Archived
INTERNSHIPS 2014-2015 April – October, 2014 & January, 2015 Attend 1 month or more.
*Overview * 3 OPTIONS: Intern, 1/2 pay Work-trade, Woofer *monthly schedule
*OVERVIEW
Hands-on learning. This is a rich opportunity to be on the land, living & learning with others. We will be finishing structures at the Strawbale Studio and experience in a wide variety of skills will be provided: Earth Plaster & Floors, Strawbale & Cob Wall systems, Thatching & Living Roofs as well as other sustainable skills. Techniques are practiced on structures under construction on beautiful wooded rural land 1 hr N. of Detroit. Included are Natural Building Design Classes, all Workshops during months attended, experiences in Permaculture Gardening, Rocket Stove and Earth Ovens, foraging, fermenting & community connections. Fee covers all training, lodging & food. Come in at the level that fits: Attend one or more months. Limit, 8 total per month.
Projects include the construction and finishing work on The Hobbit Sauna, Kids Cottage and the Identity Cabin, and the surrounds for these structures. Techniques will include plastering, cobbing, thatching, framing, eco-scaping, preparation for classes and exhibits. Conferences include the Earth Day Festivals in April and the The Bioneers Detroit Conference in mid October. Worktraders help with buildings and grounds, office and household. Internships will also include many other Sustainable Living Skills: cording, lashing, fermenting, composting, Rocket Stove cooking, and more.
Fee: Internship just $850/mo (1 mo. In advance) or $950/mo thereafter. Some ½ pay Worktrade & Wwoofing available, with additional hours applied to helping with the infrastructure. Worktrade + 10 hr/wk, Wwoofing + 30 hr per wk on gardening, grounds, repair or office). *July is $1175/$1300 because it includes the 2 week Natural Cottage Building Workshop. Worktrade for the just the workshop is ½ that amount plus 2 days assistance before and after the event.
A Thatching Intensive Month is in the planning.
To be on the contact list or ask further questions, call or email Deanne: 248 496 4088 ecoartdb at gmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*3 OPTIONS: Intern, 1/2 pay Work-trade, Woofer
The 2015 Strawbale Studio Program is limited to 8 students per month total, and has 3 ways you can participate ~ as an Intern, ½-pay Worktrader or Wwoofer. Internship positions will be filled first.
Internship Attend and help prepare for all Workshops during your stay, participate in all natural building and sustainable living classes & projects, plus room and board in exchange for $850/mo/prepaid 1 month in advance or $950 thereafter.
Half-pay Worktrade Attend and help prepare for all Workshops during your stay, participate in all natural building and sustainable living classes & projects as time allows, plus room and board in exchange for 10 hours work toward infrastructure (garden, grounds, office) and $425/mo/prepaid 1 month in advance or $475 thereafter. This scale applies to April, May, June, August, September, October.
Wwoofing Includes room and board in exchange for 30 hours work toward infrastructure (garden, grounds, office) with no money exchanged. Attend and help prepare for all Workshops during your stay, as time allows participate in natural building and sustainable living classes & projects & activities. Limit, 2 wwoofers per month.
2016 August 7-13 and January 4 – Feb
2015 July 10-24th , August 8-14th and January 5th through Feb 5th include an Intensive Class, and have different rates.
*MONTHLY SCHEDULE
2016 Intern / Worktrade/ Wwoof SCHEDULE Click here for information on dates and projects this year, and the 2017 Winternship, January 6 – Feb 7 2017.
Below is LAST YEARS 2015 program for April through October.
Each Month included the following:
- Hands-on skills practiced on existing building (under construction) and demonstration stations: Earth Plasters, Cob & Strawbale Wall systems, Earthen Floor, Thatching, Round-Pole framing, Rocket Stove & Mass Heater. Basic skills levels.
- Classroom presentations will be given on all the above plus Living Roof, Foundation, Site and Building Design.
- Sustainable Skills & Community: Foraging, Fermenting, Full Moon Potluck & Bonfire, visit the neighbors farm & attend the Permaculture Meetup, help 1 day at a local Farm/CSA Garden.
