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Philo Ohio 43771 USA
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Philo Ohio 43771 USA
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Workshop on building straw-based structures held
Patricia A. West-Volland
TR Community Reporter
Patricia A. West-
TR Community Reporter
Buildings made of straw, sticks and mud are not in any danger of being blown down by the big bad wolf at Blue Rock Station.
The structures are sturdy cob (mud mixture) building with tire foundations. Owners, Annie and Jay Warmke held a week-long vaulted straw bale workshop at the station to share their knowledge of a growing trend in home building. Buildings made of recycled material and straw are scattered around the 38 acres Jay and Annie call home with granddaughter, Catlyn.
"The idea is to use as much stuff that you don't have to buy," Jay said as he showed the students how to resize a straw bale. "Because we live in Ohio, that good Ohio clay's plentiful."
Annie explained the process of building the straw structure. Jay built a wooden frame over a tire foundation. Students put straw bales in place for the walls and covered them with a cob mixture of clay, straw and sand. A final layer has Portland cement added to the cob to make the finish durable and help it withstand rain.
People attended the workshop from several states to help the couple build their new structure. Idris Wade from Baltimore, Md., attended the workshop to learn the technique of building straw-based structures.
"It's an inexpensive way to build structures, homes and stuff like that," he said as he handed a straw bale up to Terrence Hilton. "I definitely plan to build this way."
Laura Wies wants to build her own home and wanted to have some hands-on experience before beginning construction.
Janette Friend brought her 16-year-old daughter, Stayce, with her. Janette was putting cob on the straw but some managed to splash on her too.
"I own some property in Quaker City and wanted to build something interesting," Janette said.
Luke Bauserman, a pre-med student at Ohio University-Zanesville, was helping Janette cover the straw with cob.
"I've read a lot about straw bale homes and decided to stop reading about it and start doing it," he said as he scooped up another handful of mud. "I have plans to build a little out building."
The students had straw in their hair, mud spattered clothes and were having a great time.
"I didn't think we'd really go but now it's fun," Stayce said as she screened the clay so it could be put in the mixer and made into cob.
"She's learned all the skills for a frontierswoman," Annie said. "It's not just about creating a building. We try to have a really wonderful lunch. All our food comes from local growers or businesses."
Adam Wilson of Ann Arbor, Mich., was busy mixing the cob. He listened for the correct sound as the mixture slapped against the walls of the mixer.
"I'm a builder and into straw bale construction," Adam said. "This workshop was close so I figured I'd come. It's just the hands-on experience."
Annie talks passionately about the station and utilizing recycled materials. She has taken her vision to the Duncan Falls Elementary School, where the fifth-grade class saved 1,500 plastic two-liter bottles all year so they could build a greenhouse. The design is for a structure that will be able to be taken apart and moved. This coming school year the students will be working on a garden project.
"We're trying to demonstrate that you work to live not live to work," Annie said.
Green Acres in Blue Rock now hosts a farmers market from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursdays thanks to Annie's vision of utilizing what is available locally.
Patricia A. West-Volland is the community reporter for the Times Recorder and can be reached at paw105591@alltel.net.
Originally published June 9, 2006
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