Why do we live the way we do?  Why do we build homes the way we build them?  Why do we pay hundreds of thousands of dollars, go into debt for 30 or more years - simply to provide ourselves and our families with basic shelter?

Why does nearly every media outlet report the Dow Jones stock average each and every day - when it has literally no impact on the lives of 99.99999% of their audience.  Why does Exxon have all the rights of a human being - but the Gulf of Mexico does not? And you didn't think straw bale construction was political!

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Join us for a week that will change your life.  This is a strawbale workshop for sure, in which you will learn all the skills required to build your own dream house - but it is so much more.  This is a chance to ask "why?"

Since 1996, Blue Rock Station has been a sanctuary for our family and friends. A destination where you can take a break from the reality of our world that, let's face it, can be a bit overwhelming at times.  About a decade ago, we decided we would just stay here - maybe redefining our reality a bit.  We left our corporate lives to live in a house made of tires and trash.  Since then, literally tens of thousands have visited - each encouraged to ask that very basic question, "why?"

What this Workshop is:

This workshop is about community, dreams, hopes, limitations, courage and possibilities.  We just happen to be building a strawbale building in the process.  You will work very hard (most days are 10 hours or so of instruction), laugh a lot, make lifelong friends, confess your most precious dreams and visions to people you only recently met, eat amazing local vegetarian food prepared by delightful and loving people, shoo chickens and goats and llamas and cats and dogs out of the way, feel the earth and your place in it - and learn skills that can help you create an amazing shelter for little cost.

Our focus is on the entire building process, from finding (or scrounging) building materials, various options for working with sustainable materials, creative ways of working with salvaged materials - and incorporating design and whimsey into your project.  This workshop assumes you have absolutely no carpentry skills, and that the most exercise you get on a daily basis is walking from your desk to the coffee maker.

There is a wide chasm between dreaming of doing a thing - and actually doing that thing.  This workshop will help you cross that divide.  An amazing number of our graduates from this class have gone home and actually built themselves a straw bale building.  We cannot emphasize how rare that is.  We believe this is because we remove may obstacles that keep people from achieving their dreams.

The amazing thing about this technique of building is that you can literally screw up almost every step of the way, and still end up with a very nice building (believe me, we have).  And these techniques are evolving.  We encourage you to try new things.  We encourage you to fail.  By the end of this workshop you will KNOW in your heart that you can actually do that project that you have been dreaming of.

This is a learning experience.  The goal of this workshop is to teach you the skills you need and want.  Each task is designed to give you the time and opportunity needed to master the skill.  The goal is not to build a home for someone else.  A project of that nature has its own demands - which may or may not coincide with the pace at which you learn.  Also, I personally would be afraid of screwing up somebody else's living room wall - which would tend to stress me out a bit (although that might just be me).

What this Workshop is NOT:

This is not a workshop that simply demonstrates how to incorporate bales of straw into a conventional structure or home.  We like to say that "anybody can be sustainable if you have a million dollars."  The problem is, most of us don't have that much money - or really any extra cash lying around.  Our philosophy is that, with the right skills, you can and should be able to create an amazing home for yourself and remain out of debt.

When learning a new skill, it is wise to start small.  We will be working on projects that a limited in size - so you can experience each and every skill and see real and visible progress by the end of the day.  After all, when learning basic carpentry, your first project (hopefully) is not to build a cathedral.  You start a bit smaller, perhaps a birdhouse, then a bookcase.

This basic project incorporates most of  the skills and techniques that you will need to tackle much bigger things (like building your own Earthship or building that dream mansion out of straw bales).  But the scale of our project is small enough for a beginning “green builder” to learn all the useful techniques for big or small building projects - without being overwhelmed.

It also a great opportunity to see IF you enjoy the process enough to tackle a larger project - and also gives you the unique opportunity to compare Earthship building techniques with straw bale building techniques (there are advantages and disadvantages in both).

For Women:

The majority of the participants in our workshops over the years have been women.  We mention this for several reasons.  First, of course, women are always leaders where it comes to societal changes - and this workshop is no exception.  But the other reason is that the construction industry can be quite a macho environment.  That is certainly not the case here at Blue Rock Station.  We watch all participates to make sure everyone gets a fair chance at each task (no monopolizing the hammers here), and also ensure that the entire atmosphere of the workshop is happy, welcoming and free from all the baggage that comes with many projects where gender roles are reversed, ignored or (hopefully) non-existent.

