The below details are in the links above, too.
January – February 2013
March – May 2013
May June July August September October (this link may not work)
April 25, 2013 FULL MOON Potluck and Bonfire Thursday 6-10 pm click on link for details. Tour available at 6 pm.
April 26 – 28 2013 MI Earth Day Fest ~ Rochester, MI. Free wonderful festival !! The Strawbale Studio will have an exhibit and activities there.
April 26, 27, 28 Visionary Jean Houston will be at the Upland Hills School
May 2013
May 03 2013 First Friday Volunteer Day Be part of the team that supports the Strawbale Studio ! Help out, and also get a tour & free mini-class !
10:30a – 12p Tour of Natural Buildings. 12:30 – 4p Volunteer Activities, 4 – 5p Cob model-making. Bring a bag lunch, dress for the weather, RSVP at least 1 day in advance with your name, city, phone & email to ecoartdb at gmail.com or call 248 628 1887
May 11th – 16th, 2013
Natural Building Essentials: Building With Cob Woodbury, TN
This workshop is a comprehensive introduction to all the basic skills involved in constructing any cob building. In this workshop we will build a stone foundation for a cob building, mix cob both by foot and with equipment, build cob walls, install window and door frames, learn about roofs for cob buildings and much more. This is an excellent course to take if you want to get started in natural building and it will prepare you to build your own basic cob projects. Many people have successfully built their own small cottages after taking this class. For a more in depth experience with all of these techniques and more, you can stay an additional 8 days for the complete owner builder training course (listed below). More Information
May 11th-24th, 2013
Building the Complete Cob and Timber Cottage Woodbury, Tennessee
This fourteen-day building intensive will offer a complete introduction to all the skills you’ll need to complete a cob cottage from the foundation to the roof. This workshop offers a unique blend of construction experience in the fundamentals of building cob walls as well as equally important but frequently overlooked details such as plasters, floors, living roofs, and electrical. 
You will also learn all the fundamentals of building load bearing cob walls, including designing and building a foundation, choosing materials, mixing cob by foot and with equipment, building walls, design and structural principals. The instructors will also guide us through the practical and theoretical aspects of building a round timber roof for our cob cottage. Timber will be harvested on site, peeled, cut and assembled into a roof during this workshop. More Information “This workshop has been an incredible eye-opener to the power and beauty of nature’s perfection. I found the instructors to be world class in their trades, as well as being incredibly generous with their sharing and caring for each and EVERY participant. Thank you’s are not enough.” – Bill, Zionsville, PA (2012 Natural Cottage Project workshop at the Strawbale Studio)
May 24, 2013 FULL MOON Potluck and Bonfire Friday 6-10 pm click on link for details. Tour available.
May 25 to August 25, 2013 Womens’ Natural Building Apprenticeship, Check out this three-month program to be held in southwest New Hampshire, taught by Liz Johndrow and Sarah Highland. This program is for twelve women who want a deep immersion into natural building, with additional focus on leadership training and creating an intentional high-functioning community for the summer. www.womensnaturalbuilding.com
June 2013
June 7 2013 First Friday Volunteer Day Be part of the team that supports the Strawbale Studio ! Help out, and also get a tour & free mini-class ! 10:30a – 12p Tour of Natural Buildings. 12:30 – 4p Volunteer Activities, 4 – 5p Earth Plastering mini-class. Bring a bag lunch, dress for the weather, RSVP at least 1 day in advance with your name, city, phone & email to ecoartdb at gmail.com or call 248 628 1887 June 8th & 9th 2013 9:00am – 5:00pm 
Round Pole Timber Framing: Building a Solar Powered Outdoor Kitchen Be part of the construction of an outdoor kitchen at Roots to Fruits research farm in rural Clarkston. This solar powered outdoor kitchen adjoins a walkout basement, earthbag root cellar, and will be home to rocket cooking stoves, food prep area and cob bench seating. Learn how to harvest, debark, notch & attach round poles. We’ll explore the design principles of round pole timber framing, discuss ecological woodland management, and proper tree selection. This is a very practical skill for many projects: earth oven roofs, chicken coops, small cottages & more. Price: $100 early-bird price for both days prepaid 2 weeks in advance. $150 after that with RSVP. LIMITED CLASS SIZE—ONLY 12 SLOTS—Register Early to save your place and get the early-bird discount. Bring a bag lunch for Saturday. Vegetarian dinner (sat) and lunch (sun), snack and drinks will be provided. Pay an extra $5 for sourdough pizza party on Sunday night. All food prepared from local, organic ingredients. DETAILS & REGISTRATION
June 23, 2013 FULL MOON Potluck and BonfireSunday 6-10 pm click on link for details. Tour available. 2013
July 2013
July 5 2013 1ST FRIDAY VOLUNTEER DAY Be part of the team that supports the Strawbale Studio ! Help out, and also get a tour & free mini-class ! Get some outdoor activity in the company of others ! 1pm – 4:30p: Come help ! This month, July, Volunteer Day will be helping preparing the site for the new Hobbit Sauna which will be built this summer, and other things that need doing at the Strawbale Studio. The Mini-class will be integrated into the work, as you learn about the basics of design and foundation on this particular site. 4:30p – 5:30p If you want to stay on, a tour of the grounds and buildings is available. Bring a snack for yourself if you wish, and water bottle. Dress for the weather. RSVP at least 1 day in advance with your name, city, phone & email to ecoartdb at gmail.com or call 248 628 1887
Revision of the Strawbale Hobbit Sauna July 13 – 26, 2013 Oxford, Michigan
This workshop has changed its parameters ! Read on.
