Join us June 22-23 2024 for a Lime Plaster Finish Coat Work Party in San Rafael, CA. We initially advertised this as a Brown Coat Work Party but recently discovered the brown coat has already been completed, so we will all be applying the finish coat! In this two day event we will be applying a lime plaster finish coat to the exterior hempcrete of a yurt-style straw bale ADU for the Ngongoseke-Von Family. This unique round home with bales on end between studs (the BOEBS method) will feature a clay interior and a hempcrete/lime plaster exterior layer for additional insulation and fire resistance. The work party will run from 9-5 on Saturday and 9-5 on Sunday.

This two day work party will apply the finish coat of lime plaster to the walls to create a durable finish for the exterior of the straw bale home. There are a wide variety of task to accomplish and we will attempt to accommodate every participant’s interest and skill level. Each participant can expect to participate in the various aspects of the plastering process to ensure the broadest possible hands-on experience. Work party will be led by Bob Theis, an architect in the East Bay specializing in straw bale projects, and Darles Eaton, a builder in the East Bay.

The project is the fruition of a long-standing dream of Dotto Ngongoseke to create a home for his family reminiscent of the traditional round thatched houses of his native tribe in Tanzania. They call it "Bayegu" which means "happy place" in his native language Sukuma. Dotto, his wife Ina, and their children Nyanz, Lyuba, and Sonda have all attended various CASBA workshops as they prepared to build their home over the last several years. Sadly, Dotto passed away this past fall. His family continues to work to complete this project in his absence. 

Please bring your own lunch!

Register at https://www.strawbuilding.org/event-5762486.

Cost:  Free

We ask you attend for at least a half day if you cannot attend the entire workparty. Please indicate on your registration form which days you will attend so we can plan work flow.

Please do not come if you are feeling sick.

For additional workshop info contact Allison Arnold at allisonannearnold@gmail.com or 301-357-0582.