S t r a w b a l e S t u d i o
Joyfully connecting people & nature
Re-localize, Re-skill, Re-connect !
“May the Beauty we love be what we do.” Poet, Rumi
Sustainable Practices on the land: Rocket Stoves, Earth Oven, Thatched Strawbale structures, living roofs, agro-forest & more! Strawbale Studio is a place to learn ways of connecting to the land and to other people through the process of foraging natural materials, building & gardening.
Strawbale Studio is located at at private residence and is “by appointment only”. There are many ways to connect. See our schedule & get on the email listserve to find out more.
View all 2022 STRAWBALE STUDIO ACTIVITIES as an EVENTS LIST with photos. or as EVENTS CALENDAR or scroll down on this page.
FEATURED ACTIVITIES BELOW. Also see EVENTS LIST for ALL activities & tours!
Oct. 1 & 2, 2022. Sat & Sun 9:30a to 5p at MI FOLK SCHOOL outside Ann Arbor, MI.
NATURAL EARTH PLASTER & SCULPTED WALLS Workshop.
Oct. 9th, 2022, Sunday 1-6p followed by a Potluck 6-7:30p
COB EARTH OVEN Workshop! Learn to make your own!
Sep 1-30, 2022
SEPTEMBER INTERNSHIP!
Oct 3 – Nov 3, 2022
OCTOBER WWOOFING / WORKTRADE MONTH!
Live on-site, help, learn.
Jan 5- Feb 5, 2023
WINTERNSHIP 1 month on-site learning, will be similar to the 2020 Winternship. More details to come. Contact Deanne.
- 2 day Weekend workshops for the public during the Winternship:
Thatching & Reed Collection,
Round Pole Framing,
Rocket Stove & Earth Oven,
Earth Plaster & Sculpting.
Details to come. See 2019 past events for an example. 2023 details to come.
See Strawbale Studio Year-in-Review Reports & Photos! 2021 (under construction) 2020, 2019, 2018 & more.
Building with Natural Materials in the Mitten State: the Strawbale Studio story with photos.
Strawbale Studio Video – 3 min.
Strawbale Studio tour with Deanne Bednar FILMED BY COOPER GREEN
MORE Videos about Strawbale Studio !
WAYS TO CONNECT
Sat. 12/4/2021, Sun. 12/5/2021, Friday 01/28/2022, Saturday 01/29/2022, also Fri. 2/18/2022, Sat. 2/19/2022, Sun. 2/20/2022. Friday 3/11/2022 Sunday 3/13/2022. Sunday 3/20/2022.
Share “what is alive in you,” what is inspiring you, or a project you are engaged in. Some folks are local, others from different states & countries!
SKILL-BUILDING WEEKEND Attend part or all
- November 5, 2021 Sat 7p
Bonfire: Conversation & Craft $10 for Weekend participants. - November 6, 2021 9:30a – 5p A
Earth Oven Workshop + Composting / Nutrient Recycling Class. $40 + $10 materials fee. - November 7. 2021 9:30a – 4p
Rocket Stove workshop+ $40
TOUR of STRAWBALE STUDIO & Grounds
Nov 14, 2021 Sunday 10a-12p
SPOON CARVING ~Plus
Nov 14, Sunday 1-5p
LASHING & KNOTS CLASS
Nov 19, Friday 1-5p
NOVEMBER 19, 2021 Full MOON ZOOM Fri. 8p
Join our email list to get the Zoom Link.
LEARNING TOUR of Strawbale Studio & Grounds
Dec 4, 2021 Saturday 10a-12p $20. Limit 6. REGISTER & Pay here.
December 4, Saturday 1-5p $20-$45
CANDLE-MAKING CLASS
LEARNING TOUR of Strawbale Studio & Grounds
Dec 5, 2021 Sunday 10a-12p $20. Limit 6. REGISTER & Pay here.
December 5, Sunday 1-5p Same class is offered 2x
CANDLE-MAKING CLASS
DECEMBER 18, 2021 Full MOON ZOOM Sat. 8p
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WINTERNSHIP
Jan 5 – Feb 5, 2022 Learn the basics of Natural Building in Lecture Classes and Hands-on Workshops.
This years’ program will be similar to last years. Look over the information, and contact Deanne.
