mixing and applying scratch coats on both inside and outside walls.   Mid Day Meal.  Continue prep, mixing, and applying plaster coats.   Clean up.   Evening meal and campfire stories.

Sunday, August 27^th

Morning Meal.  Discuss finish coat options for exterior and interior walls.  Discussion about additional ways to protect walls.  Prep, mix, and apply final plaster coat to portion of wall.  Afternoon Meal and clean up.

Details and Fees. 

Spring Bale Raising 2 ½ day Workshop Cost                $250.00                   

Summer Plastering 2 ½ day Workshop Cost                  $250.00

Register for both workshops (save $50.00!)                     $450.00

Participants signing up for both workshops—bale raising and plastering--before May 20^th will receive a free one-year subscription to The Last Straw, a quarterly journal covering straw building issues and events.

All participants will receive a free one-year membership in CASBA.

These prices include meals on Saturday and Sunday.  You’ll need to eat before, or bring something to eat during the Friday evening presentations.   There are several restaurants in Booneville, just a few miles up the road from the workshop site.    To reduce using disposable paper and plastic products, please bring your own service wear, plate, cup, utensils, etc. for meals. 

Accommodations.  There is no additional charge for those wishing to camp on site.  In fact, we encourage it.  Past year workshop attendees report that the time spent with other participants before and after the workshop—talking while waking up with a cup of coffee or tea, relaxing on the deck under a starry sky with a glass of wine—was both memorable and very helpful.  You will want to arrive late Friday afternoon or early evening to set up your tent during daylight.   All you will need is a tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and flashlight.

There are also hotels and bed and breakfasts in nearby Booneville (details to be provided).  Regardless of whether you hotel it or camp out, solar showers and portable toilets will be available on site.

 
Registration.   Download a registration form .   This is a hands-on workshop taking place at a building construction site.  Safety is discussed and monitored, and proper use of simple hand and power tools will be demonstrated and practiced, but each participant is responsible for their own safety. 

A phone call or email does not guarantee your registration.  Send your check and completed registration!  Space is limited, and participants will be accommodated on a first come, first served basis.  Your paid registration is your only guarantee of admission.  For more information about registration contact Maurice and Joy Bennett at mbennjr@mac.com or 209-785-7077

Mail registration with fee to:

CASBA,

P.O. Box 1293

Angels Camp, CA 95222-1293

After you register:

Be sure to include a phone number, email, and mailing address when you register.   We’ll send you driving directions and a more detailed list of what to bring.  The weather in Yorkville can be warm during both workshop dates.  In addition to providing food, we’ll have plenty of cool beverages on hand.  Please be prepared to take care of your own clothing needs.  Straw bales can be itchy, so bring long sleeves and pants.  Plastering is a lot like mud wrestling, so bring shorts or jeans and a t-shirt that you don’t mind getting full of mud during the workshop.  Wear closed toe shoes that will offer protection should someone drop a board, bale, bucket of plaster or trowel on your foot.  Most earthen plasters can be worked by hand, but you may prefer to use heavy duty rubber work gloves.  You’ll definitely need them for mixing and applying lime based plasters.  A broad brimmed hat to protect from the sun, inexpensive safety glasses to protect from splashes and a dust mask are also recommended. 

If you have any other questions about workshop activities, driving directions, accommodations, or what to bring, contact Jim Reiland or Joy Rogalla at jimrjoyr@msn.com or 541-482-0153.