For Artists:

We encourage you to let your inner artist go free.  This is, after all, your project.  There will be ample opportunity to incorporate mosaics, sculptures, design elements - or whatever idea strikes your fancy into the project.  Our project designs are designs only in the loosest sense of the word.  Often we make changes on the fly - morphing the structure to reflect the abilities and sensibilities of the workshop participants.

For Seekers:

Many who come to our workshops are not quite sure what they are looking to build, or if in fact the wish to build anything.  If you seek ideas, we will brainstorm with you and point out issues and opportunities that might be presented by your project.  Or perhaps you just want to chill for a week, but use your time a bit more productively than sitting on the beach.  Or maybe you want to see if this type of construction is really for you.  Or (and this is very likely) you have a sense that there is something not quite right with the world you live in and want to see if there are other options.  This week will be filled with, not only skill building, but lengthy discussions about life, the universe and everything.

For Construction Professionals:

If it is your goal to go out and build a traditional home that incorporates straw bales into the design, rather than drywall - then we can recommend other workshops that are perhaps more suited for you.  We won't be dealing much with building codes, plumbing permits, or electrical inspections - although we will touch on the entire wide world of making this type of construction work within the very real tapestry of local, state and federal regulations.

This Year's Project:

During this week-long workshop, we will work on several different projects (to ensure we work on every stage of a project, from start to finish). This will allow us to do finish work without having to wait the several weeks it takes for everything to dry.  This year we will build a ""Hobbit House" root cellar with a living roof, complete the "Dragon's Lair" sleeping cottage, and construct a beer bottle castle turret (you will have to see that one to believe it).  You will be amazed at how much you'll learn in just a few days.  We will also experiment with cob to create curved walls - giving our new masterpieces a "storybook" look and feel.

As part of this workshop, you will receive detailed construction drawings for the Dragon's Lair - the sleeping cottage design that's easy to build and everyone will love.  These little buildings are pretty cool and might make a great garden shed, play house, guest room or hunting cabin as your first solo project. The designs are simple enough so that those with little or no carpentry skills will have little problem putting them together.  We also have tried to design them using minimal materials -  costing only about $700 if you buy all the materials new (but we encourage you to scrounge what you need, so your costs may be even less if you decide to build this project).

This seminar will walk you through the entire process of building a straw bale structure using a pounded tire foundation.   The work on the Hobbit House Root Cellar will involve rammed-earth tires, and bottle walls. This is the same technique we used when building our Earthship - using the rammed earth as a foundation rather than completing it to full wall height.

The Workshop Agenda includes:

Saturday (May 25th):

• Travel day.  Arrive at Blue Rock Station (or your hotel or other sleeping arrangement) at some point during the day.  Get your cottage or camp set up (if staying here at the site) and then relax through the evening.  We will have refreshments and really old jokes ready and waiting.

Sunday (May 26th):

• Orientation/tour of Blue Rock Station
• Site selection and preparation
• Tire selection and basic Earthship construction concepts
• The Art and Science of pounding tires
• Water issues and “French” drains
• Concrete “half-tires”
• Installing the sill plates and locking it all together
• more water-proofing
• Various foundation options and how they are built

Monday, (May 27th):

• Framing the structure.
• Integrating windows and doors into the structure
• Securing the base row of bales to the foundation
• Cutting and retying bales to size.
• Cutting saplings to girdle the bales.
• Lashing the bales to the saplings.
• Theory of straw bale, load bearing versus non-load bearing
• Water issues (keeping the bales dry)

Tuesday (May 28th):

• The theory and practical uses of can/bottle walls (such as pillars, walkway boarders, small garden buildings, etc).
• Cobb integration into straw and building non load-bearing cobb walls
• Using cans and bottles as part of a straw bale or tire wall.
• Mixing cobb with cement mixer as well as by hand (or foot, rather)
• Creating shelves or other free-form objects

Wednesday (May 29th):