Appropriate for beginner & experienced alike, this course will give skills that can be applied to any new or existing home or structure ! Learn the basic techniques of natural building as we construct an enchanting cabin-sized sauna building. We will integrate a stone foundation, straw bale walls, cob wall with a door arch, round pole & dimensional framing, window & door framing, a living roof and earth plaster basics. See more details here! Camping on the land, outdoor showers, vegetarian food. Location: Held on beautiful rural wooded land 1 hour north of Detroit, Michigan. See thatched buildings, earth oven, rocket stove cookers and mass heater on site (and more !) Instructor: This course is now being presented by the Strawbale Studio Natural Building Program, with primary instructor, Deanne Bednar, illustrator of the Hand-Sculpted House Book. Bio Fee: $880 full price or $400 Work Trader* price (assist an extra 5 days and during the workshop) and further discounts for past participants. For registration or more information contact Deanne at: ecoartdb@gmail.com 248 628 1887
July 22 2013 FULL MOON Potluck and Bonfire Monday 6-10 pmclick on link for details. Tour available.
August 2013
August 2 2013 1ST FRIDAY VOLUNTEER DAY Be part of the team that supports the Strawbale Studio ! Help out, and also get a tour & free mini-class ! 10:30a – 12p Tour of Natural Buildings. 12:30 – 4p Volunteer Activities, 4 – 5p Min-class TBD. Bring a bag lunch, dress for the weather, RSVP at least 1 day in advance with your name, city, phone & email to ecoartdb at gmail.com or call 248 628 1887
August 20 2013 FULL MOON Potluck and Bonfire Tuesday 6-10 pm click on link for details. Tour available.2013
AUGUST 24 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2013 “FINISHING the HOBBIT SAUNA” Informal workshop & volunteer days. Cob, Living Roof, Plasters. Join in for a day, weekend or more & be part of the completion of the Hobbit Sauna!
August 24 & 25 Living roof ~ Carpentry, pond liner membrane, strawbale flakes
August 26 – 30th Interior Cob wall ~ foundation & dry well construction.
Aug 31 – Sept 1 Earth Plaster on Strawbale Walls
Sept 13 – 19, 2013 Cob, Earth Plaster, Living Roof ~ soil & plants, other, TBD.Hobbit Sauna
Pictures. Click this link for current photos. Details: Come help and learn. 9a to 5p…or later if we want. Share food & cooking, Volunteer or donations. Camping & some indoor accommodations available. Appropriate for beginner & experienced alike: skills that can be applied to any new or existing home or structure ! Location: Held at the Strawbale Studio on beautiful rural wooded land 1 hour north of Detroit, Michigan. Instructor: Deanne Bednar, illustrator of the Hand-Sculpted House Book. Registration or information: Deanne at ecoartdb@gmail.com / 248 628 1887 strawbalestudio.org
September 2013
September 6, 2013 1ST FRIDAY VOLUNTEER DAY Be part of the team that supports the Strawbale Studio ! This month, September, help out on the Hobbit Sauna construction, including sifting, mixing & applying Cob and Earthen Plasters to Strawbale Walls, digging a dry well, and such. 10:15 – 10:30 am arrive, then tour the Strawbale Studio, followed by hands-on activities on the Hobbit Sauna. 1p bag lunch. 1:45 back to working on the site. 4 – 5p expanded tour of other buildings and projects, such as Rocket Stoves & Earth Oven. Bring a snack for yourself if you wish, and water bottle. Dress for the weather. RSVP at least 1 day in advance with your name, city, phone & email to ecoartdb at gmail.com or call 248 628 1887
September 18, 2013 FULL MOON Potluck and Bonfire Wednesday. 6-10 pm click on link for details. Tour available.
