Enjoy these resources about the Strawbale Studio … publications, books, videos & more.
STRAWBALE STUDIO has been featured in a number of wonderful publications and websites, including
- Naturalhomes.org
- Mother Earth News (photo illustration)
- Featured Article in Crazy Wisdom Online Bi-Weekly Zine. 2023
- Strawbale Article in Crazy Wisdom Journal Flipbook Facebook. “Building with Strawbale in the Mitten State” (Print copy)
- The NATURAL COTTAGE BUILD Blog – story & photos by Laura
- Michigan Folk School Facebook article / photos ~ Sculpting with Earth 2-day Workshop.
- DCat.net (photo illustration)
- A Michigan Energy Office case study (PDF)
- “The Art of Natural Building” Book, edited by Michael Smith
- “The Beauty of Strawbale” Book, by Bill & Athena Steen
- Alternative Homes Interview by Luke Rossman
- Earth, Art & Architecture. Mother Earth News Slideshow by Chris McClellan. David Eisenberg’s slide show.
- “House of What?!” Strawbale Studio Episode aired on EARTH X TV April 18, 2024.
Check out the Strawbale Studio Yearly REPORTS with PICTURES 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012, 2012 blog with pics, 2011 2010 Pictures – 2010 Report, 2009 2008_
SLIDESHOW: Scope of Strawbale Studio for CW Journal Article. NB in the Mitten State.
SLIDESHOW: Strawbale Studio History & Projects for the Natural Building & Healthy Homes Symposium. May 2024. Traverse City, MI
Books Illustrated by Deanne Bednar
Curriculum & Art by Deanne Bednar
GLOBAL ECOVILLAGE PROJECT Handouts: Place Based Education 2025 (old site: Global Ecovillage Project )
Collaboratively create a model of an ecological community that is inspiring, fun, and restorative.
World Pledge Poster (illustrated by Deanne, written by Lillian Genser)
& accompanying Conflict Resolution Curriculum
O Beautiful Gaia ~ Endangered Species Poster Artwork for the CD project O Beautiful Gaia recording to protect endangered species.
Participation in 4 Music CD projects with Gaia Women of the Great Lakes Basin singing group, in collaboration with other US & Canadian singing circles, focusing on the music of Carolyn McDade.
Circle of Life ~ Sculpture of clay/sand subsoil from the land.
PAST PROJECTS Blogs under development: Agro Forest planting by S. E Mi Permaculture, Brian Metts, Jared Bogdonov Hanna, Mark Angelini, Fruit Agro0forest area by Jared Bogdonov Hanna.Bio Char: burns & processing with Karl & Gaylin Kaufman. Compost Furnace Project: experiment in heating the Strawbale Studio floor, buided by Gaylin Brown. Maple Syrup: Tap the Trees, with Shane Norris & Levi Fyliak. Mushroom Inoculation, Shiitake log initial 2013 class with Paul Angelini, logs by Mark Angelini. Continueing through present. 2019-21. Oyster, Lions Mane, Turkey Tail on logs, and Wine Cap on wood chips, with Shane Norris, Levi Fyliak and Matt McCoul. Hugle Culture by Hobbit Sauna.
Early Days. 1970 – 96. Peace Cruise up the Volga. Soviet Union 1981. Conflict Resolution Cur: Curriculum, writing plays in 6th grade Humanities. Presenting one with Giant “Bread & Puppets”. “Visions of Peace”: Childrens’ International Art Exchange & Exhibit. Swords into Plowshares Gallery, The Fisher Building lobby. “Childrens Peace Quilt” made with students during a Summer International Childrens Village event.
Strawbale Studio 3 min video by Sarah Angelini Media 2019
Strawbale Studio is featured in this issue of Crazy Wisdom Calendar
Check out the full page spread of photos and history by opening the flip magazine
at the link below:
SBS FEATURED IN CRAZY WISDOM MI WEEKLY APRIL 20 2022
MAY 2025 CRAZY WISDOM ARTICLE:
NUTRIENT CYCLE @ Strawbale Studio
2018 WINTERNSHIP~ Slideshow by “One Mindful Step” Gratitude for this beautiful blog!
Article “Playing in the Mud” for the Michigan Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects
Written by Sarah Huddas, featuring the Strawbale Studio, among other Michigan projects. https://www.michiganasla.org/_files/ugd/a828ec_812d9d849639442898d426e1a1b9e68c.pdf
Earth Plaster & Sculpted Walls Workshop held at MICHIGAN FOLK SCHOOL Oct 1-2, 2022Affordable Housing Revolution in ToledoCheck out what's happening in Toledo at the Toledo Permaculture Network.
Every year we try to get up to Deanne Bednar’s Straw Bale Studio (strawbalestudio.org) a few times to do building workshops with her. In 2017 we took a walk in her woods to share some of the lovely natural structures including this firewood cover with a very simple (mostly) natural living roof. Stay tuned for part 2 where we look at an example of a simple thatched roof.
We continue our tour of Deanne’s Living and Natural roofs with a stop at this simple firewood storage thatched with the local phragmites reed, which is an invasive species here. By harvesting it in the winter and burning the seed tassels we are using it and also slowing its spread. Stay tuned for part 3 where we check out the different species of plants living on the roof of Deanne’s straw bale sauna.
Welcome to part 3 of our 2017 tour of Natural and Living Roofs at Deanne Bednar’s Straw Bale Studio in Oxford Michigan. Here we are looking at the beautiful mixed vegetation living on the roof of the straw bale and cob sauna we helped build.
