10-12 October 2008 Grand Designs, Birmingham
We will be running Strawbale and Clay plastering workshops throughout the event.
Come and see us at stand B438 in the Traditional Build area!
Loadbearing Straw Bale Building courses Ralegh’s Cross, Exmoor - more info info@amazonails.org.uk
Loadbearing Straw Bale Building courses Ralegh’s Cross, Exmoor - more info info@amazonails.org.uk
10-14th November 2008
Clay and Lime Plastering
This 5 day course will cover the basic background and applications of clay and lime use in buildings. This course is for building contractors, professional plasterers & total beginners, provides a great opportunity to experience and assess the remarkable benefits of plastering with natural clay finishes. The object of the course is to learn about clay and clay plasters and where, why and how to use clay plaster in your own buildings. Fees: £40/65/80/person/day (unwaged/waged/high waged)
19-20th November 2008
Moisture in Strawbale Buildings
This advanced course comes with recommendations from the head of the French Straw Bale foundation! This advanced course covers all aspects of moisture relating to straw bale building, plastering and rendering. Please contact us for further details about this course. Fees: £100 per person/day
22nd - 23rd November Foundation (Rammed earth car tyre) – Skipsea, East Yorkshire £80/£130/£160
This course involves building the foundation for a Strawbale, Passive solar design, made of two semi-circles with different radii.
The building will include: tyre foundations, living sedum roof, free rain water systems run by solar/wind power, compost toilets and reed bed drainage. Internally, there will be two bedrooms, kitchen, living room/conservatory and bathroom, within 85sqm. Saffron's plot is approx. 70mx70m, situated next to a site of scientific interest, with beautiful sea views, located on East Yorkshire coast.
The aim is to establish and promote the ethos of living lightly on the land with minimum carbon footprint. There will be free camping available onsite, but facilities are very basic, as there is not electricity or mains water. You may prefer to use a local B&B or Hostel.
Lunch is included both days, as well as breakfast if camping on site. Dinner will be available for £5 / person. You need to be prepared for having fun as well as hard work! Bring your overalls and stout work boots.
For further information or discussion on course costs and bookings contact info@amazonails.org.uk
27-30th November 2008
First Ever ‘Build a mini-house in 5 days'
This advanced course comes with recommendations from the head of the French Straw Bale foundation! This advanced course covers all aspects of moisture relating to straw bale building, plastering and rendering. Please contact us for further details about this course.
1st - 5th December 2008
Build a mini-house in 5 days
This 5 day course is the first of its kind! Help us build a mini-house in our indoor training facility here in Todmorden and be part of strawbale history! This course will be useful to those new to straw bale building or experienced builders or self builders as you will be part of the construction of a small straw bale building from the foundations to the completed roof structure. You will also get a basic knowledge of the history of straw bale building and its place in contemporary design and build, a basic understanding of the environmental and health benefits of straw bale buildings. A basic practical overview of all aspects of building from floor to roof including, a basic practical knowledge of carpentry skills, a basic practical knowledge of customising bales, a basic practical knowledge of roof construction.
Fees
In order for as many people as possible to be able to participate in these courses we have a sliding scale approach to fee structure:
Lunches and refreshments are included in the course price
Unwaged / students £40 per day
Waged £65 per day
High wage (£25K +)/corporate/supported earners £80
This course list is frequently updated, with new courses
coming up regularly.
Our courses fill up quickly so please book early to avoid
disappointment.
WHAT DOES A STRAWBALE COURSE INVOLVE?
A few courses involve building an entire structure from start
to finish, but most focus on specific parts of the process
such as laying foundations, building the straw walls, clay
plastering or lime rendering.
All courses will provide you with the theory of the techniques
you will use, plus lots of hands-on building experience,
offering a fantastic opportunity to discover for yourself
what Strawbaling is all about. The courses are suitable for
all levels of experience, from the complete novice to professional
builders, from those who are just dipping their toes into
the world of sustainable building to those who already have
expertise in related fields, because our teaching methods
are straightforward and inclusive. If you’re thinking
of building your own Strawbale structure, or of working on
someone else’s, our courses will prove invaluable in
providing the experience and know-how to do so.
Courses will be taught by one of us at amazonails,
that is, Bee Rowan, Barbara Jones, Jakub Wihan or any of
our International Ambassadors.
We also offer seminars, explaining in detail the theory
and practicalities of Strawbale building. These are particularly
recommended for those wishing to embark on large scale projects
– architects or construction professionals, but are
also suitable for beginners, as they give an excellent overview
of the subject.
We offer team building days to companies and groups –
please talk to us about your requirements.
BOOKING
If you would like to participate in any of our courses, please
email, phone, or write to us to reserve a place. Click
here to contact us.
Payment must be made in full before any course in order
to secure your place. Please make cheques payable to 'amazonails'.
Note
Some courses are taught by us but bookings are handled by
a different organisation. This is detailed on each course.
EVENTS
We will be at Stand B438 – TRAD BUILD - please come and discuss you building project with us in Birmingham
OUR
RECENT WORK
Take a look at what we have been doing in
the last year:
At St Dogmael’s,
Cardiganshire helping on a beautiful two-storey loadbearing
house.
Various work needs doing including clay and lime plastering,
lime washing, installing compost/ aquatron system, rainwater
harvesting, solar and wind power installation etc.