September 13 – 19, 2013 FINISHING the HOBBIT SAUNA – Informal workshop & volunteer days. Hands-on: Cob, Living Roof, Earth Plasters over Strawbale Walls & more. Join in for a day, weekend or more
and be part of the completion of the Hobbit Sauna! Details: Come help and learn. 9a to 5p…or later if we want. Share food & cooking, Donations or Worktrade as you
wish/can. Camping & some indoor accommodations available. Appropriate for beginner & experienced alike: skills that can be applied to any new or existing home or structure ! Location: Held at the Strawbale Studio on beautiful rural wooded land 1 hour north of Detroit, Michigan. Instructor: Deanne Bednar, illustrator of the Hand-Sculpted House Book. Registration & information: Deanne at ecoartdb@gmail.com / 248 628 1887 strawbalestudio.org Pictures. Click this link for current photos. September 28 – October 11, 2013, Building the EXPANDED Cob and Timber Cottage Woodbury, Tennessee3333 Learn to build a full-size cob cottage, including: mixing cob by both feet-power and tractor, framing a round-pole roof, installing a living roof, plumbing and wiring in cob, foundation options, how to install windows and doors, and building a timber framed porch with square timbers, all at this start-to-finish construction workshop. Instructors: Deanne Bednar, Christina Ott, Chris McClellan & Sarah Highland. Info &Registration: www.naturalcottageproject.com
October 2013
OCTOBER 1ST Friday Volunteer Day – RESCHEDULED: see below !
October 17 – 20, 2013 VOLUNTEER DAYS at the Strawbale Studio, We will work on the Hobbit Sauna – Living Roof !! Right on. Come for a day or more. Stay overnight. Share food. Full Moon Potluck Oct 18. Come early and stay after if you can.
Friday, October 18, 2013 FULL MOON Potluck and Bonfire 6-10p click on link for details. Tour available. October 24 - 27, 2013 Bioneers Detroit Conference Great sustainable living event! Click on link for details.
October 15 – November 15 SUSTAINABLE SKILLS & LOCAL LIVING INTERSHIP & Worktrade. Help with projects on the land, and participate in local community events, such as the Permaculture Meetup, Full Moon Potluck & more. Call for details. More opportunities
November 2013
November 8, 2013 FIRST FRIDAY VOLUNTEER DAY (Moved from the 1st to the 2nd Friday this month ! ) Be part of the team that supports the Strawbale Studio ! Help out, and also get a tour & free mini-class! 10 a – 3 p. Bring a bag lunch, dress for the weather. We may be doing indoor activities, data entry, etc. RSVP at least 1 day in advance with your name, city, phone & email to ecoartdb at gmail.com or call 248 628 1887 Register November 9, 2013
LIVING ROOF BLITZ! Saturday 1pm – 5pm. Come help finish the living roof of the Hobbit Sauna and other end of season activities. RSVP to Deanne by phone or email.
November 12, 2013 Permaculture Meetup, Oakland Co. Join the group which meets in a variety of locations. Click on link.
November 4–15, 2013 Worktrade Days at the Strawbale Studio Contact Deanne for info.
November 16 2013 Volunteer BLITZ Saturday 1p – 5p Come help with the Living Roof & end-of -season activities, then attend the … FULL MOON Potluck and Bonfire 6-10 pm. Click on link for details. Tour available.
December 2013
December 1, 2013 Class Filled CANDLE-MAKING Workshop. Sunday 1 – 4p Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere & lovely aroma of making dipped candles from local beeswax. Other options for small projects also available: campfire incense & decorated matchbox. Held in the main house kitchen. $20 prepaid 2 weeks in advance. $35 with RSVP (at least 1 day in advance) Limit 10. Register now.