- Onsite for use & observation : The Rocket Stove, Earth oven, Rocket Stove Mass Heater, Rocket Stove Outdoor Cooker, Solar Cooker and Haybox Cooker. Living Roofs, Thatched roofs, Composting Toilet, Worm Composting, Composting Furnace, beginnings of a Permaculture Food System
APRIL 2015 Overview
Focus structure, the Hobbit Sauna
Earth Plaster on the Hobbit Sauna under construction and the interior of the main house, and possibly the Kensington Metropark Kid’s Cottage (repair).
Round Pole project: A practice frame for Strawbale Infill wall system. Harvest, prep and construct, then practice laying up strawbales and applying earth plaster.
Earthen Floor in Sauna or other building.
Site Sculpting for hydrology & drainage around the Hobbit Sauna.
Cob Garden wall (if weather is warm enough)
Hay bale Gardening setup, soil building, plantings. Asparagus from Chris. Train at Pine Meadows. Nettles from the Hoyts. Foraging on the land. Shitake mushroom log fruiting.
Cob Garden Wall construction with Rumford Fireplace and bench.
Wood-shelter thatching
Strawbale Studio Exhibit at local Earth Day Festival
Rocket Stove class with hands-on mockup of the Combustion Unit.
Possible Installation of a Stove in the Sauna. (Plumbing upgrades on Compost Furnace)
Other monthly activities listed above: classes, foraging, fermenting, Permaculture Meetup, Full Moon Potluck etc.
MAY 2015 Overview
Focus structur
e, the Hobbit Sauna:
Cob Garden Wall construction and Living Roof Construction (attached to Hobbit Sauna)
Earth Plaster on the Hobbit Sauna under construction and the interior of the main house, on-site and possibly the Kensington Metropark Kid’s Cottage (repair).
Earthen Floor in Sauna or other building. Site Sculpting for hydrology, water flow & plantings.
Round Pole project: Small round pole frame for children to play on in the Fairy Forest.
Hay bale Gardening – warm weather plants, other gardens, general soil building and planting. Hops. Foraging on the land. Shitake mushroom log fruiting. Nettle harvesting.
Agro-Forestry Class and Southern Michigan Permaculture Mixer at Strawbale Studio
Wood-shelter thatching
Rocket Stove class with hands-on mockup of the Combustion Unit.
Other monthly activities listed above: classes, foraging, fermenting, Permaculture Meetup, Full Moon Potluck etc.
JUNE 2015 Overview
Focus Structure, the Kids’ Cottage (and possibly the Hobbit Sauna as well)
Cob /Hybrid Wall – on the East side of the Kid’s Cottage
Completion of the Rocket Stove on the
Earth Plaster on the Hobbit Sauna under construction and the interior of the main house, on-site and possibly the Kensington Metropark Kid’s Cottage (repair).
Earthen Floor in Sauna or other building. Site Sculpting for hydrology, water flow & plantings.
Round Pole project: Small round pole frame for children to play on in the Fairy Forest.
Hay bale Gardening – warm weather plants, other gardens, general soil building and planting.
Wood-shelter thatching
Other monthly activities listed above: classes, foraging, fermenting, Permaculture Meetup, Full Moon Potluck etc.
Building the Stem Wall
July 11- 24 2015 The 2 Week NATURAL COTTAGE Project BUILD
~ 14 day complete course held in beautiful Chagrin Falls, OH
This is a “Foundation to Roof” cottage build. As such, participants will get hands-on experience in every aspect of the build from the rubble-trench and stone foundation to the living roof. Deanne will be co-teaching this course. Click to see details.
July Intern: Take the NCP course as full participant, and also help out before and after the workshop, at site in Ohio ~ $1250
July 1/2 pay Worktrader — Help for a few days before & after the NCP course, and take the course as a worktrader. $ 485
July Month-long 1/2 pay Worktrader. Help from July 1 – 9 and then take NCP course as a worktrader + stay on through the month. 485 + 140 for food = 625$
July – no Woofing positions available.
