This summer, we have various opportunities for people to come and volunteer at our 2 storey straw bale house and to get a chance to see how it has all gone together. camping close by, next to the beach , beautiful area, linches and refreshments provided, learning and skill sharing.

where?

It is at the recently constructed 2 storey loadbearing straw bale house, St Dogmaels, Pembrokeshire run by Rachel Shiamh covering some of the theoretical and practical applications of straw bale build; we will be working on a straw bale infill wall and then mixing and application of clay plaster.

fee; £90 for the weekend, including lunches and refreshments camping or B&B nearby, close to the beach please book early as places are limited due to space by sending a deposit of £30 to Rachel Whitehead, Penwhilwr, St Dogmaels, Pembrokeshire, Wales, SA43 3JG

http://www.quietearth.org.uk

Hey, is May now, how about some feedback on the course ?

Hmm, I've got to render a stone cottage with roughcast lime render. Anyone fancy paying me some cash to come and learn how to do it? Or do I have to do what most builders do and employ a labourer and pay him or her?
I'm sorry to be a cynic, but if people are contributing to a project while learning the techniques, asking them to pay as well is taking the p!ss. I've done limecrete floors where we've had teams of eight barrowing and mixing, and everyone simply brought some food and drink and enjoyed the camaraderie and the learning process. If I'd suggest charging them for the privilege, they'd quite rightly have told me where to go.

Yes, the course was bank holiday weekend. A great bunch of people. During the straw bale courses we have run here, there have never been complaints about the fact that we are working on a house.The teachers are very experienced and need some pay back. We cover much of the theory and then in order to do the practical which is what people are aching to do, we have to do some building. I could have placed a load of bales in the garden and we all have a go at building, but it is far more realistic to work on a real building. There are so many important points to learn that are not in the books.Believe me, there have been courses when we have taken down the work done during them, but the satisfaction is in seeing people gain understanding, experience and confidence in this kind of build. We also run volunteer days, which aren't courses, where people can come and lend a hand and be fed.
We are going to be working this summer in west wales on another one storey loadbearing straw bale building where we will be running courses in straw bale build, lime and clay plastering. Anyone interested can contact us at info@gwaliaessences.co.uk

I am now no longer a strawbale virgin.;-)
I went along and found it very informative and great fun, I didn't mind paying the £90 one bit.
We had a great bunch of people on the course, with camaraderie in spades.
Surely it is more sustainable to work on a project that will be left standing,
rather than one in a classroom that would be knocked down.
It is a beautiful part of the world and well worth a visit, just don't tell everyone.

The Eco Home Centre are running a new strawbale course in SE Wales this August (2010). See www.sustainablebuildingresource.co.uk for more details. An OCN Level 1 is also being offered. EHC is working in partnership with a local charity to deliver the course so all for a good cause.