December 6, 2013 FIRST FRIDAY VOLUNTEER DAY Be part of the team that supports the Strawbale Studio ! Help out, and also get a tour & watch a video on Strawbale Construction if you wish. 10a – 3p. Bring a bag lunch, dress for the weather, RSVP at least 1 day in advance with your name, city, phone & email to ecoartdb at gmail.com or call 248 628 1887 Click here to RSVP now !
December 15, 2013 Class Filled CANDLE-MAKING Sunday 1 – 4p (The Dec 1 class filled, so another was added!) Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere & lovely aroma of making dipped candles from local beeswax. Make a gift for your self or others ! Other options for small projects also available: campfire incense & decorated matchbox. Held in the main house kitchen. $20 prepaid 3 days in advance or $35 with RSVP (at least 1 day in advance) Limit 10 so Register now 
December 10, 2014 Permaculture Meetup Oakland Co. 6:30p Tuesday evening in Clarkston. Our regional Oakland County Permaculture Meetup will feature a seed swap as well as a presentation by Corey Ives on “semi-homemade biochar.” Click link for details.
December 16, 2013 FULL MOON Potluck and Bonfire Monday, 6-10 pm. Click on link for details. Tour available. RSVP !
Flyers to print: 2015 Schedule 2014 Schedule
JANUARY, FEBRUARY & MARCH 2014
January 3, 2014 First Friday VOLUNTEER DAY. 10a – 3p Help needed on data input, beautification of the Strawbale Studio, and more. RSVP to Deanne Limited to 12 participants. RSVP now !
Jan 5 – Feb 5, 2014 WINTER INTERNSHIP & Worktrade Opportunity! Filled Participate in all workshops during this time : Rocket Stove, Round Pole framing, Reed Collection & Thatching demo, while helping with sustainable living projects at the Strawbale Studio.
Internship $650 or $500 prepaid 1 month in advance. Several Worktrade positions available : help out with infrastructure 10 – 15 per week ( firewood and grounds, cooking & cleaning, office work & publicity). Participate in all other activities.
Christina Keegan writes: “I highly recommend this natural building internship opportunity to anyone. I did this last year and am so grateful for the experience. It’s only one month, very affordable, and you get to live with and learn from one of the best natural builders around. In addition, the activities are chosen based on the interests and learning goals of the participants, and Deanne makes sure to create an egalitarian environment in which everyone learns from and supports each other. “ See Christina’s memories of her experience ’12 – WOOFing at the Strawbale Studio (72 photos).
January 8, 2014 Permaculture Meetup Oakland Co. 6:30p Wednesday evening in Clarkston. Our regional Oakland County Permaculture Meetup will feature a presentation by Emily Eisele who will be covering bulk food buying and establishing a larder/pantry. We’ll follow her discussion with food and conversation! Click link for details.
January 11, 2014 Class Filled – get on a list for next time. ROUND POLE Framing Workshop. Saturday 10a – 5p Learn principles & hands-on basics of round pole framing for small structures. Includes a tour of natural buildings with round poles on site. $45 with RSVP or $25 prepaid 2 weeks in advance. Bring a bag lunch. Limited to 12 students. Click link to Register.
January 15, 2014 FULL MOON Potluck & Bonfire Wednesday 6-10 pm Free Community Event. Tour available. RSVP now !
January 18, 2014 REED COLLECTION & THATCHING DEMO. Saturday 10a – 5p Learn about the basics of thatching a roof, harvest materials, tour thatched buildings, see a demo an video on thatching. Bring a bag lunch. $40 with RSVP or $25 prepaid 2 weeks in advance. Limited to 12 students. Register
January 25, 2014 FIRE & HEAT ! ROCKET STOVES, EARTH OVENS & more. Saturday 10a – 5p Energy efficiency from local materials ! See & experience a Rocket Mass Heater, Rocket Mass Cooker, Hay Box Cooker, Earth Oven & more. Learn the principles of construction. Q & A. Also a tour of the thatched buildings on site. Bring a bag lunch and sample the food we cook together. $40 with RSVP or $25 prepaid 2 weeks in advance. Limited to 12 students. Register now.
February 2, 2014 EARTH PLASTER & SCULPTING. Sunday 10a – 5p Using natural and local soil, we will do earth plaster and sculpting in an conventional home. Make your existing home more natural, or apply these skills to a future natural building or earth oven you construct. Bring a bag lunch. $40 with RSVP or $25 prepaid 2 weeks in advance. Limited to 12 students. Register now !
February 14, 2014 FULL MOON Potluck and Bonfire Friday, 6-10 pm. Click on link for details. Tour available. RSVP !