AUGUST 2015 Overview
Focus: 1 week NATURAL BUILDING SKILLS INTENSIVE August 8 – 14th. Prepare for and participate in this class which includes thatching, round pole, strawbale, earth plaster, cob and rocket stove, earthen floor.
Skills are learned on existing buildings, frames or Hybrid Cabin.
Aug 15 – 30, Focus on Finishing Buildings (Hybrid Cabin if other buildings are done)
Gardening / harvesting / foraging / fermenting.
New Compost Furnace construction TBD – as needed.
Finish Heating systems in all buildings – new pipes in SBS & repair roof leak.
Other monthly activities listed above: classes, foraging, fermenting, Permaculture Meetup, Full Moon Potluck etc.
SEPTEMBER 2015 Overview
Week 1
Focus on Finishing Buildings (Work on Hybrid Cabin if other buildings are done)
Earth Floors and Earth Plasters as needed. Earth applications need to dry before 1st frosts.
Week 2 – 4
Roofs, site hydrology completion
Compost Furnace – reconstruction, possibly.
Thatched Ridge of Kids’ Cottage: Harvest cattail or buy oatstraw for cap with logs x’s, renew ridge.
Refresh Finish Plasters on Strawbale Studio – Beautify interior.
Strawbale Studio thatching repair, possibly.
Start Seedlings for Winter Greenhouse. Chris Tarr assist, or use grow lights.
Fall crops: Garlic, other. Harvest, preserving.
Other monthly activities listed above: classes, foraging, fermenting, Permaculture Meetup, Full Moon Potluck etc.
OCTOBER 2015 Overview
Another great meal!
Finish Thatching
Earth Plaster, Cob
Round Pole
Rocket Stove
Strawbale experiences and classes.
Finish projects if they aren’t done: Boat Root Cellar
Set up Greenhouse for Winter Growing. prep gardens.
Other monthly activities listed above: classes, foraging, fermenting, Permaculture Meetup, Full Moon Potluck etc.
2016 WINTERNSHIP JANUARY 4 – FEBRUARY 4TH
Winternship 2015 Crew
This is one of most popular Internships of the year ! Based on 4 weekend workshop which include the public: Thatching & Reed Collection, Round Pole Framing, Rocket Stove , Earth Plasters and Sculpting. Other monthly activities listed above: classes, foraging, fermenting, Permaculture Meetup, Full Moon Potluck etc. See the links to the 2014 & 2015 Winternship Blogs for details and pictures. $850 / $950 and some 1/2 pay worktrade. Limit 8 participants.
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. There will be classes on basics of design, foundation, wall systems, and an opportunity to use cob to sculpt a model. We will do some fermenting: yoghurt, sourdough, etc, and do other sustainable living skills like worm composting, hay box cooking as well as attend the local Permaculture Meetup and host the monthly Full Moon Potluck. All will help with cooking and household activities. There are openings for two half/pay worktraders, who would be assisting with the running of the center for 10 hours per week (office, grounds, reed collection, household). 2015 Winternship Outline & Schedule.
Round Pole class with Mark Angelini.
Internship/Half-Pay Worktrade $850/$425 prepaid 3 months in advance, $950/$475 paid 2 months in advance, $1025/$525 paid 1 month in advance if there is room. Fees Includes room & board, all workshops, activities & materials. Some worktrade positions are available at half fee. Worktraders help out with infrastructure an extra 10 per week ( firewood and grounds, cooking & cleaning, office work & publicity). Participate in all other activities. Limited openings: 4 Intern, 4 Half-Pay Worktraders.
This is our tentative schedule for 2016. See 2015 details below for the general idea.
More information to come. Call for questions or more information. Deanne 248 628 1887
Jan 9 & 10, 2016 THATCHING & REED COLLECTION,
Jan 16 & 17, 2016 ROUND POLE framing,
Jan 23 & 24m 2016 ROCKET STOVE Workshop
Jan 30 & 31, 2016 EARTH PLASTER & SCULPTING.
Jan. 23, Sat, FULL MOON *Workparty 1-5p, *Tour 6p, *Potluck & Bonfire 7p RSVP
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).