LEARNING TOUR of Strawbale Studio & Grounds
January 28, 2022 10a-12p $20. Limit 6. REGISTER & Pay
SCULPTING WITH COB
Jan. 28, Friday 1-5p $35 (repeated Sat. 1-29)
LEARNING TOUR of Strawbale Studio & Grounds
Jan. 29, 2022 Sat. 10a-12p $20. Limit 6. REGISTER & Pay
EARTH SCULPTING (repeat of 1/28 class)
Jan. 29, Sat, 1-5p $35 (repeat of 1/28 class)
LEARNING TOUR of Strawbale Studio & Grounds
Feb. 18, 2021 Friday 10a-12p $20. Limit 6. REGISTER & Pay
BUSHCRAFT CLASS: Lashing / Ladders / Quadpods
Feb 18, 2021 Friday 1-5p Limit 6. $25 (same as Feb 19 class)
LEARNING TOUR of the Strawbale Studio & Grounds
Feb.19, 2021 Sat. 10a-12p $20. Limit 6. REGISTER & Pay
BUSHCRAFT CLASS : KNOTS & LASHING
Feb 19, 2021 Saturday 1-5p Limit 6. $25 (same class as Feb 18)
Sunday Tour & Classes, below
LEARNING TOUR of Strawbale Studio & Grounds
Feb. 20, 2021 Sun.10a-12p $20. Limit 6. REGISTER & Pay
BUSHCRAFT CLASS : CORDING
February 20, 2021 Sunday 1a-4p $25. Limit 6.
LEARNING TOUR of Strawbale Studio & Grounds
March 11, 2022 Friday 10a-12p $20. Limit 6. REGISTER & Pay
SPOON CARVING CLASS
March 11, 2022 Friday 1-5p Limit 6. $20 – $45
CANDLE MAKING CLASS
March 12, 2022. Saturday 9:30a- 2p $40
LEARNING TOUR of Strawbale Studio & Grounds
March 13, 2022 Sunday 10a-12p $20. Limit 6. REGISTER & Pay
SPOON CARVING CLASS
March 13, 2022 Sunday 1-5p Limit 6. $20 – $45
TAP THE TREES – Maple Syrup Workshop
March 19, 2022 INFO & REGISTRATION
LEARNING TOUR of Strawbale Studio, Natural Buildings, Rocket Stove & Earth oven +
March 20, 2022 Sunday 10a -12p $20. Limit 6. REGISTER & Pay
March 20 2022 A SPOON CARVING Class has been arranged for a local community group!
You can schedule a Natural Building or Traditional Crafts class for your group 🙂
MUSHROOM WORKSHOP
April 2, 2022 Saturday 1-6p
MUSHROOM INOCULATION Workshop + Earth Oven Pizza + 12′ take-home Log
April 23, 2022 Saturday 12:30 – 6p
The JOY of FORAGING Workshop
May 14, 2022 Sat. 1-4
“FORAGING FOR DINNER” Workshop
May 21, 2022 Sat 2:30-7p
Strawbale Studio LEARNING TOUR $20
May 28, 2022, Sat 10a- 12p REGISTER & PAYMENT
JUNE Full MOON ZOOM!
June 15, 2022. Wed 8-10p
Join our email list to get the ZOOM link 🙂 See more info.
FEATURED ACTIVITY: September 1-30, 2022 SEPTEMBER INTERNSHIP!
MIDWEST NATURAL BUILDING ! Join and contribute to the Facebook Page !
SUGGEST PROGRAMING
On-site: Perhaps you’d like a class for your group – such as a earth sculpting class, Lashing & Cording Class, Tour & Pizza in the Earth Oven.
Online: Perhaps something online for your group such as Designing a Strawbale Structure or Home. How to make and fire an Earth Oven. Ideas for Designing an Eco-Community.
MAKE A DONATION Financial donations help support scholarships & the continuation of this place, in these covid times.
2022 UPCOMING Live EVENTS ~ are in the process of planning: Crafting Series, Wattle & Daub small structure, Mushroom Log Inoculation, Living Roof Workshop, Outdoor Rocket Cooker, Youth Tours & Classes, Thatching, Strawbale & Earth Plaster. These and more are in the process of being scheduled, while being responsive to our current situation.
Join the Email List if you wish to receive updates!
CLASSES ONLINE & ONSITE + INTERNSHIP & WORKTRADE
UPcoming Classes
- Strawbale Construction Principles & Design
- Sculpting with Earth
- Nutrient Cycling where we live
- Social Ecology ~ Connecting People & Nature
- Foraging from Nature & Crafting
- Natural Soap from Saponaria officinalis
INTERN & WORKTRADE- Join the listserve for updates.
- Internship / 1/2 Pay Worktrade / Woofing options & descriptions here
- Internship – steps for applying
- contact Deanne
- consider filling out brief application.
“Your natural buildings were a huge inspiration to us for all the times we were able to stay with you and your folks, and helped inform our ideas of what we wanted. That we able to feel and touch what we could do, to really get our hands, hearts, and minds involved was incredible. Not to mention your folks’ solar cooker and haybox meals were a huge inspiration to the kinds of cooking we will be doing!” T. S. 2019
Natural Building helps us connect again to our local natural environment, to our own intuitive and innate creativity, and to each other. It helps us to shift from an industrial, and often toxic building process to one that is affordable, empowering, community-building and life-affirming.
We are co-creating ~ learning to dance in balance with nature