March 7, 2014 First Friday Activities ! (Cancelled due to weather)
VOLUNTEER Time 1 – 4:30 p . Help the Strawbale Studio serve by assisting on current projects, grounds or data entry. No charge. Click link to Register.
TOUR: Natural Building & Sustainable Living 4:30 – 6:30 p New Monthly Program ! See the Strawbale Studio, Oxford Kids’ Cottage, Smiling Face Earth Oven, Totem Rocket Stove Mass Heater and more. Bring your friends and family. $10/person suggested donation/ group & family rates. Click link to Register.
CRAFT Night 7p – 9:30p Bring your own handiwork to do…whatever ~ mending, fixing, knitting, whittling … plus a snack to share if you wish. No charge. Click link to Register.
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| April 15, 2014 FULL MOON Potluck & Bonfire |
 April 19, 2014 MUSHROOM GROWING Workshop. Sat 9:30a- 3p Instructor Paul Angelini. Learn what you need to know to get started in growing your own mushrooms. In this unique class, participants will learn the history and basics of mushroom cultivation, with a focus on using fresh-cut hardwood logs to grow premium gourmet mushrooms. Learn about what types of logs to use, how to inoculate them with mushroom seeds or spores, and how to care for them, and where to get spores for future mushroom adventures. During this indoor & outdoor class, participants will inoculate a shiitake log to take home (a $35 value), including instructions for basic care and maintenance, and there will be both lecture & hands-on time, including a tour of two mushroom “gardens’ located on the Strawbale Studio property. There will also be spore plugs and growing kits available for sale from Easy Grow Mushrooms, a Michigan-based company. Bring your own bag lunch. FEE $75 “early-bird” by April 10 or $85 thereafter/at the door with RSVP (make sure there’s room in the class!) Class limit of 15 so Register now. |
MAY 2014
– May 2, 2014 FIRST FRIDAY ACTIVITIES at the Strawbale Studio. Registration
May 14, 2014 Oakland County Permaculture Meetup Wednesday 6p. Free community event.
May 15, 2014 FULL MOON Potluck & Bonfire RSVP
May 17, 2014 FORAGED BRUNCH 10a – 1:30 p Learn about an d harvest Wild Plants that you can eat, and experience a Rocket Cook Stove in action as we cook up a brunch of local eggs & add our wild-harvested plants for an omelet! Wrap it all in Injira Sponge Bread… made from local grains and local yeast (home-made sourdough starter). (brown rice or quinoa available as an option.) Tour available. Rain or shine. Limit 12, so Register now. $25 prepaid 2 weeks or $35 with RSVP .Foraged Brunch – video by Justin Holmes
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May 17, 2014 LIVING ROOF WORKSHOP Saturday 2 -5p Come spend some time at the  Strawbale Studio and explore this beautiful roofing option. Learn the principles of construction, see one “wildly successful” living roof on the Wood Shelter, and help plant the roof of the Hobbit Sauna with plants that are foraged from the surrounding land ! Families are welcome. A nice outing ! $20 if prepaid 2 weeks in advance. $30 thereafter with RSVP ! |
May 24, 2014 FIRE & HEAT ! ROCKET STOVE Workshop ! Saturday 10 a to 5p.  Energy efficiency from local materials ! See & experience a Rocket Mass Heater, learn the principles of construction, build a mockup of the Rocket Stove combustion chamber and then mix and apply Cob to an existing Rocket Stove under construction ! You will also see and learn the principles of a Rocket Mass Cooker, Earth Oven, Hay Box Cooker & Solar Cooker. Q & A. Tour the thatched buildings on site. Bring a bag lunch and sample the food we cook together. $25 prepaid 2 weeks in advance or $40 thereafter with RSVP . Limited to 12 students. Register now. |
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JUNE 2014
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June 6, 2014 FIRST FRIDAY ACTIVITIES
1-4:30p Volunteer. 5-6:30p Tour, 7- 9 Craft Evening (see details above) Register now.
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June 7, 2014 THATCHING – An Introduction. Saturday 10a – 5p Learn the principles of thatching a roof, harvesting materials, tour thatched buildings, see a demonstration and try your hand at the basics. We will also watch a video on thatching. Bring a bag lunch. $40 with RSVP or $25 prepaid 2 wks inadvance. Limited to 12 students. Click on link for Registration or any questions.