Report from the 2014 Winternship !
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Below is information from the previous internships.
Jan 5 – Feb 5 2015 WINTERNSHIP
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. There will be classes on basics of design, foundation, wall systems, and an opportunity to use cob to sculpt a model. We will do some fermenting: yoghurt, sourdough, etc, and do other sustainable living skills like worm composting, hay box cooking as well as attend the local Permaculture Meetup and host the monthly Full Moon Potluck. All will help with cooking and household activities. There are openings for two half/pay worktraders, who would be assisting with the running of the center for 10 hours per week (office, grounds, reed collection, household). *** 2015 Winternship Outline & Schedule. *** Winternship 2015 Blog and pictures
Internship $750 prepaid 1 month in advance or $850 thereafter with RSVP. Includes room & board, all workshops, activities & materials. Several Worktrade positions available at half fee ($375/$425). Worktraders help out with infrastructure 10 per week ( firewood and grounds, cooking & cleaning, office work & publicity). Participate in all other activities. Limited openings.
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).
Report from the 2014 Winternship !
| January 2, 2015 FIRST FRIDAY ACTIVITIES at the Strawbale Studio. |
 harvesting reed Jan 4 – Feb 4 2015 WINTERNSHIP – a comprehensive skill-building intensive month. |
 basic thatching January 10 Introduction to THATCHING – tour of thatched buildings, demo, reed harvest, video. |
 Round Pole Trellis construction. Ruthie & Justin January 17 & 18 ROUND POLE FRAMING – Sat 10 – 5p, Sunday 10a – 4p Hands-on class! |
 January 24 ROCKET STOVE & FIRE Workshop -mock up the combustion chamber, mix cob, principles, see several types of Rocket Stoves in action. |
 Jan. 31 & Feb 1, 2015 EARTH PLASTER & SCULPTING Sat 10 – 5p Sun 10 – 4p Get experience in a variety of applications that you can use in your existing dwellings or future natural building home. |
May and June 2014
Hands-on Natural Building: Stone Foundation, Round Pole Framing, Thatched & Living Roof, Cob & Strawbale Wall Systems, Earth Plaster and sculpting, Rocket Stove, Site Assessment and Design.
Hands-on Sustainable Living Skills: Permaculture-based Gardening: small Forest Garden development, direct seed and plant seedlings, Sheet Mulching, Landscaping around natural buildings.
Classroom Presentations: site and design, foundations & framing, wall systems, roofs, plasters, paints & sealers.
Workshops: Interns will participate in all workshops (prepare for, participate in, help teach, and finish up afterward)
In the process of learning these things we will be completing buildings, planting edible landscape, providing learning experiences for others and creating an enchanting model of sustainable relationship with the land.
| Mon2014 | Weekly FOCUS | Weekly ACTIVITIES subject to change due to weather and other situations. | Workshops | |
| ORIENTATION | Thursday, May 1. Walk the land, introduction to other intern, buildings, materials, household.Sustainable Living Skills: Class on Composting Systems on the land – food to worm composting and outdoor bin, humanure compost system. | Activity 1st Friday at the Strawbale Studio Friday, May 21-4:30 Volunteer Crew, 5 to 6:30p Tour of Buildings and Ovens. 7 – 9:30p Craft Night Saturday – Day Off | ||
| Week 1 | May 5 | FOUNDATION | Natural Building dig trench, build stem wall with fieldstone and mortar, mix cob from local soil, apply and make cob bricks. Class Presentation: Foundation.Design.Sustainable Living Skills gather local resources to make soil and sheet mulching, prep Zandalla Garden & greenhouse. Plant seedlings. | No workshops scheduledSunday May 11 is Mothers Day |
