Next meeting:

Straw Bale Construction in Moist Climates
with Jakub Wihan

Join international architect Jakub Wihan for a discussion on the challenges surrounding straw bale construction in this climate, and simple solutions that are low cost and effective. The presentation will also touch upon the concepts of zero net emissions straw bale construction, low impact foundations for straw bale buildings and retrofitting existing structures with straw bales.

Jakub has been practicing and promoting straw bale building technology in the Czech Republic and elsewhere since 2002. He is finishing a thesis entitled "Humidity in straw bale walls and its effect on the decomposition of straw" for an MSc degree in Architecture, Environmental and Energy Studies from the Center for Alternative Technology in Wales. He has a website at: www.jakubwihan.com

Friday, May 25 at 7pm in room 2 East of the Marlboro Tech Center (next to the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, which is across the street from the co-op).

Freewill donations will be accepted. The tech center has instituted a $25 fee for facility use; anything over and above the use fee will be given to Jakub to support his work. $10 suggested—no one turned away.

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Jakub has spent the last two years working in the EU with strawbale pioneer Barbara Jones of Amazon Nails. A prolific builder and inveterate innovator, Barbara (who studied with Judy Knox and Matts Myhrman in the '90s) is the author of "Building With Straw Bales: A Practical Guide for the UK and Ireland," which is a great introduction to her appropriate-technology approach. Dottie's (next to the co-op) sometimes has dented copies of it available at a discount. An earlier, shorter version is available for free download at http://www.strawbalefutures.org.uk/amazonails.html

Jakub will be offering a bale-retrofit workshop of an existing building in northern Massachusetts in July - details will follow when available.