June 11, 2014 Oakland County Permaculture Meetup
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June 14 (& 15), 2014 EARTH PLASTER & SCULPTING Sat 9a– 6p (Sun. June 15th  10a -3p ~ continue to practice with supervision if you wish.) Try your hand at using natural and local soil to make earth plaster and sculpting. Make your existing home more natural by applying earth over existing walls, or apply these skills to a future natural building or earth oven you construct. You will learn to identify and mix plaster, prep walls and apply, make sculptures & model. Bring a bag lunch. $60 with RSVP or $45 prepaid 1 month in advance. Limited to 12 students. Register now !Instructor, Deanne Bednar is the illustrator of the Natural Plaster Book and The Hand-Sculpted House, and has a background as an art teacher. |
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July 4, 2014 FIRST FRIDAY ACTIVITIES
1 – 4:30p Volunteer. 5 – 6:30p Tour, 7- 9 Craft Evening (see details above).
Let Deanne know you are coming by phone or email and include your name & phone number.
This July 4th we will be preparing the site of Hobbit Sauna addition and starting to dig the foundation trench. Other tasks available, too. We would love your help. Afterwards harvest June Berries and Mulberries, and stay if you wish for the other activities (tour, supper and craft nite). How to get here. Register now. Report on this activity: We had a great time and got a lot done ! Thanks all you volunteers: Micah, Cliff, Serena,Carolyn, Alex, Julia, Sheryl, Sharon, Angela, Sharon (yes, 2), and Pauline !
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July 19-August 1, 2014 The Strawbale & Cob Sauna
Hands-on training includes stone foundations, round pole framing, cob and straw bale, windows and doors, earthen plasters, earthen floors, living roofs, thatching and more. Shade-tree lectures include building code, harvesting materials, natural design, passive heating and cooling. The workshop is being held outside Oxford, Michigan about an hour north of Detroit, on beautiful wooded rural land. Click Here for more details. Sketch of the project.
Register now to save your place and get early bird discounts ! Contact Chris McClellan, Natural Cottage Project, 1-440-221-6609 or email: service@maplecom.com www.naturalcottageproject.com |
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AUGUST 2014
Internship opportunities & Workshops and Intensive Weeksare available and are being planned to teach Thatching, Earth Plaster & Cob and other skills! Call if you know of something you would like to learn, and at this point, a workshop might be able to be arranged around your schedule ! August 8, 2014 FIRST FRIDAY ACTIVITIES 1 – 4:30p Vo – August 10, 2014 FULL MOON Potluck & Bonfire RSVP !
6:00p arrive and tour of grounds. 7:30 Potluck. 8:30 bonfire. Bring musical instruments if you wish. Click on link for details. RSVP
–August 23rd, 2014 HAND PAPER-MAKING & Berry Inks Class with Dana Driscoll Saturday 10a – 4p. (RAIN DATE Please bring a bag lunch. Payment co Discount: $35 prepaid 1 month in advance or $45 thereafter with RSVP. Class limit 15, so Register now. – – August 29 -31 2014 VOLUNTEER WEEKEND ~ Earth Plaster, Cob +Learn and help – |
nfirms your place. Early Bird
for part or all of the weekend Friday 1p – 6p, evening bonfire. Saturday 9 – 6p, evening bonfire, Sunday 9 – 4p. Join with others to help finish the Addition to the Hobbit Sauna and other projects on the land! Camping & indoor space available. Families welcome. Share cooking, bring some food to share if you can. Instructor: Deanne Bednar Worktrade. Donations welcome, but not expected.–
SEPTEMBER 2014
September Internship & Woofing opportunitiesLearn Thatching, Earth Plaster & Cob and other skills while helping to create sustainable projects! Contact Deanne for details. ecoartdb@gmail.com or 248 628 1887. – VOLUNTEER DAYS in SEPTEMBER |
Folks with previous experience are welcome to come free & volunteer. Tour the house & Strawbale Studio, and learn all you need to know to locate, assess and make earthen mixes for plaster & cob. Then enjoy applying hands – on plastering over strawbales on the Hobbit Sauna, and forming a Cob Garden Wall ! Fun and useful in many applications. $20 prepaid or $30 at the door with 
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OCTOBER 2014
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ure Meetupdings and rocket stoves on site, for those who wish ! NOTE: from 1 – 5P there is a SPECIAL ACTIVITY – A PERMABLITZ Help construct a COMPOST FURNACE to heat the STRAWBALE STUDIO ! RSVP –
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NOVEMBER 2014
Register for the January Winternship ! Internship & Woofing opportunitiesLearn many skills and help out at the Strawbale Studio. This Month is one of the most popular intensives and includes workshops on Round Pole Framing, Earth Plastering, Rocket Stoves and Thatching. Included is room and board and many other sustainable living skills. – November 6, 2014 FULL MOON Potluck & Bonfire Thursday, 6-10 pm 1 – 5p Volunteer afternoon. Help with projects as needed & prep for Potluck !