Next on our tour of Deanne’s Living and Natural roofs is the jewel of the property: Deanne’s Straw Bale Studio thatched with the local phragmites reed, which is an invasive species here. Strawbalestudio.org
2017 Natural Cottage Project
1 min video by Y Innovations !
See what Y Innovations are up to.
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Photo Blog on Strawbale Studio by These Light Steps
I recently came across these on the internet by accident. Wow.
Video of Butter-making at the Fermenting Fun ! Workshops March 23 & 24, 2019
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Strawbale Studio Winternship 2019 Booklet
by Rob Zverina !
VIEW FLIP BOOK ~ ORDER Flip Book.
2012 Natural Cottage Build – Photo Blog by Learn / Live Peace Blog
MI Earth Day Fest, Rochester Michigan. Strawbale Studio had an exhibit table, Rocket Stove and Earth Oven, fired up…and a Strawbale Climbing Pyramid for kids of all ages. Watch the video to see and hear more about Strawbale Studio segments at minute: 5:00 and 6:30.
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Thatching with phragmites discussed in Port Huron
Invasive reed provides ideal material for revival of historical craft.
Article by Jim Bloch for “The Voice” newspaper.
Report on the Strawbale Studio Slideshow presentation for GLEA ~ Great Lakes Environmental Alliance.
An Article by Sarah Huddae for the Michigan Chapter of Landscape Architects. Includes the Strawbale Studio & photos.
YouTube
2017-03-12 Co-Creating with Earth, Wholly Connected
Written notes from this presentation: Wholly Connected
Blogpost on Earth Plaster, Cob & Earth Oven Workshop
Photos & writing by Jacquelyn Baker 5/28-29/2016
8:02Phragmites Reed Collection for Thatched Roof by Petar Simic 1/2016
Deanne Bednar of the Strawbale Studio in Oxford, MI shows how to harvest Phragmites as reed for a thatched roof system. Thatched roof is a technique of roof building that has been used all….
PODCAST by “PERMACULTURE REALIZED “! Interview with Deanne Bednar about the formation of the Strawbale Studio & a variety of natural building techniques. 11/08/2015
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The Strawbale Studio, in Oakland County is already green – inside and out. – and loaded with charm. It offers educational workshops and activities that promote sustainable living skills. FOX 2 News May 20, 2020. Original video – a news segment on sustainability is no longer available. Alas.
Local Sustainability: RUMFORD FIREPLACE at Strawbale Studio OrionONTV By Susan Lovelace 2014
Local Sustainability: LIVING ROOF at the Strawbale Studio OrionONTV – By Susan Lovelace 2014 2
Local Sustainability: EARTH OVEN at the Strawbale Studio OrionONTV – By Susan Lovelace 2014
Foraged Brunch at the Strawbale Studio May 17, 2014 -Video Production: Justin Holmes
Building Inspiration: Deanne Bednar and The Strawbale Studio Alternative Homes Interview by Luke Rossman.Aug. 2014
Strawbale Studio Sustainablity Harvest Dinner
Story by Ross Lukeman Alternative Homes Today and photos by Deanne and others.
A few years ago I left my cubicle and headed to southern Oregon for a 9-day course in natural building, and my view of home construction would never be the same. The traditional techniques being taught displayed the wisdom of centuries past, simpler …
Thatch & Cob
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Thatched Roof in the rain by Dana Driscoll 2014
Thatched Roof in the rain by Dana Driscoll 2014
Tara & Tylers pics of Thatching at Strawbale Studio 2012
Tara & Tylers experience of Reed Harvesting 2012.
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10 second Clay Stomping video by Abdul Al-Fraih !
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The 2012 Natural Cottage Project ~ Retreat Cabin:
The Natural Cottage Project July 2012 ~ Miwa’s Blog
Laura’s Natural Cottage Project Blog
Laura’s NCP pics Monica’s NCP pics Eva Wimmers NCP pics
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Fire and Stoves:
The Smiling Face EARTH OVEN at Strawbale Studio New Rocket Cookstove
2012 Slideshow and Report. How To Make a Rocket Stove
Dana Driscoll’s blog ~ Strawbale Studio & Rocket Stove Cooker Workshop
New Earth Oven Photos Express Photo Guide for Making a Rocket Stove
Green Radio interview of Deanne on Rocket Stoves
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Youth
Homeschool pics Homeschooling Blog
Kensington Kids Cottage ~ at the Kensington Metropark in Milford.-
2008 Oakland Press video of the Kensington Kid’s Cottage Kids Cottage blog by Raisin River Institute Kids Cottage Photos and Report
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Strawbale Studio & Activities
Deanne Bednar, The Strawbale Studio
Recorded by happyfrogdetroit, Oct 15, 2013 at Bioneers Detroit Conference.
Grindbig Timberframing at Tyler & Tara’s in Vermont. 5 Day Course by Attended by Deanne Bednar August 2013.
Strawbale Workshop in Rhode Island, taught by Andrew Morrison of strawbale.com
Attended by Deanne Bednar May, 2014. Video by Tara & Tyler of journal.goingslowly.com
Agri-Pod Meetup @ Strawbale Studio. 2012. Blog with pictures.
Strawbale Studio Sustainablity Harvest Dinner by Ellen Waara, “Earth Talk ” program for local cable TV. YouTube video Strawbale Studio Photos Candle MakingWorkshop Video by Sue Lovelace
Permaculture Meetup photos
Nature provides a variety of inspiring materials that can be useful for crafting traditional and useful things. What a joy it is to learn, year by year, a bit more about the qualities of the natural world by foraging and co-creating with nature.Issue #87, foraging, handcrafting, natural materials, natural building, green living column, green living