• Creating the scratch coat mix
• How to apply scratch coat earth plaster
• Forming bottle walls within conventional framing.
• How to mix the various coats, including cobb, base coat, scratch coat, finish coat and exterior coats (areas exposed to the weather).
• Applying the finish coat
• Wednesday Evening Pot Luck and Talent Show (don't worry, we will all be old friends by then)

Thursday (May 30th):

• Exterior coating for outdoor walls and structures.
• Finishing and sealing options.
• How to mix the lime plaster (exterior)
• How to mix, color and apply lime wash
• Creating designs and mosaic in the walls
• How to build a “Living Roof”

Friday (May 31st):

• Finish up any skills that might have been missed in the previous five days.
• Special "Added Bonus" Electrical/Photovoltaic Workshop (see description below*).  Free of charge for those registering before March 15th.
• There is an option for folks to stay on to practice your newly learned skills.  Speak with Annie to see if you wish to say a day or two longer to continue working on the projects.

Saturday (June 1st):

• Have a hearty breakfast, then depart back to the "real" world.
• Travel time, to get you home with the weekend still ahead to recover and re-acclimate
• There is an option for folks to stay on to practice your newly learned skills.  Speak with Annie to see if you wish to say a day or two longer to continue working on the projects.

Rain or Shine: Given the size and nature of this project, we can cover the work site(s) in a canopy - so the event will proceed rain or shine (and believe me, after pounding tires for several hours it is the “shine” you are more worried about).

Also, as many of the steps within this project require time to dry - we will work on several projects that will give you the skills necessary to build your own project.

Come prepared to work hard, have fun, discuss politics, eat terrific locally-grown food (catered lunches are provided), make friends, sweat, have a proper cup of tea - then sit in the shade and admire all you have accomplished.

HOUSING: You can camp for free at Blue Rock Station (RV's are $15 per day for electric hookup) or you can reserve a straw bale sleeping cabin for $55 per night (either the MayApple or the FireFly, each sleeps two) - first come, first served on the cabins.  Composting toilets and solar showers (heated showers also available should the sun fail to show) are available.  Deposits are required for housing. Or if you prefer, we can recommend local hotels and/or bed and breakfasts.

MEALS: This is a real treat of the workshop and worth the price alone (you may be tempted to just come to dine - skipping the workshops all together).  Breakfast, lunch and supper are included in the cost of the workshop.  We will dine under the canopy at the scenic overlook.  All food is locally grown, lovingly prepared, and vegetarian.  If you have special dietary needs, we need to know when you register so we can try to accommodate.

In the evening there are often social events (around the camp fire) so bring your musical instruments if you are so inclined.  AND on Wednesday night of the workshop there will be a potluck/ talent show.  Bring some local food or product from your region to share on this fun night.  Also be prepared to show off you skills at juggling, poetry, musical abilities, magic trick, or simply applauding loudly (see, those of us who are shy have a talent as well).

Workshop logistics (click this link to find out more info on what to bring, where to stay, meals, local attractions, directions, and the like). Options include staying in straw bale cabins at Blue Rock Station, camping on site, camping at a local state park, nearby bed & breakfasts, hotels - you name it.  Give us a call to arrange accommodations.

Class size is limited (lots of individual attention), so please reserve your spot early.  You will also see below that significant discounts are available to those who register early.

For reservations, call us at (740) 674-4300, e-mail us or register instantly and pay by credit card by clicking one of the buttons below...

Registration

*Special early registration Electrical/Photovoltaic Workshop

This is the year when solar electric becomes cheaper to install on your home than the cost of paying your electric bill each month (what is known in the trade as "grid parity").  So what self-respecting modern day back-to-the-lander would miss this opportunity to learn just how to design and install your very own photovoltaic (PV) electrical system.  In this half-day workshop, we will:

• Learn just a bit about basic electricity (and do a bit of basic wiring)
  • How to conduct a site assessment of your property to determine where to locate the system
  • The various parts of a PV system (both grid-tied and stand-alone)
• How to connect and test a PV system (we have a nifty lab that you will work with)
• How to size and price a system for your needs

Normally $150, this workshop is free for those registering prior to March 15th.