6:00p arrive and tour of grounds. 7:30 Potluck. 8:30 bonfire.
Bring musical instruments if you wish. Click on link for details. RSVP
November 7, 2014 First Friday Activities !1 – 4:30p Volunteer Afternoon, 5 – 6:30p Tour, 7- 9 Craft Evening (see details above). Let Deanne know you are coming by phone or email and include your name & phone number. RSVP –
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 MAY & JUNE INTERNSHIPS 2014 We will finish buildings and a rocket stove, use earthen plasters, cob and thatch ~ as well as maintaining the permaculture-inspired gardens: sheet mulching (lazangna gardening)planting seeds and the Living Roof of the Hobbit Sauna. |
 JULY INTERNSHIP 2014Participate in a very comprehensive and intensive 2 week building course July 18 – August 1 and help prepare for that event the first part of the month (full internship price) or come on a few days before and after the July intensive workshop and pay 1/2 the workshop price (see naturalcottageproject.com) |
 AUGUST through OCTOBER INTERNSHIPS 2014 Earth plastering, cob, round pole construction, thatching and other aspects of natural and sustainable living. Finish current projects. |
 WINTERNSHIP ! Jan 4 – Feb 4, 2015. Participate in all workshops: Rocket Stove, Round Pole framing, Reed Collection, Earth Plaster, Thatching demo, and also harvest reed and participate in sustainable living projects. |
DECEMBER 2014
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–  December 6, 2014 FULL MOON Potluck & Bonfire Saturday day, 6-10 pm 1 – 5p Volunteer afternoon. Help with projects as needed & prep for Potluck ! 6:00p tour of grounds – or come early and relax – read, walk, socialize. 7:30 Potluck. 8:30 bonfire. Bring musical instruments if you wish. Click on link for details. RSVP –
Decem
December 7, 13 & 14 CANDLE & Gift-making ~ classes filled Jan 4 – Feb 4, 2015 WINTERNSHIP ~ 4 week Intensive – filled Jan. 10th, 2015 THATCHING a Roof filled Jan. 17 & 18, 2015 ROUND POLE FRAMING – The Basics, filled Jan 24 & 25, 2015 ROCKET STOVE & FIRE filled |
ber 7, 2014 class filled as of 11/23 
JANUARY – FEB 2015
January 2, 2015 FIRST FRIDAY ACTIVITIES at the Strawbale Studio. 12 – 3:30p Volunteer, 3:30 – 5p Tour, 6-8p Crafts. Note winter Hours. RSVP –
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INTERNSHIPS 2014/2015 Click on link for details & fees.
– This is a rich experience in local sustainable living. Attend one or more months, and participate in all activities and workshops during your stay. Room and board included. $750 (paid 1 month in advance) or $850 thereafter with RSVP. Some Partial Scholarship Work-trade & Woofing available. Limit of 6, so register now.
Natural Building INTERNSHIP April – October*, 2015 Attend 1 month or more.
Hands-on learning in Strawbale & Cob Wall systems, Earth Plaster & Floors, Thatching & Living Roofs. Students will learn about and practice these skills on structures & projects that are under construction, while living on site (rural, wooded land 1 hr N. of Detroit). Included are Natural Building Design Classes, all Workshops during months attended, some Permaculture Gardening, Rocket Stove experience, foraging, fermenting & community connections + all materials, lodging & food. Limited to 8 students. Just $850/mo (1 mo. In advance) or $950 thereafter. Some ½ pay Worktrade & Wwoofing may be available. *July is an exception.
2015 WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
Jan 4 – Feb 4 WINTERNSHIP 4 week intensive. (class filled)
January 10 THATCHING – An Introduction
January 17 & 18 ROUND POLE FRAMING (filled)
Jan. 31 & Feb 1 EARTH PLASTER & SCULPTING ( filled)
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April – Oct* INTERNSHIPS + worktrade & volunteer 1 mo. or more.