| Week 2 | May 12 | FORAGING & Living Roof | Natural Building: Forage for building materials and Round Poles for projects. Living Roof: plant with locally found plants. Class Presentation: Living Roof Design during workshop.Sustainable Living Skills: direct seed into the ground. Other garden & grounds activities. | Local Permaculture Meetup in Clarkston or at Strawbale Studio Wed. May 14, 6:30p Full Moon Potluck at SBS Thurs May 15, Workshops: Saturday May 17. 10-1:3 Foraged Brunch. 2 -5p Living Roof |
| Week 3 | May 19 | FRAMING & ROCKET STOVE | Natural Building: Round Pole projects with notching – make a Hops Trellis, finish a Strawbale demo frame. Class Presentation: Types of Framing Activity – help design a new Earth Oven frame. Prepare for the Rocket Stove Workshop. Make a mallot, sharpen and use chisel.Sustainable Living Skills: Cording, lashing knots, gardening continued. Sort wood for different uses. Use Rocket Stove Cooker & mass heater. | Memorial Day WeekendWorkshops: May 24, Fire! A Rocket Stove WorkshopLearn the design principles of a Rocket Mass Heater and a Rocket Cook Stove. Hands-on mockup of the brick combustion unit. Fire up and see both in action. Also see a Rumford Fireplace & Earth Oven. |
| Week 4 | May 26 Mem’l Day | NATURAL WALL SYSTE | Natural Building: Construct the East wall of the Oxford Kids Cottage with a hybrid system exploring strawbale, wattle & daub, light clay. Finish the Rocket Stove – cob sculpting.Sustainable Living Skills: Kids Cottage environs, make into a natural playscape. | Weekend off. Deanne gone. |
| Week 5 | June 2 | THATCHING | Natural Building:Make a basic A frame and attach the base and 1st 2 rows of thatch with a wooden needle and legget. Finish the ridge of the Wood Shelter and fill woodshelters with wood.Additional Option: peak of the Spiral Chamber.Classroom Presentation: Thatching.Sustainable Living Skills: TBD | Friday Activity June 6, 1st Friday at the Strawbale Studio 1-4:30 Volunteer Crew, 5 to 6:30p Tour of Buildings and Ovens. 7 – 9:30p Craft NightWorkshop Sat. June 7, 2014 10 – 5p Introduction to Thatch |
| Week 6 | June 9 | PLASTER & SCULPTING | Natural Building: Plaster Interior of the Oxford Kids Cottage, finish the Rumford Fireplace with cob bricks & earth plaster.Sustainable Living Skills:TBD | Workshop: June 14 Earth Plaster & Sculpting. Saturday 9 – 6p . Continued on Sunday for those who can. |
| Week 7 | June 16 | RETROFIT | Natural Building: Explore light clay, slip straw, paper clay as materials to retrofit existing materials. Make blocks, and do some infill in the Intern Cabin and main house.Sustainable Living Skills: Contour drainage around the Sauna. Grounds & Garden. | Possible Workshop TBD |
| Week 8 | June 23 | FINISHING & EARTH OVEN | Natural Building: complete any segments started. Repair Smiling Face Earth Oven, and fire it up for a Pizza Party.Sustainable Living Skills: TBD Option: Buried Boat Root Cellar | Possible Workshop TBD |
| June 29 & 30 | DEPART – | Transition to July Internship and Course. | ||
| Week 1 | July 1 | PREPARATION for Strawbale Sauna Wksp July 19 – Aug | Tuesday Arrival and evening meal. Wed. Orientation to land, site, house, participants. Projects for the next 2 weeks: Dig trench, grade site, stones to site, set up campground, toilets, shower, signs. | |
| Week 2 | July 7 | Continue above | ||
| Week 3 | July 14 | Continue above. July 19 Begin 14 day Sauna Build course. | July 18 folks start arriving, July 19 course starts. | |
| Week 4 | July 21 | Sauna Build course. | Details to come. | |
| Week 5 | July 28 | Sauna Build course. | Ends Aug 1, 2014 |
The July 2014 Internship will focus in the first 2 weeks on serious preparation for the 2 week workshop” The Strawbale and Cob Sauna” held July 19 through Aug 1. Interns will either come from July 1 and stay through Aug 3 or come July 16 – Aug 3. The price will be the same: $750 Early Bird Discount paid 1 month in advance, or $85o thereafter with RSVP. Payment includes participation in the 2 week course, and a few days after to clean up. There are limited openings, so register now.