April 1, 2015 Edible & Ecological Landscaping * 7p by Trevor & Mark.
April 4 , 2015 Full Moon Potluck followed by Bonfire. Saturday 7 p
April 24 – 26, Green Living Festival
The Strawbale Studio exhibit included a strawbale climbing pyramid for the kids and food cooked in the Traveling Turtle Earth Oven.
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May 3, Sunday Full Moon Potluck & Bonfire. 7p + Workparty 1-5p & Tour 6p
May 17, 2015 FORAGED BRUNCH Foraging class & meal. Sunday 10 – 2p $25 early Bird/$35
May 23, 2015 South Michigan PERMACULTURE -MIXER! Free event.
May 24, 2015 AGRO-FORESTRY Workshop ! 4 outstanding Instructors.
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June, 2015 INTERN, WORTRADE, WWOOF or volunteer. See link, contact DB.
June 2, Tues. FULL MOON ~ Vol. 1- 5p, Tour 6-7 p, Potluck/Bonfire7p RSVP
June 20th & 21 Strawbale Studio Exhibit at CREEKFEST, Ortonville, MI.
Schedule a Class (Foraging, Earth Plaster, Other) or Tour etc. for your group!
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Natural Cottage Project 2012
July 1, Wed. 2015 FULL MOON Workparty 1-5p, Tour 6p, Potluck & Bonfire 7p RSVP
July 3, 4,5, 2015 PROJECT PARTY – Volunteer days & overnight. Come to part or all !
July 11- 24, 2015 NATURAL COTTAGE BUILD ! Chagrin Falls, OH complete 14 day course.
Note that the above course is the MAIN EVENT FOR 2016. Several seasoned instructors. This class has been a big hit in the past ! Lots to learn, in a beautiful setting near Cleveland, Ohio.
July 31, Fri. FULL MOON Workparty 1-5p, Tour 6p, Potluck & Bonfire 7p RSVP
August 2015 INTERN, WORTRADE, WWOOF or volunteer. See link /Contact Deanne.
Aug 8 – 14th, 2015 NATURAL BUILDING SKILLS INTENSIVE at SBS with MI Folk School.
Aug. 29, Sat. 11a – 1p Great Lakes Natural Building Meetup. Bring your own bag lunch. RSVP & theFULL MOON Activities : *Workparty 1-5p, *Tour 6p, *Potluck & Bonfire 7p RSVP
September 2015 INTERN, WORTRADE, WWOOF /volunteer. Earth Plaster, Finishing Details, Earthen Floor, Framing, Permaculture Garden.
Dates TBD Classes & Plerkparties. (play+work) What do you want to do/learn? Contact Deanne for scheduling activities YOU would like for yourself or your group.
Sept 11-13, 2015 Strawbale Studio Exhibit at the Great Lakes Herb Faire
Sept 19, 2015 BIO-CHAR DEMONSTRATION with instructor Karl Kaufman & Sheldon Smith. Click link for details. 1-5p Learn how to make this soil additive which reduces carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and contributes to soil health ! We’ll build a pit and make 40-50 gal of premium charcoal with side-by-side demonstrations of both the TLUD& the Pit Kiln Biochar production techniques. A gallon of bio-char for agricultural use will go to each participant, along with info & handouts on the carbon cycle, charging the biochar with nutrients and mycorrhizae, crop yields, and climate change. Suggested $5 – $25 donation. Register now. Limited class size. 🙂
Sept 27, Sun. 12:30p Great Lakes Natural Building Meetup. Bring your own bag lunch. RSVP FULL MOON * Networking, then Skillshare & Workparty. 1-5p, *Tour 6p, *Potluck & Bonfire 7p RSVP
October 2015 INTERN, WORTRADE, WWOOF /volunteer. Earth Plaster, Finishing Details, Earthen Floor, Framing, Permaculture Garden.
October 10th & 17th FOREST STEWARDSHIP CLASSES for land owners & their families. Instructor: Rick McAvinchy, Forester & Wildlife Biologist. For those who own land and want to learn how to sustainably manage it for a variety of outcomes: food, timber, recreation, and much more ! Suggested donation $100 – $150 sliding scale for both days. Family / Group discounts. Click link for details and registration.
Oct. 27, Tues. FULL MOON Activities *Community Workparty 1-5p, *Tour 6p, *Potluck & Bonfire7p RSVP